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World War I
When Wilson asked Congress for war, the US had been already been supplying and funding war efforts of both sides, mainly the Allied Powers. This supports the thesis of fostering political and diplomatic change because this is the first major war the US was involved with in Europe, they made new allies, and politics changed to either support or reject war efforts. Even before the war, citizens took sides on whether or not supporting the Allies with supplies was worth the effort. -
Wilson's Fourteen Points
Before the end of WWI, Wilson drew up his Fourteen Points. These points mainly stated that peace incorporated among Europeans, no secret treaties, freedom of the seas, an anti-colonization. It also outlined and foreshadowed the League of Nations which would attempt to organize the world leaders. This event supports the thesis because this is an attempt at foreign policy by the United States and the citizens of the US had the right to give opinion on the attempt of diplomatic relations by the US. -
Paris Peace Conference
The conference outlined the Treaty of Versailles, Security Treaty, and the creation of the League of Nations. The treaty was written up by the Big Four, which included the United States for the first time. The war success catapulted the US to the world stage, and diplomatic relations and domestic politics changed because of it. Diplomatically, the US now had more power in world economics, and politics changed through groups of people supporting or rejecting the US's foreign relations. -
Washington "Disarmament" Conference
Included the Five-Power Treaty, Four-Power Treaty, and Nine-Power Treaty. It basically outlawed war. Allowed for Chinese Open Door Policy, minimizing of major powers' navies, and allowed for Japan to sustain the Pacific region. This fostered change diplomatically because it allowed the US to be involved in negotiations and treaties that would have a major impact in the near future (WWII). It also changed politics because people now had something to blame when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. -
Fordney - McCumber Tariff Law
Increased tariff from 27% to 35%. The Europeans were very angry because Europe depended on the US buying their goods, while the US was simply trying to increase isolationism. Europe responded by also increasing their tariffs. This affects diplomacy because it creates a bigger gap between the US and Europe politically and economically, setting the stage for future war. This changes politics because people support self-dependency and wanted to no longer get involved in European issues. -
Dawes Plan
The Dawes Plan was set up to try to restructure the paying of debts across the Germans for their reparations and the Allies for buying supplies for the US. It failed because the Germans did not have enough money to continue to pay the Allied Powers. The US also never got their money back. This changed diplomacy because the US sank deeper into isolationism, feeling betrayed and cut off from Europe. This changed politics because Americans also feeled as if Europe had screwed over the US. -
London Economic Conference
World leaders came together to discuss the world depression, except the US. The US did not support the LEC and because of this, it fell apart. This shows how important the US now is to the world economy. This shows success in the idea of isolationism because the world is now dependent on the US. This shows a change in diplomatic relations because now the US controls the meetings and talks. It changes politics because the main focal point of isolationism in politics becomes a success. -
Tydings - McDuffie Act
This act allowed for Philippines independence (after 10 years), for the sole purpose that if Japan attacked, the US would not be held responsible to support the Philippines. When Japan attacked Manchuria, they began to increase aggression in the region. The US does not want to get involved in another war so they break ties with the vulnerable Philippines. This affects diplomacy because this starts the chain effect of the US cutting ties with other controlled lands including the Carribean. -
Reciprical Trade Agreements Act
This act was designed to allow the president to lower tariffs on countries ONLY if they also lowered their tariffs on the US. This was a success among 21 countries and begun pacts and agreements leading up to WWII. This affects diplomacy because it decreased isolationism and increased the world economy. This event affects politics because people in the US began to choose sides on whether or not to continue to support isolationism or world trade. -
Neutrality Acts
The acts stated that when there is a foreign war, restrictions and laws would take place. These laws and restrictions include the right to trade with certain countries, immigration, give them supplies, or support them. This changed diplomacy because countries like Spain and Germany thought this was a way of the US saying they would not support their aggression towards other countries. This changed politics because Americans had limited speech and press if they support enemy countries. -
Quarantine Speech
FDR gave a speech stating that an embargo should be set up against the aggressive leaders of Japan, Spain, Italy, and Germany. Italy recently invaded Ethiopia and Japan continued to show aggression in the Pacific, invading China. This changed diplomacy because now the US was setting up enemies through political ideologies of dictatorships and fascism. People did not agree with FDR's speech so he did not follow through on his plan; this shows how Americans have a say in politics. -
France and Britain Declare War on Germany
France and Britain finally declare war on Germany after they had already taken the Rhineland, Sudetenland, Austria, etc, built up their military, and set up mandatory military service, which goes totally against the Treaty of Versailles. The United States keeps their Neutrality Act. This changes diplomacy because the US once again goes into isolation, while Europe begins to fall into war. This changes politics because now people have to decide whether to join or stay away from war in Europe. -
Lend-Lease Bill
The bill allowed the US to lease arms to other democracies around the world (Britain and France) during WWII. Germany saw this as an unofficial declaration of war, so they started sinking US supply ships. This changes diplomacy because now the US has chosen officially chosen a side in the war, going against dictatorships and fascism. This changes politics because the US now has to decide whether or not to support the fight in Europe, once again. -
Repeal of the Neutrality Act
Congress repeals the act, allowing US ships to become armed and ready for combat. This shows the increase in US readiness to join the war if prompted to, which eventually they are. This changes diplomacy because now the US can help defend the Allies with the use of their own weaponry. This changes politics because people decide whether or not to support or reject the arming of ships, as it does go against isolationism, neutrality, and self-dependency. -
Pearl Harbor and the Declaration of War on Japan
Black Sunday, planes approach Pearl harbor, they shoot, they kill, US goes wild. They kill 2,000+ on Pearl Harbor and the US responds with a sweet declaration of war. Then Japan and Germany declare war on the US, so the US just goes ahead and declares war on Germany. This changes diplomacy because everyone can shut up because the US just goes ahead and joins the allies. This changes politics because now there are protests arguing against the war, while others join in on the war efforts.
