The United States From 1920 to 1941 Essay Example

Between 1920 and 1941, an onslaught of cultural, economic, and political changes rocked the United States and the world as a whole. From the prosperous highs of the Roaring Twenties to the devastating lows of the Great Depression and the emergence of fascistic dictators, this period left scars on history that will never be forgotten. During this time, American foreign policy shifted from deeply isolationist to gung-ho for interference and war in Europe as a result of a plethora of events that changed the nation’s outlook on the world. 

Throughout the 1920s, America’s economic prosperity domestically discouraged international involvement, contributing to the isolationist ideology that dominated the decade’s foreign policy. Additionally, the nation was hesitant to keep getting involved with foreign conflict because of how devastating World War I ended up being. Because of this, America’s desire to remain isolated and neutral grew stronger than ever, which can be seen in America’s reluctance to join the League of Nations. This is demonstrated by Document A, in which Harding denounces the League of Nations and says that America shouldn’t join it because it would jeopardize the nation’s independence. Harding’s attitude reflects that of many Republicans during this period, which is why America never joined the League and grew more and more isolationist over time. America’s desire to remain independent was a hallmark of its foregin policy during this time. The theme of isolationism continued, and it is embodied by Document B, which advocates for limiting armament globally. This demonstrates the United States’ desire to stay out of global conflict and prevent war. Americans generally believed that disarmament and decreasing military power around the world would stave off another war, so the nation’s principles of isolationism, neutrality, and independence in the years following World War I were an important aspect of its foreign policy at the time. Finally, America’s economic prosperity in the 1920s was a deterrent for getting involved with global affairs. Document C states that America should be hesitant to participate in international matters because of how wealthy, powerful, and influential the nation had become by 1930. Throughout the 1920s, protective tariffs were passed to encourage domestic production and consumption, which showed how resistant America was to engaging with the world. The nation was growing evermore anxious about even trading internationally, perfectly encapsulating the dominance of isolationism in American foreign policy during the 1920s. 

In response to the rise of fascistic dictators like Hitler and Mussolini, American foreign policy began to shift. Although still generally trying to maintain neutrality and isolation, Americans began commenting on the world’s affairs. For example, Document D comes from a newspaper in 1937 detailing atrocities committed by the Japanese military in China. Previously, Americans likely would have been hesitant to comment on something like this because of their dedication to neutrality, but the rise of fascism helped draw the nation out of that passive perspective on the world. Document D shows the beginnings of a shift in America’s mentality towards global affairs, especially those that are particularly egregious. The sources in Document E also demonstrate this shift regarding foreign policy because they show how Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, began supporting armament, which stands in stark contrast with the calls for disarmament twenty years before. Although neither side supported actually joining the war in this document, they both wanted to reinforce America’s national defense, contradictory to the mentality of disarmament that was so prevalent in the 1920s. Although the nation had remained unallied up until this point, Roosevelt’s Secretary of State worked out an agreement with Britain that was essentially a military alliance, detailed in Document F. The author of this source expressed their disdain at this agreement, reflecting a widely held opinion in the American public. However, the fact that America entered that agreement with Britain in the first place shows that foreign policy was beginning to shift, whether the public was initially on board or not. America was no longer the completely isolated, neutral, and independent nation that it was after World War I. 

As time progressed, the need for American involvement with global affairs started to become more and more apparent. Hitler and the Nazis continued their conquest of Europe as they invaded and occupied numerous nations, such a Poland, Norway, and the Netherlands. This made Americans realize that they needed to join the war to help fight off fascists like Hitler, which is depicted in Document G. This document emphasizes the naive reasoning behind some Americans’ reluctance to enter the war and the consequences that could arise, serving to underscore the necessity of America joining the fight. Just twenty years before, American foreign policy was staunchly dedicated to isolation and neutrality, so this document embodies the sudden change of heart in America as the direness of the situation in Europe came to light. Americans were growing more and more willing to enter the war, regardless of how much it diverged from the nation’s long standing isolationist values. In Document H, Roosevelt points out that aiding Britain’s defense would be greatly advantageous for America, which perfectly encapsulates Americans’ changing viewpoints regarding foreign policy in response to the threat overseas. Twenty years before, Americans likely would have done whatever they could to stay out of conflict and remain neutral, but the unprecedented circumstances in Europe forced the nation to alter their foreign policy. Defending Britain would ultimately defend the United States, explaining their motivations for getting involved with the war, no matter how much it contradicted the previous nature of the nation’s foreign policy. 

American foreign policy has also had to adapt to suit the times at other points in the nation’s history. For example, at the beginning of World War I, Wilson was committed to staying neutral and not getting involved with the conflict, but after things like the sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmerman note, America was left with no choice but to enter the war. This is similar to how America’s foreign policy shifted as World War II progressed, and it became clear that the United States entering the war would be advantageous for the Allied powers. Ultimately, a plethora of unforeseen events from 1920 to 1941 culminated in a drastic shift in American foreign policy. The nation went from being entrenched in isolationism to entangled in crippling international war in the matter of just a few years’ time.