Foreign Policy 1920-45 Flashcards
20-30s
Tariffs?
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
Fordney McCumber Tariff 1922
Hawley Smoot Tariff 1930
Isolationist
Continuity as 1890 McKinley tariffs - highest 50%ish
20-30s
Immigration?
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
21 Quota Act
1924 Johnson Reed
Growth of KKK, Red scare, Palmer raids, and setup of FBI helped stop immigration
Even when Hitler started persecution of Jews by initially denying them civil rights in 30s- Americans refused to relax laws
Continuity
1917 literacy test
Resurgence of KKK
20-30s
LON
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
LON- stop wars, disarm, improve lives and jobs and end slavery etc
Enforce TOV
Congress refused to ratify TOV and no join LON- but attended 40 of meetings that saw its set up and supported most of LON work
USA- vaccination programmes - eradicate plague in Siberia - done outside LON
US not involved in Munich agreement giving Hitler Sudetenland - but FDR reported to have opposed it
CHANGE in isolation -WW1- is involved and during guided age and Roosevelt
Promoting peace and health are
CHANGE - when signed TOV and LON assumes stay put but did stuff
20-30s
European loans
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
Europe - huge debts from WW1
Owe US $10 billion 1918
US lowered interest rates when Europeans struggled but high tariffs in US prevented Europeans from earning dollars needed to pay off loans
European allies looked to war reperations from Ger to solve. Ger rep $3.3billion. But ger in economic crisis w high unemployment and hyperinflation in 1923 made them unable to pay - tried to borrow money from US and Europe to pay —> limits to what could borrow
Dawes plan 24
Young Plan 29
Contributed to economic recovery
But depression 1930 :////
CONTINUITY High tariffs. Guided age CONTINUITY isolationism - prevent US army intervening PROMOTING PEACE ETC Munich Agreement
20-30s
Washington Naval Conference?
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
US worked with GB and Japan to establish naval holiday and a 5:5:3 ratio for capital ships to help stop Naval armaments rave in Asia
France and Italy would have felts of equal size with ratio of 1:75 in the five power treaty
In 4 power pact, Jap and GB and US and Fra agreed to respect one another’s rights in Pacific and consult in a case of aggression
In the 9-power treaty, 9 powers w interests in Asia agreed to maintain the open door policy for China and guarantee the territorial integrity of China
CONTINUITY of Disarmament
The LON was made up by Wilson and had an aim of disarming. Coolidge is referring to the same issue
Change of disarmament
US rejected LON - more intervention w foreign affairs
20-30s
Geneva Conference?
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
1927 Coolidge issued a call to the Big Five powers to meet in Geneva to confront issue of naval rivalries, as a result of discussions.
Britain and Japan accepted the invitation but France and Italy
In end participants at conference failed to reach binding agreement regarding distribution of naval tonnage
DISARMAMENT
20-30s
Kellogg Briand Pact?
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
Or called Pact of Paris attempted to outlaw war and was accepted by 62 nations
1928
Idea of 1928 US Secretary of State Frank B Kellogg and French foreign minister Briand.
Pact was called ‘wishful thinking’ since each country added its own reservations, not one outlawed a war of self defence (and most countries claim each war is a war of self-defence) and the document said nothing about enforcement
CHANGE from rejection of LON
Continuity
20-30s
Latin America
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
Spanish American war and construction of Panama Canal reflected America’s response to dangerous escalation of global rivalries
Overall by early 1930s, relations w Latin America improved as collide and hoover worked had to develop friendlier relations
State department declared Monroe Doctrine would no longer be used to justify US intervention in Latin American domestic affairs and Latin American nations encouraged US investment and gave greater protection to these investments
20-30s
Monroe Doctrine
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
Measures like T Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine and implementation of dollar diplomacy underscored American efforts to gain influence. Addition of Woodrow Wilson’s gave a new dimension to American policy by including nation building as a rational for American policy in the region
20-30s
Haiti
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
Wary of German influence in Haiti, American investors obtained the national bank of Haiti. In revolt against US friendly regime in Haiti, the Marines were sent to occupy Port-au-Prince in 1915. The Us gov would administer the island for next 2 decades
20-30s
Coolidge and Hoover foreign policy
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
Between 1922-35- US withdrew from Cuba, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.
1921 Colombia was paid $21m in compensation for the Panamanian Revolution
Hoover made goodwill tour in 1930 and did not intervene when riots broke out or revolutions took place- this was mostly due to depression
The Roosevelt corollary was repudiated by the Clark Memorandum
Despite this, US did not need to intervene because many of gov that were set up as a result of revolts were more favourable to US eg Samozza in Nacaragua 1925
Yet by 1930- 2/3 Cuba sugar production in Cuba owned by Americans and therefore they eco controlled are and didn’t need to intervene
20-30s
Ottawa Conference
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
1932
ottowa conference Saw U.K. give out preferential tariff agreements to the world
1933 Montevideo conference FDR promised to stay out of Latin American affairs.
Platt Amendment 1934 removed giving control back to Cubans
USA responded w own tariff policy 1933 and issued 18 trade agreements in 1934 w Latin American countries
20-30s
FDR good neighbour policy
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
Initiation of FDR good neighbours policy in 1934 marked a firm commitment towards the use of diplomatic, economic and less overt military means to support American political interest, as the realities of the Great Depression curbed the ability of engaging in armed interventions or supporting long term occupations
20-30s
NYE
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
NYE committee reported 1936 lobbying of arms manufacturers were an explicit cause of US entry to WW1. Therefore in 1936 when a New Mexican gov nationalised oil, Roosevelt looked for compensation rather than intervention, yet a battleship was sent to Cuba to help overthrow democratic movement and install a dictator called Bastia FDT appeared v contradictory
20-30s
FDR and neutrality
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
Speech 1933- keep out of fp
Movement to join world court - public and parties agreed it was good - but attempts by FDR opposes by senate
1930s Fascist Europe states - aim to influence South America - has support for Nazi party w German American pop etc —> ISOLATION
1936- FDR out of fp
Spanish civil war, Abyssinia 1935 reinforced this
1935 neutrality act created arms embargo (sanctions)
1936 neutrality forbade loans to belligerent (aggressive) countries?
1937 forbad travel on belligerent ships
After fascist nations joined a pact in 1936 suggested quarantining aggressive nations, not clear what FDR meant but reaction was hostile and more convinced public want out
Ludlow tried to introduce Amendment that necessitated approval of war through referendum as a reaction - narrowly defeated
Munich Agreement led to FDR asking congress for expanded Air Force and naval build up. Also wanted to sell planes to French but public hostility and neutrality acts forbid
Initiated secret meeting and talks w bri and Fr. When war declared - FDR said neutral
CHANGE - LON ISHHHH CONTINUITY TOO
20-30s
USA and Japan
What is this an example of
Change or continuity
Jap invaded Chinese province Nanking 1937
USA took no action
Believed strong China would block jap aggression
USA did more trade w Jap than China
USA argued no state of war existed between China and Jap so neutrality act didn’t apply
So US continue to send supplies to Chinese’s nationalist
Double standard maybe provoke jap
FDR 1937 speech condemning lawless nations
JAP attack USS Panay 1937- claimed they didn’t notice it was America
Compensation solve issue
FDR- stop Jap aggression - cut off scrap metal supplied and sent Pacific fleet to Pearl Harbor.
Then oil embargo on Jap- blow to Jap ability to attack
FDR then began negotiations w Jap but no agree on status of chins and on sanctions - many believe left Jap w little choice but to attack
—> Change - no longer isolation??
Did FDR remain neutral onset war?
Fireside chat
‘Even a neutral country cannot he asked to close his mind or his conscience’
Polls showed public supported bri and fra and wanted to supply arms but not get involved
Slow alliance but not fully
Did FDR remain neutral onset war?
Run up for election
FDR promised he would not send ‘our boys’ to fight
Fall of France made American public want to give aid but still divided
FDR appointed 2 Republicans to cabinet to secure his position Stimson and Knox
W their support - FDR got congress to pass Selective Service Act - first peacetime draft
Most agree that FDR sees these actions as precautionary. W neutrality acts in place it would be hard to acc do more
Distances from allied cause but allegiance
Did FDR remain neutral onset war?
Cash and carry
1939
FDR talks to republicans and democrats and ensured bipartisan support. He persuades Congress to adapt Neutrality with Cash and Carry. Presenting it as a strategy for keeping out
This allowed buy material but had to arrange own transport
Moving towards allied cause - persuading adaption of neutrality
Did FDR remain neutral onset war?
Destroyer deal
1940
Exchanged 50 old destroyers for colonial territory. Argued it ties US to cause further
FDR sells it as the most important defence measure in history. Bases would protect US interests
Allying-
Against neutrality act
Did FDR remain neutral onset war?
Fireside chat 40-41
FDR warns of implications of Nazi success. Talked about US being ‘Great Arsenal of Democracy’ opinion polls showed 80% approval of speeches
Allied cause - public support
Did FDR remain neutral onset war?
Land-lease
1941
Churchill Warner Britain faving bankruptcy.
Congress passed land lease.
This gave arms under loan conditions $50b over 4 years
FDR likened it to lending your neighbour a hose because the house was on fire
Tied to ally cause to lathe extent
Did FDR remain neutral onset war?
Atlantic charter
Churchill meets FDR off the coast of America. Churchill became convinced FDR would manufacture an excuse to get involved
Post war peace ideals were also set out, arms reductions, self determination, freedom of seas, free trade etc
Significant ally
Did FDR remain neutral onset war?
Atlantic attacks
1941, 1500 ships sunk in Atlantic. FDR gave secret permission to escort British ships across water.
And US security zone extended to Greenland
Could fire German ships if necessary to protect
41 Br plan and USS greer spotted German U boat. Plane dropped charges, U boat fires torpedo and Greet dropped depth charges and more torpedos fired
Neither sunk
Navy said ubost didn’t know its origins but FDR told public they did know and Ger fired first
Was he okay in lying
Stimson advises more help to Bri and Ger against USSR. FDR gives permission to sink
US in war all but name
Did FDR remain neutral onset war?
Did FDR invite the attack on pearl harbour
FDR obsessed w China’s great power status
He hoped China would develop into democratic nation and be beacon in Far East, blocking Jap aggression.
Us did more trade w Jap than China
(FDR keeps strong pro Chinese relations to keep US dominance there and keep Europe out)
ONLY SMALL TENSION
Did FDR remain neutral onset war?
Did FDR invite the attack on pearl harbour
Jap attack China
1937
Nanking Massacre.
US took little action and argued no war existed and the USA could continue to send arms to supply Shek
This double standard led many to believe it was provacative
Creates strong aggression and tension
!
Did FDR remain neutral onset war?
Did FDR invite the attack on pearl harbour
USS Panay incident
1937
Jap attack on American gunboat Panay while it was anchored outside Nanking
Jap and US x at war
Jap claimed they didn’t see American flags and paid an indemnity
This caused US opinion to turn against Jap
Partial tension only
Did FDR remain neutral onset war?
Did FDR invite the attack on pearl harbour
Chicago Speech
1937
FDR condemns lawless nations.
To some it seemed US moving away from neutrality.
FDR still worked w Japanese leaders
Many argue economic interests were not at stake for full interventions
TENSION - moving away from neutrality
Did FDR remain neutral onset war?
Did FDR invite the attack on pearl harbour
Pearl harbour
US imposed oil embargo severely restricted Jap poeef
Why they launched a shoot attack in Dec 41
US then declared war on Jap and because of alliance system between Ger Itsly and Jap, US embroiled in the war on both fronts
Japan motives for attack on pearl harbour?
Imperialism (copy cat)
More resources needed for growth in pop
Inability of LON ->decision making tricky, depression, US X joined X own army
Alliance w Germany. Rome Berlin Triparlite Alliance
Political will of leaders
Increasing antagonism pot
???
Historian conclusions about FDR and entry into WW2
Some criticise him for standing up to Japan and for making suicide thing
Some say he’s isolationist
Some blame him for pearl harbour - delibrately ignored warnings
Some say he was an internationalist
