Great Depression/Pre World War II Isolationism

With the massive economic downturn of the Great Depression, many Americans looked inward as they attempted to solve their own problems.  The general feeling among Americans was that we have our own problems.  Why should we pay any attention to problems looming anywhere outside our borders?  Hence, isolationism thrives.

            The London Economic Conference of 1933, which consisted of sixty-six nations, looked to solve the economic crash on a global scale.  When the countries demanded the US maintain a stronger grip on the value of the dollar, Roosevelt made the brash to decision to not comply.  He didn’t want to sacrifice his own powers in dealing with the depression at home, for the sake of the global depression.  Though, this backfired, as Roosevelt found that this individualistic attitude plunged the entire world even deeper into depression.

            Isolationist attitude extended to Asia when Congress passed the Tydings-Mcduffie Act (1934).  This act would give independence to the Philippines by 1946. In the mean time, there would be a slow process releasing the United States influence on the islands. 

            Within out own landmass (North and South America), America essentially became more isolationist.  At the Seventh Pan-American Conference of 1933, the United States promoted non-intervention with the Latin American sovereign countries.  The idea was if we stopped intervening in Latin American affairs, we could create strong partners with some of the Latin American countries.  Cuba was released from the Platt Amendment, which had essentially said we had the power to intervene in their government if we ever felt they were a threat.  The Good Neighbor policy formally promoted United states nonintervention in Latin America.  It proved extremely successful as we strengthened ties with Latin America, and, for the first time, Latin Americans truly began to respect the United States.

            Though, this isolationist attitude was not seen in everything the United States did.  There are also strong exceptions.  In 1933, the United States formally recognized the Soviet Union, despite our history of strong anti-communist sentiment.  Roosevelt was influenced to do this in hopes that Soviet Russia could be a strong trade partner and a friendly ally if there were ever to be, say, a war against Germany or Japan.

            Ironically, during this period of isolationism, tariffs were actually decreased.  The Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934, designed to increase global trade, lowered the outrageously high Hawley-Smoot tariffs.  It also provided more power for the government to quickly adjust tariffs, without the approval of the Senate.  Overall, the Reciprocal Trade Agreements were quite successful in increasing foreign trade and improving relations all over the world, especially in Latin America.  As the United States lowered its tariff firewalls, other countries began to also.  This was a big step toward taking the world of the depression.  Congress, despite reducing tariffs, felt little sympathy for foreign debtors.  The Johnson Debt Default Act (1934) prevented other nations already in debt from borrowing any more money. 

            As Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy teamed up in the Rome-Berlin Axis, the United States remained its calm, feeling the vast Atlantic provided some sort of protection.  (Whether it actually did, it debatable.) 

            I hope this provides a good overview of the Great Depression/pre-war isolationism in the United States in the early 1930’s.  Here is a question to ponder:  Was the United States isolationism justified, or did only bring ruin to an economically depressed world preparing to enter into another world war?