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Period: to
Thesis
The increasing amount of foreign policy made from the US during this time of war shifted American ideology from a strong isolationist standpoint to being the leaders in world diplomacy. -
Neutrality Proclaimation of WWI
Wilson issued this neutrality legislation at the start of the war because the US believed Germany was only Europe's problem. -
Wilsonian Policy in Haiti
When Haiti went through a period of political turmoil, Wilson signed a treaty with Haiti to provide US soldiers for support and supervision. Wilson's foreign policy was focused on the smaller countries whose help required less risk for the US. -
Wilson's Proposal of the Fourteen Points
This extensive plan to heal the world and provide a new form of mediation was the height of the US's foreign intervention in the era before WWII. While Wilson's ideas were very involved, the nation made him let go of many of these policies in order to not over involve the US. -
Failure of the League of Nations
As one of Wilson's Fourteen Points, the League of Nations was intended to be a large diplomatic event. After Wilson's presidency, although, it ultimately failed due to the lack of US support. With the 1918 elections came a new, Republican Congress that rejected the league. This was the nation's big stunt for isolationism. -
Election of Harding
To further back up the disdain of the League of Nations, Harding was elected. This Republican President aggreed very well with the Republican Congress, and furthered the US's stance of isolationism. -
Election of Coolidge
President Coolidge continued the streak of isolationism due to his Republican platform. The only exception to his closure of the US was the Carribean and Central America. This is because their problems were on a smaller scale- the risk of detrimental damage to the US by taking on their enemies and problems was very low. -
Election of Hoover
Another Republican President supported isolationism- by electing him, the American people proved that this isolationist policy was the best fit for the US. -
Stimson Doctrine
This legislation, used to deter Japan from invading more of China, was the bare minimum the US used to support China with its attackers. It simply stated that the US would not recognize the territory that Japan conquered, in hopes of protecting Manchuria. Because the League of Nations was still powerless, this did nothing to keep Japan away from Shanghai. This doctrine was an attempt at controlling world affairs, but it was a weak one that did very little to help the US or China. -
Johnson Debt Default Act
This Act was a blatant tell that the US was trying to pull out from the burdens of war. Not only was the US unwilling to fight, but it did not want to deal with the aftermath of war debt and economic crash. -
Tydings-McDuffie Act
As a slight nod to the fact that the war could spread, the US gave the Philippines independence so it would not have to handle this country after the possibility of an attack from Japan. This was a subtle way for the US to prevent conflict from coming to its own shores. -
Neutrality Acts
This legislation was the basis for the US staying away from conflict. It was what the President used to justify any interaction with the Allies. -
Conference in Munich
This attempt at appeasement made it clear that the US was beginning to step in to debate and barter the war to an end. It was a sign that America was starting to fear the Axis expansion, but time was not out, as it stayed in Europe. -
Havana Conference
This event proved that the US was truly fearing the German aggression and expected the violence to come to the West. The Confrence made an official grant of protection to Latin America. If the US was starting to prepare for the attack on Latin America, it must be certain that Germany's expansion could hit the US at any time. -
Repealing of the 1939 Neutrality Act
To have the power to arm merchant ships, the Neutrality Act was repealled. It was decided after many sinkings of US ships by the Germans when the US tried to escort supplies to Britian. This was one huge step closer to involving the US in the war. -
Pearl Harbor
This unexpected attack on the US left many Americans united in the urge to go to war. Now that this violence hit American shores, citizens were ready to back up the Allies in battle. This urged Congress to officially involve the US in war- the most extreme diplomatic change for the US.
