US History - Unit 6 - Interwar Foreign Policy

League of Nations

An international peacekeeping organization created after World War I. The U.S. never joined, despite President Wilson’s support. Its weakness made it unable to stop rising aggression in the 1930s.

Washington Naval Conference (1921–1922)

A meeting where major world powers agreed to limit the size of their navies. The goal was to reduce military competition after WWI. It reflected U.S. efforts to promote peace without joining the League of Nations.

Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)

An international agreement in which nations promised not to use war to settle conflicts. The pact lacked enforcement power and failed to prevent future aggression. It showed the desire for peace during the interwar years.

Good Neighbor Policy

President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s policy of improving relations with Latin American nations. The U.S. promised to reduce military intervention and act as a cooperative neighbor. The policy aimed to rebuild trust and strengthen Western Hemisphere ties.

Neutrality Acts (1930s)

Laws passed by Congress to keep the U.S. out of foreign wars. They banned selling weapons to nations at war and restricted American travel on warring nations’ ships. The acts reflected strong isolationist feelings in the U.S.

Totalitarianism

A form of government in which a single leader or political party has total control over all aspects of life. Totalitarian governments limit personal freedoms, control the media, and use fear to stay in power. During the interwar period, leaders like Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin built totalitarian states. The growth of dictatorships in countries like Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union during the 1930s. Economic problems and political instability allowed leaders like Hitler and Mussolini to gain power. Their aggression challenged U.S. isolationism.