Study Notes on U.S. Involvement in Global Affairs Post-WWI

The United States and Global Affairs Post World War I

Introduction

  • The United States did not join the League of Nations, marking a failure of Wilson's vision for American involvement in global affairs after World War I.

Warren G. Harding's Presidency (1920)

  • Elected in 1920, Warren G. Harding campaigned on a platform of a "return to normaly."

    • Note: "Normaly" as a term reflects a reaction against the progressivism and internationalism of the preceding era.

  • The slogan: "America First" encapsulated Harding's campaign strategy.

    • Harding believed this phrase represented a patriotic devotion to prioritizing American prosperity and stability.

Myths about U.S. Isolationism

  • Contrary to popular belief, the United States did not completely withdraw from global affairs after World War I.

    • The notion that the U.S. was detached from international issues is incorrect.

Efforts to Promote Peace in the 1920s

  • The U.S. engaged in several significant initiatives in the 1920s:

    1. Washington Naval Conference

    • A disarmament conference hosted by the U.S. with several world powers aimed at reducing naval arms.

    • One of Wilson's 14 points was the reduction of arms—this conference showcased U.S. leadership in peace initiatives.

    • Agreement established naval ratios:

      • For every five warships Britain possessed, the U.S. would also have five, and Japan would have three.

    • Result: Decreased tensions and averted a potential arms race.

    • Example: The USS South Carolina was dismantled as part of this disarmament effort.

    1. Dawes Plan

    • Post-World War I, Britain and France demanded reparations from Germany, who in turn owed money to the U.S.

    • The Dawes Plan facilitated the flow of funds:

      • The U.S. provided loans to Germany, allowing it to pay reparations while retaining some financial resources for itself.

      • Britain and France used the payments from Germany to settle their debts to the U.S.

    • Result: A financial cycle where all parties benefited and furthered international cooperation.

    • Recognition: The plan was impressed historians and awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to the U.S. in 1925.

    1. Kellogg-Briand Pact

    • This international agreement, initiated by the U.S., renounced war as a method of national policy.

    • There is an ironic undertone in referring to this pact, given the historical context of its failure to avoid future conflicts.

Shift Toward Non-Interventionism in the 1930s

  • Transition in the U.S. foreign policy from promoting global peace to emphasizing non-interventionism:

    • The U.S. desired to avoid entanglement in other nations' conflicts.

  • Introduction of the Good Neighbor Policy:

    • Aimed to foster a non-interventionist relationship with Latin America, disavowing past imperialist practices in favor of a cooperative approach.

    • Commitment to intervene only when requested or in a friendly manner.

  • In Europe, the sentiment leaned towards non-involvement:

    • The U.S. avoided selling arms to combatants during conflicts, learning from previous experiences that had led them into World War I.

  • Implementation of the Neutrality Act:

    • A legislation passed by Congress in the 1930s to prohibit the provision of aid to countries at war, reinforcing U.S. non-involvement in foreign wars.

Conclusion

  • Overall, while the U.S. aimed to play a role in ensuring global peace in the 1920s, the political climate shifted toward a more isolationist stance by the 1930s, focusing on domestic concerns and selective engagements on friendly terms.