3.2 Post-World War I
Learning Target 16. Explain why and how the United States moved to a policy of isolationism following World War I.
Click on the image to complete a graphic organizer on Post-World War I treaties.
After World War I, the United States emerged as a world leader and pursued efforts to maintain peace in the world.
President Wilson’s efforts partially helped shape the Treaty of Versailles. As part of his Fourteen Points, Wilson proposed the League of Nations as a means of ensuring world peace. However, many who opposed joining the League argued that the United States would lose its independence. Debate over the League and the desire to avoid foreign entanglements led to its defeat in the Senate in 1919. The United States did not to join the League of Nations.
Desires to avoid another major war led to treaties addressing arms limitation and territorial expansion. In the Four-Power Treaty (1921), the United States, France, Britain, and Japan agreed to consult with each other in the event of a crisis in East Asia before taking action. Great Britain, the United States, Japan, France, and Italy signed the Five Powers Treaty (1922), agreeing to limits on naval tonnage and restrictions on building ships and bases. The Nine-Power Treaty (1922) promised that each of the parties— the United States, Britain, Japan, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and China—would respect the territorial integrity of China.
In 1928, the United States signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact. The pact outlawed war as “an instrument of national policy.” In taking a leading role in these later treaties, the United States sought to limit its involvement in international affairs.
Note: You will not be asked to provide specific treaty names and/or details. You are expected to understand the concept of a treaty if presented with a name and specific details.
President Wilson’s efforts partially helped shape the Treaty of Versailles. As part of his Fourteen Points, Wilson proposed the League of Nations as a means of ensuring world peace. However, many who opposed joining the League argued that the United States would lose its independence. Debate over the League and the desire to avoid foreign entanglements led to its defeat in the Senate in 1919. The United States did not to join the League of Nations.
Desires to avoid another major war led to treaties addressing arms limitation and territorial expansion. In the Four-Power Treaty (1921), the United States, France, Britain, and Japan agreed to consult with each other in the event of a crisis in East Asia before taking action. Great Britain, the United States, Japan, France, and Italy signed the Five Powers Treaty (1922), agreeing to limits on naval tonnage and restrictions on building ships and bases. The Nine-Power Treaty (1922) promised that each of the parties— the United States, Britain, Japan, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and China—would respect the territorial integrity of China.
In 1928, the United States signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact. The pact outlawed war as “an instrument of national policy.” In taking a leading role in these later treaties, the United States sought to limit its involvement in international affairs.
Note: You will not be asked to provide specific treaty names and/or details. You are expected to understand the concept of a treaty if presented with a name and specific details.
