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Period: to
Thesis: In 1900 to 1941, the U.S. grew into a world power, but as they expanded, they became divided on their position within world.
Politics fluctuated between the policies of isolationism and being a leader of the world powers. The U.S gained power through imperialism, but they desired to maintain their power without getting involved in relations with other countries. After WWI, the U.S.'s foreign policy of isolationism drastically increased thus forcing the actions in politics and diplomacy to become more aggressive in an act of self preservation.
(cut off b/c US did not want to repeat WWI - horror, secret treaties, etc) -
Roosevelt Corollary
The Roosevelt Corollary led to the U.S gaining power out in the world which set off their involvement in Latin American affairs. The U.S. took charge in the Western Hemisphere and challenged the world powers (told powers they could not interfere in the Western Hempishere). The U.S. asserted their power yet they used it to cut themselves off as they did not want anyone to be involved with their business (split the hemispheres - U.S. zone and European zone; but the US is showing they're a power). -
Treaty of Portsmouth
Theodore Roosevelt inserted himself into the Russo-Japanese War by standing as a negotiator. By being the middleman to two world powers, Theodore introduced the U.S. as a country of the same status. At this point, the U.S. had gained territory (through imperialism) and they were strengthening the country (economy, military, etc.) into the status of a world power. It reflected his tactit of Big Stick Diplomacy (speak softly with powerful back-up) and it displayed it in action as diplomacy. -
Dollar Diplomacy (Taft Presidency)
Taft encouraged Wall Street Bankers and other investors to invest in foreign areas that would benefit the U.S. as a way of spreading their reach as a foreign power. Unlike Teddy, Taft sought to display power in a less aggressive way (did not flaunt the military but it stayed behind incase it was needed) as the U.S. was slowly moving into a position of influence (especially over Latin America). As they gained power, politics slowly shifted away from an involved and forceful approach (to subtler). -
Sussex Pledge
As the moral displomacy defined the foreign policy of the time, the pledge represented how politics worked on diplomacy to match their changed position (moral leaders - beginning to take a lead but not quite to the point of war yet as seen by their easy acceptance of Germany's pledge). The U.S. attempted to avoid war by taking Germany's "apology" and promise to not attack passenger ships ("do not hurt the innocent") as they did not want to become engaged in any issue (with another country). -
Fourteen Points (Woodrow Wilson - Moral Policy)
Woodrow Wilson brought the U.S. to the forefront of world issues by standing as a moral leader (e.g. Declaration of War). The U.S. fell into the war due to Wilson's desire to help layout the policies for the post-war world (shown in 14 Points). He desired to build up the U.S. as a world power so they could have their policies pushed especially with the proposed League of Nations. By bringing the U.S. into the war under moral policies, WIlson attempted to embrace and use their position of power. -
Washington "Disarmament" Conference (Washington Naval Conference)
The League of Nations had been rejected and America was back on the route of isolationism. After WWI, the U.S. fled from the position of an active world power after they had become heavily involved in other nations' affairs as the "moral leader," (Wilson's policies were lost with the election of Harding). The conference displayed the shift as all investments towards their navy had disappeared (business owners refused to fund it) and the public desired to focus on their domestic issues. -
Four-Power Treaty
It was the attempt to replace the old Anglo-Japanese Treaty to preserve the normalcy in the Pacific (between British, French, Japan, and the US). After WWI the top prioirty was to return to a normal, calm environment which Coolidge backed (desired to be left alone and in peace- does not want to deal with any more conflicts so try to make everyone happy). Due to Coolidge's ideas and that of the general public, the US got along with many countries to pass laws and then they fled into their shell. -
Kellogg-Briand Pact
The US desired to stop all conflicts by eliminating war (made it illegal - cannot be a tactit of foreign policy; use diplomacy to pass international laws that benefit the US's policies) to go along with their immediate retreat to isolationism. The rejection of the League of Nations had frustrated many Americans (divide in America) and by being apart of the pact, America's policy focused on an attempt to work together with other nations (before it completely changed to trying to hide after WWI). -
Good Neighbor Policy (Groundwork set with Hoover - Cont. with FDR)
The U.S. removed troops from Haiti and Nicaragua in 1933 and in the next year, they nullified the Platt Agreement with Cuba. By making amends with these nations, the U.S. takes control as a world power in a less direct way. They remove the military force within the nations but they replace it with a "friendship" with business partners (economic control). The U.S. continues to display their status as a world power in the West but they do it in a way that appeals to their isolationist ideals. -
London Economic Conference
The conference's goal was to form an international response to the Depression by stabilizing currencies and rates so they could be exchanged between countries. The U.S. did not support the conference because FDR did not want other nations to be involved in America's economic plans. Despite being apart of a world crisis, the U.S. stood strong behind their ideas of isolationism. Due to the lack of U.S. involvement, the conference failed (they needed the U.S. since they were an economic power). -
Tydings-McDuffie Act (Philippine Commonwealth and Independence Act)
It stated that the Phillipines would be independent by 1946 thus reducing the U.S's influence as a world power (lost a territory in the Pacific). Although the U.S faced a loss, they did so to protect themselves since they did not want to support Phillipines if Japan were to attack it (isloates themselves to the point of losing territory so they did not have to face the conflict with other nations). The gave up their position as a protecting world power (changed to one focused on self preserved). -
Neutrality Acts (1935, 1936, and 1937)
The acts state that no American could legally sail a ship from a country at war, sell or transport munitions to them, or give them loans. Due to their history from WWI ("neutral" but still got dragged into the war), the U.S. decided to completely cut themselves off in hopes to preserve their isolationism. The U.S. had strayed from their policy (Good Neighbor) because they desired to preserve themselves (their position with power made them flee - did not want to repeat WWI with WIlson's policy). -
Havana Conference
The U.S. agreed to protect Latin America as apart an extension of the Monroe Doctrine. After much time of only isolationism, FDR attempted to reestablish their power in the Western Hemisphere as an attempt to protect their area (ownership as a world power). After time, they realized that the policy of isolationism may not be entirely effective as the fear remained that the enemies could come to the homefront (politics and diplomacy acted accordingly - friends with Latin American due to worries). -
Lend-Lease Act
After the neutrality acts, the U.S. finally passed the act (also Neutrality Act of 1939 - opened up trade) to prevent Britain from falling (though bill was passed under pretense of protecting America). The political system of the U.S. sought to protect the other democracies (point of giving their arms to other nations was to support the war while not being directly involved in it; 2nd-hand support from U.S. as they desired to still have a distant style of diplomacy and retain isolationism). -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The U.S's foreign policy was shattered as they could not continue a passive-aggressive type of isolationism (tried stay out but they were supporting Allies with supplies). The attack forced the U.S into the war as it was brought to the U.S, thus slapping America in the face (wake-up call). They realized that it is not possible to be a world power and stay completely out of any world affair as they will always somehow become involved in the end (either walk in or get dragged in by someone else).
