Isolationism Policy In The 1920's

The two decades after the end of WWI witnessed significant changes in the economic, social as well as cultural life in America. In the 1920s, the memories of WWI and fear of another costly and deadly European conflict led to the development of Isolationism Policy. The United States adopted the foreign policy of isolationism became isolated due to its economic policies and politics. This policy was in response to the Japanese aggression in Chinese Manchuria. According to Blume (2010), the country involved without commitment as it gained advantages without obligations. The U.S could get involved in world affairs but could not act by interfering or having alliances with other nations. Thus, US became a sovereign free state which was at peace.

The US put tariffs upon imported goods to create a domestic market which would buy American goods. The countries retaliated and the US was left out as foreign governments also put tariffs on US imports. The country aimed for economic benefits rather than political benefits.
However, the Reciprocal Trade Agreement of 1934 allowed the President to negotiate tariff rates with individual nations. Roosevelt’s good neighbor policy created better foreign relations. In 1939, Roosevelt signed the Neutrality Act to favor Germany. Germany did not have the need to buy armaments, but Britain and France had. In 1939 however, Roosevelt prepared to involve in the war to aid the western powers. During the beginning of the war between England, France and Germany, Roosevelt tried to insulate the US from the European crisis. In the 1940s, the U.S. openly involved in the war to assist England fight Germany. This involvement saw America’s neutrality and isolationism come to an end (Divine, 1965).