Isolationism

• Isolationist - Term used to describe US foreign policy and opinion during the 1920's and 1930's, when there was a frequently hostile reaction to suggestions of interaction with other countries that would place some limitation or obligation on the United States.
• Reasons for Isolationism -

  • Increased irritation by European Reluctance to repay wartime debt owed to US.
  • Opinions that WW1 was result of rivalries between inhabitants of old world, dragging Americans into their war.
  • Red Scare - Hoover intervened passively and ineffectively in response to Japanese expansion in China after 1931.
• Coolidge emphasised the importance of cutting military spending to help balance the budget. 'Our main problems are domestic problems'
• Is Isolationism a Myth ?

  • United states knew that a stable Europe was important to American trade.
  • US intervened repeatedly to aid German financial stability.
  • Wilson made military interventions in Latin America
  • Coolidge sent marines into Nicaragua (1926) - American investments and business interests were at stake.
  • US kept imperial possessions such as Philippines (useful market for US manufactured goods and example of how US could civilise others)
  • Three republican Admins worked to promote American commerce overseas ( helped US companies gain Middle Eastern oil)