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Period: to
Isolationism
"a policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries." -
Height of the Red Scare
The Red Scare was the fear of communism in the United States. Political Scientist Murray Levin described the Red Scare as:
"a nation-wide anti-radical hysteria provoked by a mounting fear and anxiety that a Bolshevik revolution in America was imminent – a revolution that would change church, home, marriage, civility, and the American way of Life" (Levin) -
America Rejects Treaty of Versailles
America rejected the Treaty of Versailles based on objections the the League of Nations. The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty between Germany and the Allies. Senate Majority Leader Henry Cabot Lodge believed that this would cause America to give up too much power. -
Emergency Quota Act of 1921
The Emergency Quota Act placed restrictions on the amount of immigrants entering the United States. The quota was set at 3% of the people of their nationality living in the US in 1910. The act set no limits on those coming from Latin America, countries with bilateral agreements with the US, and Asian countries listed on the Immigration act of 1917. In addition, all professionals were to be let in with no regard to country of origin. -
Fordney-McCumber Tariff Law
The Fordney-McCumber Tariff Law raised the tariff from 27% to 35%. It was created to prevent Europe from flooding America with cheap goods after the war. -
Immigration Act of 1924
The Immigration Act of 1924 replaced the Emergency Quota Act os 1921 cutting the quota from 3% to 2%. It banned all Japanese from entering the country. It exempt Canadians and Latin Americans. This was the end of the era of unrestricted immigration in the United States. -
Kellogg-Briand Pact
The Kellogg-Briand Pact outlawed war yet still allowed for defensive wars. It called for the peaceful settlement of disputes. -
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was a period of severe worldwide economic depression. Consumer spending dropped and unsold goods piled up. This was mainly caused by a large stock market crash. -
Hawley-Smoot Tariff
The Hawley-Smoot Tariff was the highest protective tariff during peacetime. It raised the tariff to 60% and deepened the depression that had begun in America and other nations, increasing the financial chaos. -
Stimson Doctrine
The Stimson Doctrine was a policy of non-recognition towards international territory changes executed by force. It followed the seizure of Manchuria by Japanese soldiers. -
Good Neighbor Policy
The Good Neighbor Policy was the foreign policy under President Franklin Roosevelt towards Latin America. The principle was non-intervention and non-interference in Latin American domestic affairs. In his inaugural address Franklin Roosevelt stated:
"In the field of world policy I would dedicate this nation to the policy of the good neighbor—the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others.” (Roosevelt) -
Neutrality Act of 1935
The Neutrality Act of 1935 imposed a general embargo on trading arms and war materials with all who were at war. -
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War started when fascist General Francisco Franco led rebels to rise against the left-wing republican government in Madrid. Franco overthrew the Loyalist regime which a small group of Americans fought for. The United States which wished to remain out of war changed the neutrality legislation to include an arms embargo for both Loyalists and rebels. -
Neutrality Act of 1937
The Neutrality Act of 1937 cover all the same conditions as the previous neutrality acts and covered civil wars in general. In addition, US ships were forbidden from transporting passengers or articles to those at war. US citizens were also banned from traveling on the ships of nations at war. -
Quarantine Speech
The Quarantine Speech was given by Franklin Roosevelt in which he challenged America to prevent the outbreak of war by taking action. Roosevelt warned that "The peace-loving nations must make a concerted effort in opposition to those violations of treaties… which today are creating a state of international anarchy and instability from which there is no escape through mere isolation or neutrality”. (Roosevelt) -
Neutrality Act of 1939
The Neutrality Act of 1939 ended the arms embargo and repealed the Neutrality Acts of 1935 and 1937. It banned American citizens from entering war zones and charged the National Munitions Council Board with issuing licenses for all arms imports and exports. Arms trade without holding a license became a federal crime. -
Selective Service and Training Act
The Selective Service and Training Act was the first peacetime draft in United States history. It requires men older than 21 and younger than 36 to register for the draft. -
Formation of the America First Committee
The American First Committee was a non-interventionist pressure group which was against American entry into World War II. It was one of the largest anti-war organizations in American history. -
Tripartite Pact
The Tripartite Pact was signed in Berlin by Germany, Italy, and Japan who became the Axis powers. Each country agreed to aid the others in the event of an attack. It was designed to keep the United States out of the war. -
Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act was the main way of providing military aid to foreign nations. It authorized the President to transfer arms and other defense materials to countries whose defense the president deemed vital to he defense of the United States. -
Attack On Pearl Harbor
The Attack On Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Japanese air force against a Unites States naval base. This attack led to American entry into World War II, America declared war the next day.
