Splendid Isolation

1. The U.S. in the 1920s and 1930s Splendid Isolation

2. Focus Question What should the U.S. do when other nations are threatened by hostile powers?

3. Objectives After today’s lesson, you will • Define the weekly vocabulary terms accurately • Describe the foreign policy opinions in the U.S. during the 1930s

4. Splendid Isolation • U.S. retreated to isolationism after WWI • U.S. disgust with the war • Strong sense of anti-military fervor • Perception that U.S. interest weren’t at risk • U.S. refused to take role in League of Nations

5. Active Foreign Policy • Took a leadership role in disarmament talks • Washington Conference of 1921 • Naval “Holiday” • Five Power Naval Treaty of 1922 • Limited Naval tonnage • Froze certain classes of ships • Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928 • Formally outlawed war • Lacked the ability to enforce the pact

6. Rise of Belligerent Powers • Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 • Invaded China in 1937 • Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935 • Spanish Civil War 1936-39

7. U.S. Reaction • As war threatened, many became concerned • Fear of U.S. involvement • Senate hearings on World War I • War blamed on arms manufacturers • Took steps to prevent the U.S. involvement

8. Neutrality Acts • Designed to keep U.S. from war • 1935: No arms sales to belligerent nations • 1936: No loans or credit to belligerent nations • 1937: U.S. could not ship goods to belligerents • Tied the hands of the U.S.

10. FDR’s efforts • FDR and his cabinet recognized the threat • Prepare the U.S. for involvement • Quarantine Speech 1937 • Cash-and-Carry 1939 • Lend-Lease 1940 • German invasion of Poland, September 1, 1939 • World War II begins • Atlantic Charter August 1941

11. Pearl Harbor • Japanese attack brings U.S. into the war • U.S. sets strategy in motion • Initial outrage against Japan • Determined to defeat Germany first

12. Summary • Describe two ways you would improve today’s lesson