"Isolationism" and FDR (1935 - 1941)

Read pages 13-26 in U.S. Isolationism - Part II

1. What were the goals of the isolationists? Why is "isolationism" a misleading term?

Isolationists thought that it was more important to focus on problems in America than to get involved with struggles overseas. The name implies that they believed that America should isolate themselves from other countries, but many isolationists supported international trade. Most also supported the international laws put im place after WWI. The main goal of isolationists was to stay out of war and preserve peace. They believed that the way to do this was to remain nuetral in other country's conflicts. They did not want to compromise American

interests.

2. What did some isolationists feel that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia?

The believed that the Pacific and Atlantic oceans protected the U.S. from other countries. They were on good terms with hall other countries in the wester hemisphere.

3. What were the purposes of the Nye Committee hearings?
The Nye Committee was a committe to investigate the reasons why the U.S. entered WWI. Nye believed that if everyone knew why we entered that war, we could avoid being involved with another war overseas. The hearings of the committe made many americans think that the U.S. went to war because coporations looking for money convinced President Wislon. This increased the isolationist mood in the U.S.

4. List two impressions that the Nye Committee hearings created.
-That corporations looking for money convinced President Wislon to go to war.

-It influenced congress and the U.S. declared itself a "neutral" country between 1914 and 1917

5. What were the purposes of the Neutrality Acts?

The Neutrality Acts were made to prevent the U.S. from supplying one side or another during war.

6. List two reasons that some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous.

-They worried about an intrusive government

-They worried about an overly powerful presidency

7. What was "Cash and Carry"?
"Cash and Carry" was part of the Neutrality Act of 1939. This meant that the U.S. could sell things to belligerents as long as they payed for what they were given and took the supplies back themselves.

8. Why did President Roosevelt freeze Japanese assets in the United States?
President Roosevelt thought he could stop further aggression from Japan by prohibiting the sale of fuel and scrap metal to them. This had the opposite effect and Japan invaded northern French Indochina. When this happened, President Rooselevet had to freeze Japan's assets in the U.S. which meant that they couldn't use investments or money they had in the U.S.

9. What was the purpose of the America First Committee?

The American First Committee was made to keep the U.S. out of war.

World Events Set Stage for Isolationism

1. What was the Japanese reaction to the Treaty of Versailles? (pgs. 4 - 5)
Some people in Japan believed that their country should engage the great powers and support the international system to obtain the natural resources and markets that Japan's growing economy needed. Others believed that the great powers (especially Britain, France and The U.S.) would never treat Japan with respect. Some worried that the League of Nations would be used to keep Japan as a second tier power. Japan opposed the Treaty and the League. Since the amendment didn't pass, the Japanese turned away from the West and toward a more nationalist stance.

2. Read the pull-out box on page 4 entitled, "Japan Becomes a Great Power." Cite specific evidence Japan was becoming a strong power that rivaled European & American interests. And, why specifically was Japan threatened by U.S. actions?

Japan's economy was rapidly growing and their political and military power were increasing which made it a large financial contributor to the proposed League of Nations. Japan modeled its navy on Britain's, its banking system on the U.S.'s, and its army and constitution on Prussia's. Manufacturing and mining increased and also the goods and services provided by Japan increased. Some people thought that Japan was relying too much on the military and others thought that Japan would need to use its military strength to achieve its goals. When Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War, it gained access to parts of Manchuria. Japan annexed Korea in 1910 and then in 1914, Japan declared war against Germany. Japan wanted to expand into China, but Britain and the U.S. thought that this would interfere with their interests. In Japans view, the U.S. was posing a threat to their own plans for expansion when they were increasing their presence in the Pacific.

3. Why was the Washington Naval Conference convened and what was accomplished? (pg. 6) (Note: Japan signs the agreement.)

The conference was called because Japan's growth as a naval power in the Pacific threatened U.S. interests. People at the conference wanted to limit a naval arms race and to discuss issues related to the nations of the Pacific Ocean and the Far East. The parties agreed to limit the size of the naval ships, placed a temporary prohibition on building new battleships, outlawed the use of poison gas, and limited the role of submarines in future wars. The nations signed an agreement affirming China's sovereignty and establishing a policy of open trade with China. They also agreed to address disputes over issues in the Pacific.

4. The Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact relected two strong and widely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)
The Pact was a treaty between the U.S. and France that made war between them illegal. Later 62 nations signed it. Americans remembered the deaths of WWI and wanted to avoid being dragged into another European war. Also, policy makers continued to resist the obligations of permanent alliances and wished to preserve the ability to act when and where they wanted.

5. Why did Hitler enjoy popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s? Give three reasons. (pgs. 9 - 10)
He improved the economy and reduced unemployment and restored national pride for Germans that were still humiliated by the defeat in WWI and by how poor they had become. Hitler used his power to pass legislation that enabled him to enact laws without the approval of the president or parliament. He quickly put the Nazi government in control and took away freedoms guaranteed by the German constitution.

6. Japan voiced its intentions to invade China for what two reasons? (pg. 10)

Japanese military leaders voiced intentions to invade China to obtain raw materials and increase Japan's power.

7. Compare the Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria. What did they accomplish?

Some people think that the Japans bombed their own railway so they could blame it on the Chinese and use it as an excuse to invade, like the Reichstag fire in Germany.

8. Why was the united States unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force? (pgs. 11 - 12)

The U.S. had drastically reduced the size of its military since WWI and was not prepared to fight back. Also, Japan began to violate the treaties it had signed.

9. Describe the major similarities and differences among liberal democracy, fascism, and socialism. (pg. 8)

Liberal democracies have a constitution, with elected representatives whose decision making is regulated by a rule of law that emphasizes the rights and freedoms of individuals. Fascism puts the economy under government control and emphasizes the control of state over the individual. Socialism hoped to create a classless society, which included dismantling the capitalist economic system by having the state own land, factories etc. Fascism and socialism are both two extremes of the political spectrum. Liberal democracy is socialism at a lower level.

New Deal Essay Outline

How, and with what success, did the United States government try to solve the problems caused by the Great Depression?
Thesis: The government and Franklin Delano Roosevelt tried to solve the problems caused by the Great Depression by making programs through the New Deal to help certain issues and promote relief, recovery and reform. Some programs and acts in each of these categories were successful, and some weren’t.

I. Relief

a. Emergency Banking Act-effective, people gained trust in the banks again

b. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-also helped people gain trust in the banks and they felt safe depositing their money

c. Federal Emergency Relief Administration (and the Civil Works Admin.)

Somewhat successful- there were immediate results that provided trust in the banks and made some jobs that had limited long-term benefits. The FERA and the CWA spent a lot of money that added to the country’s debt.

II. Recovery

a. National Recovery Administration-not successful, ruled unconstitutional because there was too much government control of free market

b. Tennessee Valley Authority-successful, government was the mediator between the states and built damns which provided the area with jobs and electricity.

c. Social Security Act-Important and successful in the long run

III. Reform

a. Agriculture Adjustment Administration-somewhat successful, Improvements in agriculture. Limitations-declared unconstitutional because it was inhumane to kill livestock the way they did.

b. Securities Exchange Commission-regulated stock market, effective because it restored confidence in the stock market.

c. Civilian Conservation Corps-effective, jobs for people and also conservation

d. Public Works Administration-successful, provided jobs

IV. Counter Argument- Huey Long and Father Coughlin

a. They thought that the New Deal was too complicated and wasn’t realistic

b. They were opposed to F.D.R. packing the court-he would essentially be taking over government if he packed the Supreme Court.

c. Long’s Share The Wealth Program

d. Government getting too involved with everything