A commitment to isolationism

What did Wilson believe America should do?

• Export their ‘superior’ political, social and economic ideas to other nations
• Join the League of Nations to ensure collective security → failed to win domestic support in 1919 and America entered a period isolationism

What were the reasons between 1919-33 for American isolationism?

• Traditional American suspicion of ‘entangling alliances’ reinforced by the fact WW1 was the result of rivalries between corrupt inhabitants of the Old World
• Many Americans agreed with Coolidge that the main problems were domestic problems + military spending to be cut to balance the budget
• Americans became more annoyed at European reluctance to pay wartime debts

How could isolationism be demonstrated as a myth?

• Harding, Coolidge + Hoover initiated in international agreements to discourage expensive arm races and wars
• United States intervened to aid German financial stability as it was important to American trade
• Retained imperial possessions such as the Philippines
• Worked with business interests to promote American commerce overseas

Blank Card

Blank Card