International Relations 1933-41 Flashcards
1
Q
What did Roosevelt believe in in terms of foreign policy?
A
- Good Neighbor policy
- 1933: majority members of congress isolationist
- R did not intent in getting involved in Euro affairs
- wanted USA to follow policy of friendship towards other countries
- thought US could act as “moral force” for good in the world
2
Q
What was the ‘Good Neighbor’ policy?
A
- Encouraged eco and diplomatic co-operation through idea of policy
- sense of continuation of Hoover’s policies of persuasion and economic pressure to exert influence on LA
- transform the MD into mutual hemispheric action against aggressors
3
Q
What was the relationship between the USA and LA?
A
- GN Policy
- US troops left Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua
- 1934: Congress signed treaty with Cuba that nullified the Platt Amendment (occupation of cuba)
- Did retain one naval base at Guantanamo
- by 1938 the “Good Neighbor” Policy had led to 10 treaties with LA countries: esp in Cuba where tarrif on cuban sugar reduced and trade increased
4
Q
What act did Roosevelt pass in relation to GN Policy?
A
- passed the Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act in 1934
- this repealed several of the 1920s isolationist trade policies so the USA could compete better in foreign trade
- the 1934 act began the historic move towards lower trade barriers and greater global engagement
5
Q
What was the first Neutrality Act?
A
- First Neutrality Act of 1935:
- gave president power to prohibit US ships from carrying US made munitions to countries at war
- prevented US citizens from travelling on ships of countries at war except at own risk
6
Q
Second Neutrality Act?
A
- The Second Neutrality Act 1936
- banned loans or credit to countries at war
- set no limit on trade in materials useful for war
7
Q
Third Neutrality Act?
A
- Third Neutrality Act of 1937 forbade the export of munitions for use by either of the opposing forces in Spain
- permitted nation involved in war to buy goods other than munitions from USA
- became known as “cash and carry”
8
Q
Fourth Neutrality Act?
A
- Fourth Neutrality Act 1937 authorised US president to determine what could and could not be bought, other than munitions, to be paid for on delivery
- made travel on ships of countries at war unlawful
9
Q
How did Roosevelt feel about war?
How did his cabinet feel about war?
A
- R despised spread of totalitarianism in Germany and Italy - began to see in 1937 US might need to get inv in Euro affairs
- views differed from congress and majority of American people
- some found idea abhorrent
- others though would end reforms of new deal
10
Q
What did the US think of involvement in Euro war?
A
- 1937: a Gallup Poll indicated that almost 70% of Americans though that US involvement in WW1 mistake and 95% opposed to future involv in war
- Roosevelt aware but still made “Quarantine Speech”
11
Q
What was the “Quarantine Speech”?
A
- In Chicago
- warned people about sit in Europe and Far East and consequent dangers of war
- He had to tread a delicate path and his speech warned the USA not only for horrors of war but problems of neutrality
- Roosevelt suggested a quarantine of aggressors but careful not to mention specific countries
12
Q
Fifth Neutrality Act?
A
- 1939
- meant that the president could authorise the “cash and carry” exports of arms and munitions to countries at war but had to be transported in countries own ships
- Could specify which areas US citizens and ships forbidden to travel
- R ordered US navy to patrol the western Atlantic and reveal location of German subs to britain
13
Q
How was the US moving away from neutrality just before war?
A
- Roosevelt began to express support for Western democratic states
- When Hitler announced further rearmament so did R with further $300 million granted to defence budget
- Oct 1938 roosevelt opened secret talks with French on how to bypass neutrality laws + allow the french to buy US aircraft
- 1939: French gov placed large orders with US aircraft industry
- USA censured Germany in March 1939 + recalled its ambassador for breaking Munich Agreement
- As tensions heightened R called on Germany and Italy to give assurances that they would not attack any Euro country over period of 10 years
14
Q
How did US get involved in war after the onset of it?
A
- When Britain and France went to war with Germany Sep 1939
- Roosevelt had a special session with congress to repeal the arms embargo in terms of neutrality acts
- most americans sympathised with allied cuz wanted G defeated
15
Q
How did Roosevelt change the neutrality policy?
A
- NOV 1939:
- Congress agreed to sell arms on a strictly cash and carry basis
- No American ships carry weapons
- was felt sales would benefit Allies as British warships could protect own vessels and destroy German carriers
- Congress had not anticipated threat to British shipping from German U-boats
16
Q
Why did it become difficult to help Britain and France?
A
- increasingly likely for German win
- summer 1940 France defeated and Britain stood alone against Germany
- ordered 14,000 aircraft and 35,000 aeroengines but increasingly unable to pay
- Roosevelt overestimated Britain’s wealth
- 1940: R “traded” Britain 50 destroyers for six Caribbean bases
- British bases in Bermuda and Newfoundland also leased to USA
- good business for Roosevelt
- marked a shift to active support for Britain
17
Q
Who was the competition in 1940 presidential election?
A
- R: Wendell Willkie: party of non involvement
- both supported neutrality
- Roosevelt stood for third term
- Roosevelt made famous speech which he assured listeners americans would not be sent to foreign wars
- even tho victory smaller than in 1936: 27 to 22 mill votes he acted boldly after winning
- In fireside chat of Dec 1940 called USA “the arsenal of democracy” meaning the provider of arms to Britain
18
Q
What was the Lend-Lease?
A
- 1941
- Britain would be “loaned” means to keep fighting
19
Q
What was the Atlantic Charter?
A
- Aug: met with Churchill
- after 3 days of talks they issued Atlantic Charter
- powerful expression of vision of what world should be like after destroying “Nazi tyranny”, with international peace, national self-determination and freedom of seas
- Nov 1941 - lend-lease extended to USSR
- 1941: gallup poll showed only 19% people thought had went to far in support of britain
20
Q
How were relations between the US and Japan worsening?
A
- since Japanese invasion of china in 1937
- J declared open door policy obsolete
- R retaliated by lending funds to China to buy weapons and asking US manufacturers to not sell planes to Japan
- Japan dependent on supplies from USA
- 1940: congress limited supplies of oil and scrap iron to Japan
- After signing of Rome-Berlin-Tokyo axis, R banned sale of machine tools to Japan
21
Q
What was the attempt to resolve relations with Japan?
A
- 1941 SoS Hull met with Japanese Ambassador Nomura to resolve diff between countries: failed because US offered them nothing in return
22
Q
How were Euro relations with japan?
A
- Euro powers could not defend asian possessions
- When France defeated: Japan marched into French colonies in Indochina
- subsequently announced the setting upon the Greater East-Asia Co-prosperity sphere
- means by which Japan could economically exploit countries under its control
23
Q
How did the US respond to Japan’s activities in Europe?
A
- 1941: froze Japanese assets in the USA and embargo on oil
- Japan almost wholly dependent on US oil
24
Q
What did the Nomura tell hull it would do?
A
- Japan would halt any further expansion
- if USA cut off aid to china and lifted economic blockade on Japan
- US didnt respond
25
Q
What was the objective of Attack on pearl harbor?
A
- Japanese made prep to attack the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii
- objective was to immobilise US Navy so it could not stop Japan’s expansion into east Asia, to areas such as Dutch East Indies with their supplies of oil
26
Q
What was the attack on pearl harbour?
A
- 1941: Japanese launched ferocious attack on PH
- destroyed 180 American aircraft and sank 7 battleships and 10 other vessels
- over 2,400 American servicemen killed
- American aircraft carriers out at sea and avoided attack
- Japanese had missed the American fuel stores (if hit would have left region entirely undefended)
27
Q
In responce to pearl harbour what did the US do?
A
- declared war on japan on 8th December
- 11 Dec, Hitler declared war on USA
- Operation Magic meant that US cabinet aware of potential attack from Japan
- R knew by Nov war inevitable
