William Cleveland, Hannah Solomon, and Adil Mughal AP US History Unit 3 Chapter 26 Study Guide Questions World War

Two Era, 1920-1945 1. Explain the ideas of independent internationalism and isolationism and discuss how these ideas were manifested in the various attempts by American citizens and the American government to create a stable international order during the interwar years. During the interwar years the US retained an era of combined internationalism and isolationism o On a whole, Americans wanted to stay out of the policies, alliances, and squabbles of the world, especially Europe. o Americans still wanted to shape the world to their liking though through colonies, trade, international investments, missionary activity, and humanitarian projects American diplomats tried to continue to exercise American power during the interwar years through peace conferences, humanitarian efforts, moral lectures, cultural penetration, non-recognition of disapproved regimes, arms control, and economic and financial ties through the Open Door principle o US leaders downgraded military intervention in Latin America to fashion a Good Neighbor policy. The stable world the US wanted though was hard to come by o Living standards and poverty still crippled millions of people o World trade and finance was shattered by reparation bills after the First World War, the Great Depression, and the ensuing hard times. o Totalitarian governments started forming, militarism began forming, and Europe and Asia marched toward war. o The US tried to calm its interests in Asia by invoking the Open Door policy with Japan This internationalism and isolationism fell apart once Roosevelt felt that a German victory in Europe would undermine US principles and influence in the Western Hemisphere.

2. Examine and discuss the objectives and consequences of United States policies toward world economic issues from 1918 to 1941. After WWI, the US had became the financial capital of the world o US produced nearly half of the worlds industrial goods and ranked first among exporters

o US companies began investing in the economies of other countries while also exploiting oil fields in Venezuela and challenging British control of oil in the Middle East o This economic expansion of the US led to a cultural expansion as well as a huge increase in American prosperity Webb-Promerene Act (1918) excluded business set up for export trade from antitrust prosecution Edge Act (1919) permitted American banks to open foreign branches. o Both acts were meant to increase US influence economically abroad to therefore benefit the economy of the US, which it did. o It also led to European elites becoming unhappy with US industrialism ideas Dawes Plan (1924) decreased Germanys annual payments, extended the repayment period, and provided more loans to Germany o This greased the financial tracks that were leading to Germany paying back the Europeans with American loaned money and then Europe paying back the US the money they owned us. o This kept Germany afloat as they rebuilt o US also scaled down Allied obligations by cutting the debt in half. Young Plan (1929) reduced Germanys reparation payments o Was meant to end the financial crisis Europe was experiencing, especially Germany. Fordney-McCumber Act of 1922 and the Hawley-Smoot Act (1930) both imposed higher tariffs on imported goods o This decreased world trade by 40 percent US scaled back international assistance and economic influence through the London Conference in 1933 but increased influence through Secretary of State Hull o He pushed through the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act in 1934 which allowed for the President to reduce tarrifs by up to 50 percent and the Export Import Bank which provided loans to foreigners to purchase American goods. o Both of these were examples of independent internationalism as they attempted to stabilize the world economy with the goal of helping the US mostly in mind.

3. Examine the economic and cultural expansion of the United States from 1918 to 1941. The US participated discreetly in the work of the League of Nations. o This included work on public health, prostitution, drug and arms trafficking, and counterfeiting of currency on a world scale. o This led to stronger ties to European nations but also kept the US out of treaties or a real investment on a whole with the frail League of Nations

Economic expansion of the US led to a vast cultural expansion for the US o Hollywood films saturated the global markets and brought fascination in American around the world o Interest in America democracy as well as interest in elevators, radio towers and jazz all increased around the world Americanization begun o This was the acceptance of American ideas around the world as well as an assimilation to the American way of life o Hollywood films and books, such Henry Fords autobiography, brought a fascination with America to all corners of the globe This economic and cultural expansion brought wariness to many foreigners o Many elites worried that populist consumerism would lead to social upheaval and the falling apart of established habits. o Mass consumerism therefore became a politically charged class issue Conservatives in France condemned the notion by the French Popular Front government to raise the purchasing power of workers through wage increases and a shorter workweek. They believed it was too radical and revolutionary. It was a notion brought over by the US. US economic expansion was tremendous overall during this time but led to many of the issues described in the last question. o US became a major world economic power which helped the US recover somewhat from the Great Depression

4. Discuss the impact of the Great Depression on international relations, and explain Secretary of State Cordell Hull's response to intensified economic nationalism. As the Great Depression began, the international economy collapsed. Cordell Hull, the secretary of state, pointed out that political extremism and militarism were a effect of a broken economy. Events in Europe proved the truth of this. Extreme right wing factions in Germany and Italy had gained control, and were bent on taking by force what their economies could not provide, and providing employment through overwhelming military production. It became a priority for the international economic situation to improve to correct the political aberrations that had emerged. The United States was in a prime position to lead the world out of the depression, as it had become the financial leader of the world. From the end of the First World War to 1930, American investment overseas had expanded five times, to nearly $17 billion dollars. The United States also produced nearly half the world's industrial goods, and was the world's top exporter. War debts of the Allied nations totaled 26 and a half billion dollars, 9.6 billion of which was owed to the United States. The debts became a source of tension between the United States and European leaders. Europeans charged that the United States' contributions were part of the war effort, and shouldn't have to

be repaid. American leaders pointed out that European nations had gained territory and money from the war, and had the means to pay back the United States. American economic nationalists declared that the United States would be in even better shape if the Europeans would pay their debts. The United States had implemented the Dawes plan in 1924, restructuring the German reparations debt and assisting their payment with loans. Annual payments were lowered, the repayment period extended, and loans were provided by American banks to make sure the Germans could pay. The plan was intended to prevent radicalism from growing in Germany, and prevent their economy from collapsing into hyperinflation. By 1931, European governments had paid back 2.6 billion dollars of the debt, but as a result of the Great Depression, they were forced to default of the rest of their payments. As a result, the Us government passed the Johnson Act, forbidding the government from giving loans to nations that had defaulted on loans to the United States. Later, President Roosevelt kept the nations from participating in international currency stabilization talks at the London Conference. A desire for trade also pushed the United States to finally recognize the Soviet Union diplomatically. The republican administrations the 1920s had refused the recognize the world's first workers state, denouncing in for repudiating the debt of czarist Russia, and for confiscating $600 dollars of property in Russia during the revolution. Also, relations were hurt by the fact that some Americans believed "the communists ranked as godless, radical malcontents bent on destroying the American way of life through world revolution." Some companies had begun to open up contracts with the soviet government, opening up plants in the Soviet Union, and by 1930, the Soviet Union was the largest buy of American agricultural and industrial equipment. Ford, Westinghouse, Caterpillar, John Deere, American Express, and RCA all entered the soviet marketplace in this period. The Soviet Union and the United States finally open relations in return for discussing the debt question and granting Americans in Russia religious and legal rights. By 1932, twenty-five nations had created tariffs in response to the FordneyMcCumber Act of 1922, and the Hawley-Smoot Act of 1930, both establishing tariffs on foreign imports. This had caused world trade to fall by 40 percent. American exports in goods fell by 3.5 Billion dollars. Secretary Hull wanted to find a solution though increased trade. He thought increased trade would not only solve the nation's economic problems but also foster world peace. He pushed Congress to pass the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act in 1934, empowering the president to cut tariffs by as much as half in negotiations with foreign governments.

In the same year, Hull also helped create the Export-Import bank, an agency that gave loans to foreigners for the purpose of purchasing US goods. These actions only partially alleviated the problem.

5. Examine and evaluate the interests, methods, and results of United States policy toward Latin America during the 1920s and 1930s. After the first world war, it was assumed that the United States would police Latin America, especially in accordance with the Monroe doctrine, which since the turn of the century, had been used more extensively. Through the Platt amendment in Cuba, the Roosevelt Corollary, the Panama Canal, military intervention, and economic investment, the United States had made Latin American a virtual set of colonies within the American sphere of influence. The United States could rely on Latin America for markets and a profitable business environment. And when they could not, they could create one through force. Within Latin American nations, American influence was evident. Americans influencing Latin American nations reformed tariff and tax laws, invited US companies to build infrastructure projects, and organized high interest loans for Latin American countries. American diplomats pushed governments to suppress anti imperialist sentiment. During the 1920s, the United States engaged in a series of actions described as the Banana Wars. The nation of Haiti was under US occupation until 1934, Cuba was occupied until from 1917-1922, and the Dominican republic was occupied from 1916-1924. American troops were sent into Honduras in 1919,124, and 1925. American troops were sent into Panama in 1925 in response to rent rioting. And American troops were sent into Guatemala in 1926 after a coup created unrest, American troops were sent into the country repeatedly until 1933. By 1929, direct American investment in Latin America totaled more than 3.5 billion dollars. The United Fruit company became a huge landowner, Standard Oil did its business in eight countries, the Chilean economy became dependent on the American market for its copper, Americans bribed local governments for lower taxes, In the 1930s, the United States seemed to shift away from military intervention, instead favoring less direct exploitation of the South American continent. The new approach was more focused on import-export loans, financial advice, economic and cultural penetration, training national guards, and political subversion.

FDR later called this strategy the "Good neighbor policy," with the intention to give the Latin Americans a share of the wealth the Americans were gaining off of them. FDR pulled home US troops stationed in Haiti and Nicaragua, ending the US occupation of those countries. Roosevelt also promised that the United States would not intervene in the "internal or external" affairs of other nations. This made the United States more popular in Latin America. Roosevelt did not keep his promise not to intervene in other nation's affairs. He supported dictators in South America in exchange for favorable business policies, and helped conservative Cubans overthrow their new government, putting Fulgencio Batista into power. Cuba became a close business partner of the United States, and became a tourist destination for American tourists. More seriously, the Mexican nation put itself at odds with eh United States after it nationalized foreign oil companies in reaction to their cold response to Mexican unions. Many called for Roosevelt to attack Mexico, but as feared the Mexican would began sending oil to Germany and Japan of the United States acted aggressively, he negotiated. The United States and Mexico reached an agreement in 1942 in which the United States recognized the Mexican control of their resources, and the Mexicans would compensate US companies for lost property.

6. Explain Europe's descent into the Second World War. On March 5, 1933, Adolph Hitler was declared Chancellor of Germany by the German Parliament. He was given dictatorial powers, and represented the culminated of his orchestrated rise to power. His rise was largely a result of the economic position of Germany, which had fallen severely. In the Great Depression, German production dropped by 40 percent, and nearly six million people were unemployed. Hyperinflation, failing banks, and severe economic demands from the treaty of Versailles also collectively broke the German economy. the nation became severely polarized, and while millions of workers flocked to the communists, and back to the socialist party, national chauvinists and business executives strongly supported Hitler. Hitler's fascism glorified the German "Aryan" race, and total dictatorship over democracy or workers control. The Nazi Party declared that they would eliminate the communist, Jewish, and other traitors in Germany, often combining them in their ramblings, declaring that they would destroy "Jewish bolshevism." Hitler decided to remove Germany from its international obligations in the treaty of Versailles, and international scrutiny in the League of Nations. He

ended reparations payments, and began a massive military expansion, employing many Germans in jobs that were heavily restrictive. Public works jobs paid the same as welfare payments, and normal employment a demanded membership in a fascist "union," with all other unions illegal The military buildup was in direct violation of the terms of the treaty of Versailles, which restricted Germany's military to a small force. Fascist Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935, and Hitler sent his troops into the demilitarized Rhineland the next year. Hitler declared that Germany's military had made it dominant, and that The world belongs to the man with guts! as the rest of Europe did nothing to oppose him. In 1936 Germany and Italy joined forces in the Rome-Berlin Axis. Germany also signed a treaty with Japan declaring an Alliance against the Soviet Union, the source of "Jewish bolshevism." The rest of the European continent responded by largely appeasing Hitler, hoping that he would back down if he got everything he wanted, ignoring the purpose of the massive military buildup and extremely aggressive nature of his declarations to the German people. In 1936, civil war broke out in Spain between the Publican government, an alliance of socialists, liberals, communists, and anarchists, and the mutinous soldiers under the command of Frisco Franco, who wanted to install a fascist government in Spain and eliminate the communists and anarchists. While the soviet union sent aid and volunteer brigades, Germany large amounts of military aid to Franco's forces, allowing them to defeat the republicans, whose alliance broke down as the war progressed. In 1938, Hitler sent troops into Austria, annexing the nation under the pretense that it was German-speaking, and therefore should be part of Germany. Later that year, he wanted to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, and in private negotiations, Britain and France agreed to do nothing in response. In exchange, Hitler promised not to take any more territory. British and French officials celebrated "averting a war" and that there would now be "peace in our time." In march of the next year, Hitler took the rest of Czechoslovakia. In the United States, many people felt that entering the fist world war had been a mistake, and that they could not get involved in another European war. The war had unleashed negative forces in both society and government, and

been a horrible experience as well. A poll in 1937 found that 2/3 of the nation regretted joining the first world war. In 1939, as Hitler eyed Poland, the British and French governments decided to stand up to German militarism before it consumed them both. they declared that upon a German invasion of Poland, "a state of war would exist" between them and England and France. Hitler decided that his chances against Britain and France would be greater if Germany was not caught again in a tow front war, so he formed a pact with the Soviet Union. As Stalin had been seeking an alliance against Germany before and not received any serious consideration from the other world powers, he decided to let Germany fight England and France, giving the Soviet Union more time to prepare for the inevitable war. The Soviet Union was also given small amounts of territory, which were in Addition to the territory Stalin began to take in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland. All were former regions of the Russian empire. On September 1st, the German military launched a blitzkrieg invasion of Poland, smashing the country's military before it had time to react. Forty-eight hours later, Britain and France declared war on Germany, but did not invade or assist Poland. German citizens in the British and French empires were arrested. On June 22nd, 1941, Germany, with the help of the nation of Finland and the other Axis powers, invaded the Soviet Union through Operation Barbarossa, a massive surprise Offensive.

o 7. Explain the nature and growth of isolationist sentiment in the United States, and discuss the Neutrality Act as an expression of such sentiment. Americans watched the buildup of conflict in Europe with apprehension o Many wanted to distance themselves from the conflict by keeping America uninvolved o Many had learned from World War One that war is damaging to nearly all aspects of society and the economy, and they had no interest in becoming involved in a second war o Americans worried that, in an attempt to spread freedom around the world, they would lose their freedoms at home o Others feared increased taxes and executive power o Still others felt domestic issues would be disregarded as more time and money was spent on the military

The Nye Committee Hearings determined that certain corrupt arms dealers and politicians had dragged America into World War One, so many Americans became suspicious of businesses with ties to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy President Roosevelt signed a series of Neutrality Acts in response to American isolationism o 1935: prohibited arms shipments to either side during a war once the President had declared the existence of conflict o 1936: forbade loans to nations at war o Joint Resolution of 1937 declared US neutrality in the Spanish civil war o 1937: cash-and-carry principle (warring nations wishing to trade with the US for non-war-related items would have to pay cash and pick up their purchases from US ports in their own ships. Also forbade Americans from traveling on the ships of warring nations These acts generally represented the wishes of the American people, who wished to avoid another war and have as little contact as possible with nations at war.

8. Discuss the foreign policy ideas and diplomatic leadership of President Franklin Roosevelt from 1933 to United States entry into the Second World War. Roosevelt shared the isolationist views of the public in the early 1930s o Prior to World War One he was an expansionist and an interventionist o However, after the war FDR talked more about disarmament and neutrality and problems at home than foreign issues and policing the world In a speech given in 1936, Roosevelt described the horrors of war and promised that the United States would remain uninvolved in the European conflict In 1938, during the crisis over Czechoslovakia, Roosevelt endorsed appeasement rather than starting a conflict Despite his actions, Roosevelt was growing troubled by the forceful advances of Germany, Italy, and Japan o He disliked Japans expansion into Asia and was appalled by the Nazi persecution of the Jews o He recalled his ambassador to Germany and allowed 15000 refugees to stay in the country but could do no more without the support of Congress and the American public Roosevelt began to quietly take matters into his own hands o He secured funds from Congress to build up the air force o In 1939 he secretly began selling bombers to France o Hitlers annexation of Czechoslovakia was a turning point for Europe and FDR Hitler was looking to annex more and more land, and the world leaders were beginning to see just how much of a threat he could be September 1939: Germany invades Poland, Britain and France declare war on Germany o Roosevelt declared neutrality but pressed for a repeal of the arms embargo

November 1939: Congress approves cash-and-carry exports of arms At the same time, turmoil in Asia was being generated by civil war in China and tensions between China and Japan o Japan grew suspicious of US relations with China, and the AmericanJapanese relationship began to break down rapidly o As Japanese violence in China grew, American anti-Japanese sentiment also grew o Roosevelt refused to declare the existence of war in Asia so the US could continue to help China by selling it weapons 1937: Roosevelt calls for a quarantine against Japan to curb the epidemic of world lawlessness o Supporters were enthusiastic, isolationists warned that the US was moving towards war 1939: US nullifies its trade treaty with Japan but trade of cotton, oil, and machinery continues Foreign policy was vigorously debated in the US from 1939 to 1941 o Roosevelt knew neutrality could not last long but the great majority of the American public still wanted to stay out of the wars o FDR begins to aid allies with supplies and arms; signs draft into existence and begins to mobilize the nation for war FDR still claimed that by helping Britain with weapons and supplies, the US could stay out of the war o He won reelection on this platform March 1941: Congress approves FDRs lend-lease program Tensions between the US and Japan increase rapidly; FDR tries to buy time with talks o Despite this, Japan launches a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 o The US declares war on Japan the next day o Three days later Italy and Germany declare war on the US, permanently involving America in the second World War

9. Examine the erosion of American neutrality toward the war in Europe between September 1939 and December 7, 1941. By 1939, Roosevelt was selling arms and planes secretly to France Hitler annexed Czechoslovakia and began an invasion of Poland o In response, Britain and France declared war on Germany o The majority of the American public still wanted to stay uninvolved, but FDR knew he had to help France and Britain somehow o September 1939: FDR declares US neutrality in war but asks Congress to repeal the arms embargo In November Congress lifted the embargo and approved cash-andcarry shipment of arms

Roosevelt, 1939: The US cannot draw a line of defense around this country and live completely and solely to ourselves Polls at the end of 1939 showed that the vast majority of Americans favored the Allies and most supported aid to Britain and France, but the great majority also wanted the nation to remain at peace As Hitler marched through Europe, American isolationism began to slip o Hitler occupies France and launches a massive air attack on Britain o Americans begin to support American involvement to protect France and Britain o Roosevelt institutes a draft and begins selling goods and arms to Britain, while still claiming that they could help Britain and remain uninvolved in the war o March 1941: Congress approves lend-lease; US navy protects ships bringing supplies to Europe o August 1941: Roosevelt and Churchill meet on a ship and talk for four days; Roosevelt tells Churchill that he could not ask Congress for a declaration of war o American and German ships and submarines begin to clash o October 1941: Congress scraps cash-and-carry, revises Neutrality Acts to permit the transport of weapons to Britain on armed American vessels o December 7, 1941: after talks with Japan had reached a stalemate and tensions had skyrocketed, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor o December 8, 1941: US declares war on Japan o December 11, 1941: Germany declares war on US

10. Examine the deterioration of Japanese-American relations from the 1920s to the Japanese attack against Pearl Harbor, and discuss American entry into the Pacific theater of the Second World War. Japan and China both wanted to expel Europeans from their countries o The US had interests in Asia: colonies, trade opportunities, religious missions o Late 1920s: civil war breaks out in China o Jiang Jieshi ousts Mao Zedong, takes power o Soong Meiling, Jiangs wife, appeals to Americans o US signs a treaty with 1928, restoring tariff control to the Chinese while US gunboats and soldiers remain in China to protect American citizens Japan grows suspicious of Chinese-American relationship Japanese-American relationship begins to deteriorate rapidly o Japan gains influence in Manchuria, Shandong, Korea, looking to expel Western influences

o Japan resented the immigration law of 1924 that excluded them from emigration to the US o Japanese military seizes Manchuria from China More than half of Japans foreign interests rested in Manchuria Seizure of Manchuria violated Kellogg-Briand pact and NinePower Treaty, but the US had no power to compel Japanese withdrawal and the League of Nations did little more than condemn the Japanese government Japan continues to pressure China o 1937: Sino-Japanese war breaks out o Bombing of Shanghai intensifies anti-Japanese sentiment in US o Roosevelt continues to supply China with arms and refuses to declare the existence of war so he does not activate the Neutrality Acts o December 12, 1937: Japanese aircraft sinks a US gunboat o Tokyo apologizes and offered to pay for damages Mid 1939: US breaks trade treaty with Japan but continues to trade machinery, cotton, and oil Japanese-American relationship enters a stalemate with the outbreak of war in Europe September 1940: Japan signs Tri-partite Pact to form the Axis Powers with Germany and Italy o Roosevelt places an embargo on the shipment of fuel and scrap metal to Japan, still trying to avoid a war with Japan so he could focus on Europe o July 1941: Japan occupies French Indochina, US freezes Japanese assets in the US and ended trade with Japan This cut off Japans primary source of oil According to polls taken in fall 1941, Americans were willing to risk war with Japan to prevent further aggression Roosevelt knew the war in Europe was still top priority and he organized a series of talks with Japan to try to buy time o Despite this, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941 o US declares war on Japan the next day