American Isolationism

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the reasons why America pursued a policy of isolationism following WWI, how that policy was implemented and why America eventually moved away from an isolationist policy after WWII.

From the Paper:

"In its broadest sense, the term isolationism refers to the period in American history between the end of World War I and into the 1920's when certain American citizens and organizations held the view that America should remain a non-intervention and unilateral nation in regard to involvement in the affairs of Europe, especially pertaining to European wars and related military conflicts. Although isolationism itself "was a rather old concept in American history, it was only within the 20th century that it gained prominence and came under attack by numerous political and social critics." 1 However, as individuals and entities, those that advocated isolationism did not want the U.S. to sever itself from the rest of the world, for they did not oppose foreign trade and nor American expansion through what was then known as "Manifest Destiny", a policy begun in the later years of the 19th century. Isolationists, for the most part, were not pacifists either, for "they favored the maintenance of military force and might in order to safeguard American interests and national security." 2 One of the main components of the isolationist mind was a deep-seated distrust of Europe, especially when it came to Great Britain, for in essence, the isolationists believed that "America had the capability to help the rest of the world through the build-up of its own prosperity and freedom rather than by political or diplomatic involvement in Europe." "

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