Two reasons for American Isolationism in the 1930s

One of the reasons for America’s isolationism during the 1930s was the Great Depression itself as Roosevelt felt that becoming heavily involved in foreign affairs would take away energy that could be better spent on domestic policy and recovery. Roosevelt chose to focus on domestic issues while maintaining a low-profile international policy that focused on free-trade and international peace.

A second reason for isolationism in the United States in the 1930s was the presence of hostilities in Europe and Asia which reinforced isolationist sentiment. The failure of Wilson’s goals after WWI made many Americans question the reasons behind the US entry into the Great War. In the minds of many, the industrialists/capitalists were to blame.

The arms manufacturers and bankers were perceived as greedy merchants of death. It was this sentiment in combination with the Nye Committee report that saw the creation and passing of the 1935 and 1937 neutrality acts prohibited the selling of arms and the making of loans to countries that were at war as well as the later creation of a cash and carry policy for nonmilitary goods. This policy supported foreign trade and helped our economy while helping aggressors fight their war and thereby thwarting any chance for peace.