7.11 - Interwar Foreign Policy

Isolationism

• U.S. policy of avoiding foreign conflicts, especially after WWI

• Americans wanted to focus on domestic issues (economy, jobs)

• Led to limited involvement in global affairs during the 1920s–30s

Washington Naval Conference

• Major world powers agreed to limit naval weapons

• Goal: prevent another arms race

• Example of peaceful cooperation without war

Dawes Plan

• U.S. plan to help Germany repay WWI debts

• U.S. gave loans to Germany → Germany paid Allies → Allies paid U.S.

• Helped stabilize Europe temporarily

Kellogg-Briand Pact

• Countries agreed to not use war to solve problems

• Signed by many nations

• Weak because it had no enforcement

Neutrality Act of 1935

• U.S. tried to stay out of future wars

• Banned selling weapons to countries at war

• Reflected strong isolationist beliefs

Good Neighbor Policy

• U.S. improved relations with Latin America

• Promised less military intervention

• Focused on cooperation and trade instead

Four Freedoms

Proposed by Franklin D. Roosevelt:

• Freedom of speech

• Freedom of religion

• Freedom from want

• Freedom from fear
  👉 Justified U.S. support for democracy in WWII

Executive Order 9066

• Allowed internment (forced relocation) of Japanese Americans during WWII

• Based on fear after Pearl Harbor

• Violated civil liberties