Foreign Policy

• Literacy Act - Legislation imposing literacy tests for immigrants seeking entry into the US

  1917
• Immigration Act - Established immigration quotas based on national origin, heavily favouring immigrants from northern + western Europe


  1921
• Sacco + Vanzetti - Italian immigrants convicted of murder in a highly controversial trial fuelled by anti-immigrant sentiment + prejudice


  1921
• Immigration Act - Further restricted immigration to the United States, particularly targeting southern + eastern Europeans + Asians


  1924
• Dawes Plan - Plan to address German reparations after WW1 by restructuring payments and providing loans


  1924
• Kellogg-Briand Pact - International agreement renouncing war as a means of resolving disputes

  1928
• Young Plan - Plan to further reduce German reparations payments after WW1


  1929
• Good Neighbour policy - Shift in US foreign policy towards Latin America, emphasising non-intervention + cooperation


  1933
• Platt Amendment - Legislation granting the United States certain rights in Cuba and controlling its foreign policy


  1934
• 1st Neutrality - Legislation prohibiting arms sales to warring nations to keep the United States out of future conflicts


  1935
• 2nd Neutrality Act - Expanded restrictions on arms sales + loans to belligerent nations


  1936
• 3rd Neutrality Act - Imposed an arms embargo on both sides of a conflict + forbade American citizens from traveling on belligerent ships


  1937
• Chicago Speech - Speech by President Roosevelt criticising totalitarianism + advocating for international cooperation


  1937
• Ludlow Amendment - Proposed constitutional amendment requiring a national referendum before declaring war


  1938
• 4th Neutrality Act - Extended the arms embargo + cash-and-carry policy to civil wars


  1939
• 5th Neutrality Act - Lifted the arms embargo on belligerent nations but maintained other neutrality provisions


  1939
• Pearl Harbour - Japanese attack on the US naval base in Hawaii, leading to American entry into WW2


  1941
• Atlantic Charter - Agreement between the United States + Britain outlining post-war goals for peace and security


  1941
• Lend-lease Act - Legislation allowing the United States to provide military aid to foreign nations during WW2


  1941