Effects of Isolationism Between the World Wars

Prosperity and Consumerism Blinded Americans to Global Realities

Jul 23, 2009

The so-called "go-it-alone" mentality during the inter-war years fueled isolationist views while militarism in Japan and Germany pointed to new global conflicts.

The presidential election of 1920 slammed the door on United States’ active involvement in global affairs. Warren Harding’s “return to normalcy” was eagerly accepted by Americans that wished to forget the recent events of World War I and the sacrifices entailed in ending that conflict. Americans felt secure by the two oceans that separated the United States from regions that seemed to be embroiled in constant warfare. Return to normalcy also meant a return to isolationism. In many ways, this was a costly mistake.

Post War Prosperity and Consumerism

Some historians call it “Coolidge Prosperity,” named after the unemotional successor to the presidency after the untimely death of Warren Harding in 1923. The automobile industry was booming, labor saving devices appeared in American kitchens, the radio debuted, and Hollywood was introducing an entirely new film industry that would bury forever the thrills of vaudeville.

The Calvin Coolidge administration represented the height of laissez faire in American business. According to Coolidge, “business should be unhampered and free.” Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon reduced federal expenditures and reduced taxes. Consumerism rose even as post-war depression griped many of the European countries.

The United States had loaned billions to the Allies during the Great War. As these debts were being collected, usually from German reparations which were sporadic, the effect on European economies was not factored into the long term US-European commercial relationships. Everyday Americans were unconcerned with these matters. They rooted for the New York Yankees, followed the “Scopes Monkey Trial,” and eagerly anticipated the newest models coming out of Detroit.

Foreign Policy Retreating

Historian Page Smith refers to inter-war American foreign policy as a “go-it-alone” mentality. Not only was the League of Nations a dead issue, buried forever by the 1920 election, but so was United States’ participation in the World Court. Neither Coolidge nor Hoover took affirmative steps to curb growing global threats, such as the 1931 Japanese invasion of Manchuria.

The 1927 Kellogg-Briand Pact was signed and ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1928 – which also happened to be a presidential election year. The Pact was chimerical. It renounced war as an instrument of foreign policy and in many ways paralleled the idealism of Woodrow Wilson. The difference was that nations signing the treaty wanted to appear just, but knew that they would never abide by the terms. For the U.S., the Pact legitimized an isolationist stance.

End of Normalcy but not Isolationism

The stock market crash of 1929 effectively ended “normalcy” and inaugurated the Great Depression. Unemployment figures rose, banks and businesses closed, and fear filled the land until FDR advised Americans that the only thing to fear was fear itself.

Ironically, as the U.S. descended into the abyss of Depression, Germany was rebounding economically. Chancellor Hitler (as of 1933) was secretly rearming Germany, tasking Herman Goring with preparing the nation for war. The autobahn was built and industry retooled for war.

Despite these ominous signs, isolationism prevailed. Americans believed that is was necessary to put their own house in order. Although President Roosevelt saw the signs of looming war, particularly after 1939, the Congress was loathe to take any actions that might repeat the World War I model. Isolationism would not be discarded until December 7, 1941

Would a Different Approach Have Stopped Global Militarism?

During the Japanese invasion of China, Secretary of State Henry Stimson urged a strong American response but was rebuffed by President Hoover. Stimson was one of the early critical observers of Nazi Germany. Like Winston Churchill, he could see another global conflict. Unfortunately, U.S. political leaders ignored these signals, destined to repeat the past.

The copyright of the article Effects of Isolationism Between the World Wars in Modern US History is owned by Michael Streich. Permission to republish Effects of Isolationism Between the World Wars in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.