1. Governments in Action: USA 1919-1941
Part 1: The Growth of Isolationism
1. How did the USA react to the treaty of Versailles?
2. How did the policies of the USA encourage isolationism?

2. The Treaty Of Versailles
Jan. 1918, Wilson put forward his 14 Points for a better world. This included the League of Nations and rejected harsh treatment of Germany
He arrived in Europe in Dec and was welcomed as a hero. He stayed until June 1919 and played a major part in the Treaty of Versailles
He didn’t get all he wanted but he did get the League of Nations
But the Senate decided not to accept the Treaty of Versailles and so didn’t join the League of Nations

3. The American president (Woodrow Wilson) believed that the USA should take a leading role in World affairs in order to try and keep the peace. However, the popular view in America seemed to be that the USA should stay out of the affairs of other countries and become ISOLATED (on its own).
BUT WHY WAS THIS?

4. Afraid of the massive cost of wars in the future
Americans did not want more dead soldiers from wars thousands of miles away
Afraid of the massive cost of wars in the future
USA wants to become
Isolated from other
Countries:
BUT WHY?
“It would be better for us if we stayed out of the problems of other countries.”

5. The League of Nations
America didn’t join the League of Nations because:
Many Americans came from Europe (over ½) and had memories of poverty, lack of freedom and exploitation
Americans feared Communism, Anarchism and Socialism. There had been revolutions in Hungary and Germany after Russia’s in They didn’t want it to spread to the USA
American policy of Isolation
100,000 Americans were killed or wounded in the war. People feared America would become more involved in wars if they made further alliances
Wilson had made himself unpopular by staying away for so long and even more so by not being ready to compromise on the deal
Many Americans thought they didn’t need anyone else as their industry was ‘booming’

6. Wilson lost the election in 1920 to Warren Harding
Wilson lost the election in 1920 to Warren Harding. In addition, the new President REJECTED the TREATY OF VERSAILLES even though Wilson was one of the creators of it.
This meant that the USA would not join the League of Nations. How could the League be effective without one of the most powerful countries?

7. What did the USA do to encourage isolationism?
1. Reject the Treaty of Versailles
2. Fordney-McCumber Tariff
3. Reduce immigration

8. Fordney-McCumber Tariff Reduce Immigration
(Reduce no. of people moving to USA)
This tariff was a tax that was placed on foreign goods. This made them more expensive and made American products more attractive to the customer. This policy worked well and helped to create the ‘boom’ of the 1920s. However, foreign governments retaliated by putting taxes on American goods. The USA had now isolated itself economically.
There was an increasing fear of foreign people after WW1. This was due to the war, but mainly the fear that they would take American jobs (because they accepted lower wages.) Also, many feared their new political ideas (especially communism)
The US government passed laws that were specifically designed to reduce immigration numbers from poorer countries.

9. How did the USA try to reduce immigration?
The Immigration Quota Act 1921
“Only 357,000 people are allowed in every year”
“Only 3% of the existing number of people who live here in the USA will be allowed in!”
People had to take a literacy test where they had to read a passage of English. This helped English speakers, but other people could not afford English lessons. Those who failed were not allowed in.
“This means that because there is already much more Irish people than Asian, the 3% quota will allow much more Irish in than Asian!”

10. RESULT
The USA became isolated from other countries both economically (trade) and politically (by staying out of the affairs of other countries.)
Immigration levels were reduced as the USA began to fear ‘foreigners’ (threat to jobs and general distrust). Their policies were designed to keep out Africans, Asians and South Americans whilst continuing to allow in White Europeans.
The aim of isolationism ultimately damaged World peace as the USA failed to join the League of Nations. Many now saw the League as a ‘Talking shop with no Teeth’.

11. Results of Isolationism
America never joined the League of Nations
The Forney-McCumber tariff was used to protect US industry by putting high duties on many imports
Restrictions on immigration. Before the US had an ‘open door’ policy but now restrictions were put on:
Total number was restricted from 1921
A quota system let in numbers of people according to their presence in the US population. This favoured WASPS
A literacy test was imposed in 1917
The US turned its back on Europe for nearly 20years as the Republicans were in charge