US Diplomacy Before WWII Flashcards
(45 cards)
What was the “Good Neighbor Policy?”
The foreign policy put in place by President Roosevelt in relation to Latin America.
Why was the Good Neighbor Policy put in place?
In order to ensure hemispheric cooperation against possible aggressors.
Why was the Good Neighbor Policy necessary for US-Latin relations?
The US had had a history of exploiting Latin American and Caribbean countries and peoples, seen prominently through US imperialism.
What was agreed upon in the Montevideo Conference of 1933?
All signing nations at the conference agreed that no nation had the right to interfere in the international affairs of another nation.
What were some of the results of the Good Neighbor Policy?
- US troops left Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua
- New US treaties with Latin America led to increased trade that benefitted all nations
- USA ended the Platt Amendment that gave it the right to intervene in Cuba
Who called the 1936 Buenos Aires Conference?
US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Why was the 1936 Buenos Aires Conference called?
President Roosevelt was concerned about increasing aggression in Europe.
What was agreed upon at the 1936 Buenos Aires Conference?
All present nations agreed to consult with one another and maintain neutrality in the event of conflict.
What was the aim of the agreements made at the 1936 Buenos Aires Conference?
To keep fascist influence out of South America.
What was agreed upon at the Lima Conference of 1938?
21 American republics agreed to a policy of nonintervention and international cooperation.
What were some of the reasons that Americans favoured neutrality after WWI?
- Many Americans viewed participation in WWI as a mistake
- The Nye Committee looked at enormous profits made by American companies supplying the government during the war
- Many believed that American banks pushed the government into the war because they loaned money to Great Britain
What were the Neutrality Acts?
Laws passed by Congress designed to keep America out of another world war.
Did the Neutrality Acts stay the same over time?
No. Over time, the Neutrality Acts became less “neutral,” starting to favour the UK and becoming more skeptical of Germany and Japan.
What was stated in the First Neutrality Act (1935)?
The US President may ban US ships from carrying munitions to countries at war.
What was stated in the Second Neutrality Act (1936)?
No loans were to be made to countries at war.
What was stated in the Third Neutrality Act (1937)?
No munitions were to be exported to either side of the Spanish Civil War.
What was stated in the Fourth Neutrality Act (1937)?
The US President can determine what countries at war may and may not buy from American companies.
How strong was opposition to war in 1930s America?
Very strong. 70% of Americans felt that participating in WWI had been a mistake and 95% opposed future involvement in war (1937 poll).
What were some initial problems with US neutrality?
- In 1937, Japan invaded China. In response, President Roosevelt sent arms and money to China
- President Roosevelt saw Italy, Germany, and Japan as “threats to global order”
- In a speech, President Roosevelt suggested a “quarantine” of “problem nations”
What was the US response to Hitler becoming more aggressive?
Americans began to become more open to support for the United Kingdom and France.
What happened to the US defense budget in 1938?
President Roosevelt increased the US defense budget by $552 million in order to prepare for war.
How were the Neutrality Acts circumvented in 1938-39 by President Roosevelt?
- President Roosevelt found a way to let the French buy planes
- Talks with Prime Minister Winston Churchill increased
When and why did WWII in Europe begin?
In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland.
What were the “America First Committees” that spread during 1939-1940?
Committees which opposed US involvement in war (opposed aid to the UK and all war-related measures).
