The Global Crisis

1. The Global Crisis Roosevelt becomes president in 1933: supporter of League of Nations but also worked to ensure that America was “master of her own fate” In the end, the cautious, limited American internationalism of the interwar years proved insufficient to protect the interests of the United States, to create global stability, or to keep the nation from becoming involved in the greatest war in human history.

2. I. The Diplomacy of the New EraReplacing the League • League of Nations not a possibility with Harding • Charles Hughes signs individual treaties with Central Powers negotiating war terms… believed this would be enough to resolve war terms • Washington Conference 1921: attempt to prevent increasing war developments between America, Britain and Japan • Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 concluded New Era peace negotiations Washington Conference 1921

3. Debts and Diplomacy • Hughes: foremost importance of diplomacy was to ensure American trade faced no obstacles for expansion • “They hired the money, didn’t they?” Calvin Coolidge… refusing to forgive loan payments • Dangerous Triangle: Germany borrowing to pay Euro Allies, to pay debts owed to America, who’s loaning money to Germany… Calvin Coolidge

4. Debts and Diplomacy Continued • Charles Dawes • Policies would be partially responsible (totally?) for the Great Depression • Latin America • Charles Dawes

5. Hoover and the World Crisis • world financial crisis that began in 1929 intensified in 1931… not only caused economic distress, but was producing dangerous nationalism that threatened the weak international agreements established during the previous decade • Depression toppled existing political leaders and replaced them with belligerent governments bent on expansion as a solution to their economic problems • Hoover lacked sufficient tools for dealing with it • Latin America

6. Hoover and the World Crisis • Europe • Hoover refused to cancel war debts amid a growing crisis • Extended limits of naval constructions set forth at Washington Conference in 1921 • World Disarmament Conference: Hoover urged reductions in armaments, France calls for an international army to stop Germany… conference ends in failure • Rising fascism: Italy, Germany and Japan (Asia) • Hoover on the way out / Roosevelt on the way in… what to do? Hoover

7. II. Isolationism and InternationalismDepression Diplomacy • New Deal continued to base its foreign policy almost entirely on the nation’s immediate economic needs • Roosevelt’s breaks from Hoover • London Economic Conference: decided to work with Europe in regards to war debts and the gold standard… but tensions rise and not clear settlement is reached until 1936 • April 1934 he signed a bill to forbid American Banks from making loans to any nation in default on its debts

8. America and the Soviet Union • Agreement between Russia and United States • Tension and mistrust still high in 1934 Soviet propaganda

9. The Good Neighbor Policy • Latin America most important target of trade exchange and recovery • Where Hoover abandoned American practice of using military force to compel Latin American gov’ts to repay debts, respect foreign investments… Roosevelt went further • Montevideo Inter-American Conference 1933 • Replaced military force with economic influence • American businesses continued to dominate Latin American economies

10. The Rise of Isolationism Continued • world realized at the end of Hoover administration that hopes for peace through disarmament would not be an option • Faced with the choice of stabilizing the world with action or isolate… most Americans chose the latter • Roosevelt asked Congress to ratify a treaty to make the United States part of the World Court in 1935 • big blow to the president… would not attempt to challenge the isolationist tide

11. *Fake Smile* The Rise of Isolationism Continued • Neutrality Acts 1935 and 1936 • Roosevelt recognizes the danger of isolationism, but also understands public opinion is strongly isolationist • Panay bombed and sunk by Japanese in China… Roosevelt accepts apology

12. The Failure of Munich • Hitler moves revived German army into the Rhineland in 1936 • Austria March 1938 • Sudetenland Sept. 1938 • Sept 29 Hitler meets with leaders from France and England and agree to give Hitler parts of Czechoslovakia if he promises to go no further… “This is the last territorial claim I have to make in Europe.” • March of 1939 Hitler takes all of Czechoslovakia in blatant violation of Munich • April 1939 Hitler began threatening Poland • August 1939: Non-Aggression pact between Hitler and Stalin (not invited to Munich conference) • September 1, 1939 Hitler launches fullscale invasion of Poland… England and France declare war on Germany

13. “War of the Worlds” Orson Wells • country goes nuts • representative of the time • representative of the power of the media over the people

14. III. From Neutrality to Intervention A. Neutrality Tested • Never a question that US would support France and Britain, the question was to what extent • September 1939 Roosevelt asks for revision of Neutrality Acts • Europe silent after Poland… thoughts of a “phony war” • Russia takes over territories: Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania… and then Finland…America outraged but does nothing

15. Neutrality Tested Continued • Germany launches huge string of attacks in Spring of 1940… Allied efforts powerless to German blitzkrieg • May 15 W.Churchill gives FDR a list of needed supplies • May 16 1940 FDR asks Congress for an additional $1 billion for defense • Shift in public opinion in US after France falls to Germany • Fight for Freedom Committee vs. America First Committee

16. The Third-Term Campaign Roosevelt defeats Willkie (55% to 45%) Roosevelt Willkie

17. Neutrality Abandoned • In December of 1940 GB was bankrupt • Lend Lease Act • How to get the supplies there? • Germany did little to challenge hostile American actions

18. Neutrality Abandoned Again • Nazi forces begin a campaign against US vessels • Atlantic Charter • FDR new the USA public would only support a war declaration in the case of an attack German U-boat

19. The Road to Pearl Harbor • Sept. of 1940 Japan signs the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy • Roosevelt had already displayed his animosity toward Japanese policies by harshly denouncing their continuing assault on China and terminating a commercial treaty with Tokyo • July 1941 Japanese take Vietnam (French colony) • FDR freezes all Japanese assets in the United States • Tokyo willing to compromise at first, but US fears Japan’s prince will not be powerful enough to honor treaty… negotiations fail • October of 1941: Prince Konoye replaced by General Hideki Tojo

20. The Road to Pearl Harbor Continued • American intelligence had already decoded Japanese messages which had made clear that war was imminent… they new that after Nov. 29 an attack would only be a matter of days • December 7, 1941 • USA not prepared • Losses

21. The Road to Pearl Harbor Continued Again • Unified the American people in a fervent commitment to war instantly • Dec.8 War is declared on Japan • Dec. 11 Germany, Italy and Japan all declared war on the United States… Congress reciprocated without a single dissenting vote