USA (1920-45) “Foreign Policy” Flashcards
What did the US want to focus on in regards to trade following WW1?
Wanted to focus on their trade interests in the Far East
In 1937, a poll showed that what % of Americans thought that the US’ involvement in WW1 had been a mistake and what % opposed involvement in future wars?
70% - WW1 a mistake
95% - opposed future involvement
What was the Washington conference 1922?
4 power agreement (Japan, Britain, France, USA) to respect each other’s interest in the Far East as well as maintain the Open Door Policy in China and limit arms.
How successful was the Washington Conference?
Limited as it had no way of enforcement
What was the Kellog-Brian Pact 1928?
The pact was signed by 15 countries which agreed not to wage war except in self-defence and would seek peaceful means of ending conflict
Dawes plan 1924
Germany was given an initial loan of 800million marks
Young Plan 1924
Scaled down the reparation payments to $26 billion and would be paid back over 59 years
By how much did US involvement in Latin America increase in 1924-1929?
$1.5 billion - $3 billion
In 1923, General Electric controlled the provision of electricity in how many countries?
8 countries
How many troops were sent in Nicaragua to deal with a civil war in 1926?
5,000
What came of the 1930’s good neighbour policy?
US troops left Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua
In 1934 the US signed a treaty which nullified what?
Platt Amendment 1901, which had authorised the US occupation of Cuba, and so the US removed all its influence in Cuba - the US just retained Guantanamo Bay
What did the US do to tariffs?
Lowered them which improved economies of Latin America
Neutrality Acts
Passed to avoid war, restricted trade with countries at war, gave president the power to use his discretion (1935-37)
1937 Panay Incident
An American gunboat sunk by Japanese warships - US accept compensation and an apology
What were the reasons the US joined WW2?
Rapid Nazi occupation of Europe, sympathy towards the British, Japan’s actions against China, Lend-Lease (March 1941), Conflict in the Atlantic
Rapid Nazi occupation of Europe
By June 1940, the Nazis were in control of Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and France
The Selective Service and Training Act introduced conscription for men aged 21-36 (the first time during peace time)
Sympathy towards the British
Congress did pass acts to help the British buy American goods
Journalists reported on the Battle of Britain
FDR gave them 50 WW1 destroyers in exchange for Naval bases in British colonies
Japan’s actions in China
1931 Japan invade Manchuria (in China) breaking the League of Nations trade agreement
In 1937 China had a civil war and Japan took advantage of
The US loaned China $250 million
The US also responded by closing the Panama Canal to Japanese boats and in August 1940 the US banned oil exports to Japan
Lend-Lease March 1941
The Lend-Lease Act allowed the US to lend or lease arms and supplies to any nation if it felt that country’s defence was necessary for the defence of America - Britain and Russia
Conflict in the Atlantic
When German U-boats fired on US ships Roosevelt
responded by ordering German U-boats to be sunk on sight
In October 1941, a US ship was sunk killing 126 Americans soldiers so Congress repealed the neutrality acts allowing merchant ships to arm themselves
The Lend Lease meant there was increased trade being transported from the US across the Atlantic and this led more US goods being sunk by U-boats
When did the US join WW2?
7th December 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbour
