U.S. Foreign Policy and Isolationism Before WWII

London Economic Conference

1933 meeting aimed to stabilize currencies and trade.

Roosevelt's Isolationism

Prioritized domestic recovery over international cooperation.

Tydings-McDuffie Act

Granted Philippine independence by 1946.

Good Neighbor Policy

Improved U.S.-Latin America relations without armed intervention.

Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act

Allowed tariff reductions for reciprocal trade agreements.

Totalitarianism

Authoritarian regimes in Europe and Asia during 1930s.

Neutrality Acts

Laws restricting U.S. involvement in foreign wars.

Spanish Civil War

Conflict highlighting U.S. neutrality limitations.

Quarantine Speech

Roosevelt's call for economic embargoes against aggressors.

Munich Conference

1938 meeting where Hitler was appeased by democracies.

Lend-Lease Act

1941 law allowing U.S. to supply Allies with materials.

Pearl Harbor Attack

December 7

Atlantic Conference

1941 meeting discussing post-war aspirations and security.

Nazi-Soviet Pact

1939 agreement between Hitler and Stalin for territorial negotiations.

Battle of Britain

Significant conflict increasing U.S. support for Allies.

Havana Conference

1940 meeting reaffirming the Monroe Doctrine multilaterally.

Isolationist Sentiments

Public opposition to U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.

Japanese Expansion

Japan's aggressive territorial ambitions in Asia.

Embargo on Japan

U.S. restrictions on vital supplies to Japan.

U.S. Destroyer Greer

Attacked by German U-boat

Shoot-on-Sight Policy

Roosevelt's directive against German submarine threats.

American Public Opinion

Initially isolationist

Economic Burdens

U.S. concerns leading to policy shifts in Asia.

Franco's Fascist Coup

Spanish Civil War outcome supported by U.S. neutrality.

Axis Powers

Germany

Conscription Law

Legislation for military draft during WWII buildup.

Fall of France

1940 event prompting U.S. military preparedness.

Isolationist Senator Wheeler

Criticized U.S. involvement in WWII post-Pearl Harbor.