Textbook Terms, Chapter 25

Discusses US international affairs involvement in the intra-war period.

Adolf Hitler

(1933) Dictator of Nazi Germany who rose to power as leader of the Nazi Party, pursued aggressive expansion and militarization, and whose actions—including the invasion of Poland in 1939—helped trigger World War II.

Appeasement

(1930s) Foreign policy used mainly by Britain and France of making concessions to aggressive dictators such as Adolf Hitler in hopes of avoiding war, most famously seen in allowing Germany to annex territory before WWII.

Atlantic Charter

(1941) Joint declaration by Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill outlining Allied goals for the postwar world, including self-determination, free trade, and collective security.

Benito Mussolini

(1922) Fascist dictator of Italy who established a totalitarian regime, allied with Nazi Germany during World War II, and helped form the Axis Powers.

Cordell Hull

(1933) U.S. Secretary of State under Franklin D. Roosevelt who promoted lower tariffs, international cooperation, and helped shape American foreign policy leading into World War II.

Dawes Plan

(1924) U.S.-backed financial plan that restructured Germany’s World War I reparations payments and provided American loans to stabilize the German economy and European recovery.

Good Neighbor Policy

(1933) Foreign policy announced by Franklin D. Roosevelt promising that the United States would respect the sovereignty of Latin American nations and avoid military intervention in the region.

Henry Stimson

(1940) U.S. Secretary of War under Franklin D. Roosevelt who helped oversee American mobilization for World War II and supported strong action against Axis aggression.

Hideki Tojo

(1941) Japanese prime minister and military leader who supported Japanese expansion in Asia and authorized the attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the United States into World War II.

Kellogg-Briand Pact

(1928) International agreement in which many nations, including the United States, pledged to renounce war as a tool of national policy, though it lacked enforcement and failed to prevent WWII.

Lend-Lease

(1941) U.S. program allowing the United States to supply Allied nations with weapons, equipment, and supplies without immediate payment in order to support their war effort against the Axis Powers.

Neutrality Acts

(1935) Series of laws passed by Congress in the mid-1930s intended to keep the United States out of foreign wars by restricting arms sales, loans, and travel with nations at war. Driven by 1930s isolationist sentiment to prevent involvement in foreign conflicts.

Pearl Harbor

(1941) Surprise attack by Japan on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which destroyed much of the Pacific fleet and led the United States to declare war on Japan and enter World War II. Just a day later on December 8, FDR asked congress to declare war on Japan, resulting in a unanimous senate and only 1 opposed house vote. Three days later, Japans allies (Germany & Italy) declared war on the US.

Washington Conference of 1921

(1921) International naval conference held in Washington, D.C., where major powers agreed to limit naval armaments and attempt to maintain peace in the Pacific region.