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US Foreign Policy
From 1900 to 1940, the US went from being expansionist, to isolationist, then into one of containment. The US had a foreign policy which was constantly changing to fit the ever-evolving needs of both the US and the rest of the world. They expanded for personal gain, and when it became less beneficial, they became more of an isolationist state. When there were wars going on, they remained isolationist, selling arms to all, until it became more beneficial to get involved. -
Big Stick Diplomacy - Theodore Roosevelt
The US would only become involved in the affairs of other small nations when it was morally correct and more beneficial to do so. The US was said to follow the quote "Speak softly and carry a big stick" because it allowed them to choose when to get involved, while also giving them power over other nations. -
Roosevelt Corollary
The Roosevelt Corollary extended US protection to Latin/South America and other small nations. It was an extension to the Monroe Doctrine. Through this, the US were maintaining their expansionist ideals, while also becoming more isolationist. They expressed a dislike for others becoming involved in their affairs and wanted to prevent other large nations from changing their deals with the Americas. -
Lusitania was attacked, T. Roosevelt Demands War
There were American Passengers travelling on the Lusitania, and when it was attacked, it broke the American's trust in the word of the Germans. They became involved in the war soon after to protect the US and their interests, therefore leaving their time of isolation to become more controlling. -
US Purchases the Virgin Islands from Denmark
This is a piece of the US expansionist policy, where they were focused on expanding, yet also focused on their own well-being and personal successes. Having control of more territory made them appear more powerful, and was overall beneficial for the state of the US and its affairs. This -
Zimmerman Telegram
The Zimmerman Telegram was a telegram from the Germans in an attempt to coerce Mexico into joining the war and attacking the United States. The US was coerced into joining the war for protection and to help the allied powers. The threat from Germany and the Axis Powers forced the US into self-preservation and containment because they wanted to contain the threat. -
Wilson's Fourteen Points
In an attempt to curb further warfare, Wilson helped to draft the Fourteen Points. It contributed to the ending of World War I, and began the process for peace negotiations between involved nations. This was showed the US' identities as peacemakers and spreaders of containment. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles brought World War I to an end, and supports the US policy of containment. The US and other nations involved in this decided to place all of the expenses from the war onto Germany and the non-allied powers. -
Dawes Plan
The US gave money to Germany, because after the war, the US was still financially stable because they made money selling arms to others during the war. This shows the containment policies of the US because they were aiding other nations (although it would later negatively impact them), because they want to ease the tensions from the war. -
Washington Naval Conference - Four, Five, and Nine Power Treaties Established
The Four-Power, Five-Power, and Nine-Power Treaties were agreements between 4, 5, and 9 nations. They were agreeing on limitations for the arms, as well as trying to end the arms race. This expands upon the US policy of containment. -
Naval Disarmament Conference in Geneva
This was a part of the US' policy on containment. They were discussing the limitation of arms because they wanted to restrict other nations from starting another war. They were extending the decisions and limitations that were agreed upon at the Washington Naval Disarmament Conference. -
Kellogg-Briand Pact
The US and other nations came together and agreed to 'outlaw war' which is a part of the US' containment policy. They wanted to prevent a second world war from happening, because the tensions were still very high after the first one. The aftermath was not good for the affairs of the US, so they wanted to ensure that they could remain a successful world power. -
Hawley-Smoot Tariff
This tariff was a part of the US' isolation and containment policies. It ended up leading to a lack of financial success and trade, which makes it isolationist (although that was not the point of this Tariff). They were trying to reduce the negative impacts from World War I and the Great Depression through this tariff, so they rose the tariffs to generate revenue and promote growth of the economy. -
London Economic Conference
There was a conference to deal with the backlash from the Great Depression, and the US followed their isolationist ideals upon their withdraw from the Conference. Through this withdraw, the conference fell apart and stopped the procession of economic aid among the other involved nations. -
Neutrality Act of 1935
When World War II broke out, the US passed this act to remove themselves from the war. They had no desires to become involved and were only concerned with self-preservation of both people and the economy. This is a piece of their isolationist policy because they refused to become involved with the war (until they had no choice but to become involved). -
US enacts a trade embargo against Japan
Through this trade embargo, the US was trying to get Japan to leave China alone. This is a part of the US' containment policy. They wanted to contain the fighting and atrocities that were breaking out in China at Japan's hands. The trade embargo was not successful, although it was enacted by many other nations aside from the US.
