isolationism

Question 1

What was the Nye Committee and what did it conclude?

Answer 1

• Set up in 1934 by Congress to investigate U.S. involvement in World War One
• Concluded that arms dealers and bankers influenced the decision to enter the war
• Suggested war was driven by greed and profit, not national interest
• No direct evidence, but gave weight to isolationist beliefs

Question 2

What were the Neutrality Acts and why were they passed?

Answer 2

• Passed between 1935 and 1937
• Aimed to prevent the USA from entering future wars

Banned:
- Selling weapons to nations at war
- Giving loans or financial aid to any side in a conflict
- Reflected strong public support for isolationism

Question 3

What was the Cash and Carry policy of 1939?

Answer 3

• Allowed nations at war to buy US goods only if:
• They paid in cash
• Used their own ships to transport the goods
• Aimed to support Britain and France without dragging the USA into the war
• Still technically neutral but favoured Allied powers

Question 4

What was Roosevelt’s Lend-Lease Act and why was it important?

Answer 4

• Introduced in March 1941 to bypass Neutrality Acts
• Allowed the USA to lend or lease war supplies to nations important to US defense
• Britain received $7 billion in support
• Roosevelt called the USA the “arsenal of democracy”

Question 5

Why did tensions between the USA and Japan increase in the 1930s?

Answer 5

• Japan invaded China in 1937
• Formed a military alliance with Germany and Italy in 1940

USA responded by:
- Supporting China
- Banning exports of oil and steel to Japan
- Imposing economic sanctions
- Japan wanted the bans lifted, but Roosevelt didn’t trust them

Question 6

What happened at Pearl Harbor and what was its impact?

Answer 6

• 7 December 1941: Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
• Destroyed or damaged most of the Pacific Fleet
• Approx. 3,500 casualties (around 2,400 dead)
• Marked the end of isolationism—USA entered World War Two