Glossary
America First
A prominent non-interventionist pressure group in the United States that opposed American entry into World War II, arguing for a focus on domestic issues.
Example:
Charles Lindbergh was a leading voice for the America First Committee, advocating that the U.S. should concentrate on defending its own borders rather than engaging in European conflicts.
American Bund
A pro-Nazi organization in the United States during the 1930s that promoted fascist ideology and sought to recruit German-Americans, holding rallies and advocating for American neutrality in the war.
Example:
The American Bund held a large rally in Madison Square Garden, showcasing the unsettling presence of extremist, pro-fascist sentiments within the United States during the interwar period.
Cash and Carry
A provision of the Neutrality Act of 1939 that allowed belligerent nations to buy U.S. arms and other goods if they paid cash and transported them on their own ships.
Example:
The Cash and Carry policy was a subtle step away from strict neutrality, enabling Great Britain to acquire vital war materials from the U.S. while still minimizing direct American risk.
Dawes Plan
A plan to reschedule German reparations payments after World War I, involving a cycle where U.S. banks loaned money to Germany, which then paid reparations to Allied nations, who in turn repaid their war debts to the U.S.
Example:
The Dawes Plan created a precarious financial loop that collapsed when the Great Depression hit the United States, halting the flow of American loans to Germany.
Good Neighbor Policy
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's foreign policy towards Latin America, emphasizing non-intervention and mutual respect to improve relations and foster hemispheric unity.
Example:
Under the Good Neighbor Policy, the United States withdrew troops from several Latin American countries, signaling a shift away from previous interventionist practices.
Isolationism
A national policy of avoiding political or economic entanglements with other countries, particularly prevalent in the United States during the interwar period.
Example:
Many Americans supported Isolationism in the 1930s, believing that staying out of international conflicts would prevent the nation from being drawn into another devastating war.
Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)
An international agreement in which signatory states promised not to use war to resolve 'disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise among them.'
Example:
Despite its noble intentions, the Kellogg-Briand Pact proved ineffective because it lacked any enforcement mechanisms, making it little more than a symbolic gesture against war.
Lend-Lease Act
A program enacted in 1941 that allowed the U.S. to lend or lease war supplies to any nation deemed 'vital to the defense of the United States,' effectively ending U.S. neutrality.
Example:
The Lend-Lease Act provided crucial aid to the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, transforming the U.S. into the 'arsenal of democracy' even before its official entry into World War II.
Neutrality Acts
A series of laws passed by the U.S. Congress in the 1930s designed to prevent the United States from being drawn into future wars by restricting trade and financial transactions with belligerent nations.
Example:
The Neutrality Acts prohibited the sale of arms to warring nations, reflecting the strong American desire to avoid the entanglements that led to U.S. involvement in World War I.
Pearl Harbor
The surprise attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, which directly led to the United States' entry into World War II.
Example:
The devastating attack on Pearl Harbor unified a previously divided American public and prompted President Roosevelt to declare December 7th a 'date which will live in infamy.'
Return to Normalcy
President Warren G. Harding's campaign slogan after World War I, advocating for a return to simpler times and less international entanglement for the United States.
Example:
After the chaos of World War I, many Americans longed for the stability and peace promised by Harding's call for a Return to Normalcy.
Selective Service Act (1940)
The first peacetime conscription (draft) in United States history, enacted to build up the nation's military forces in anticipation of potential involvement in World War II.
Example:
The passage of the Selective Service Act demonstrated a growing recognition within the U.S. government that direct military preparedness was necessary despite ongoing isolationist sentiments.
Totalitarian Leaders
Dictatorial rulers who emerged in the 1930s, such as Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and Tojo, who exercised absolute control over all aspects of their nations' political, economic, and social life.
Example:
The rise of Totalitarian Leaders like Adolf Hitler in Germany marked a dangerous shift towards aggressive nationalism and militarism in the interwar period.
Washington Conference (1921)
An international conference held in Washington D.C. that resulted in several treaties aimed at naval disarmament and addressing security issues in the Pacific.
Example:
The Washington Conference sought to prevent a costly naval arms race by setting limits on battleship construction for major world powers.