Define Isolationism. Who was the first U.S. president to follow this policy?

Answer 1

Isolationism is a foreign policy which combines a non-interventionist military and a political policy of economic nationalism (protectionism). In other words, it asserts both of the following:

Non-interventionism - Political rulers should avoid entangling alliances with other nations and avoid all wars not related to direct territorial self-defense.

Protectionism - There should be legal barriers to prevent trade and cultural exchange with people in other states.

Following the sacrifices in the World War I, the United States population turned to isolationism during the 1920s, opposing any action by the government that would drag the country into another European war. This isolationist tendency led to the imposition of tariffs, thought to be a significant factor in causing the Great Depression. American isolationism came to an end during World War II, particularly following the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor in December of 1941.

Answer 2

Isolationism is a diplomatic policy whereby a nation seeks to avoid alliances with other nations. Most nations are not in a political position to maintain strict isolationist policies for extended periods of time, even though most nations have historical periods where isolationism is popular.

Answer 3

Isolationism


When America joined the Great War in 1917, it tilted the balance against the Central Powers (Germany and her allies), because of her large population and industrial might. When the war ended, President Wilson was in a strong position to influence the peace treaties -the peace settlement was based in fact upon his "Fourteen Points", e.g. a new international body called the League of Nations was to be set up to keep the peace between nations.
Sadly the Americans turned their backs on Wilson (he lost the 1920 election) and on Europe. Many Americans believed that the sacrifices they had made in the Great War had been a waste of money and men. They were opposed to anything that might drag America into another European war. So the USA did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles (officially accept it), nor did she join the League of Nations or the International Court of Justice. Many Americans simply wanted to enjoy the prosperity that had developed in the previous decade and felt that foreign entanglements would threaten it.
During the 1920's and 1930's, America was in isolation, i.e. she kept I herself to herself and took little part in international relations I (conferences and treaties between the nations) .In addition America, isolated herself in terms of trade. Tariffs (import duties) were put on foreign goods to protect American industry. (Because they could not sell their goods to America, European countries could not afford to buy agricultural goods (farm produce) from the USA. This was one of the causes of the Depression.)
America turned its back on Europe in another way. It cut down the number of immigrants allowed into the USA. America was a nation of immigrants. (The native peoples being the dwindling number of Indians, who were largely restricted to remote reservations.) Up until the Great War millions of people, mainly from Europe, had gone to America to seek their fortune and/or escape poverty and persecution. British people, especially the Irish, Germans and Jews, particularly
from Russia, were amongst the largest groups. In 1921 the "open door" policy ended and quotas (a fixed number each year) were introduced. By 1929 only 150,000 immigrants per year were allowed. What was especially unfair was that the system favoured W.A.S.P.s (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) from northern Europe. The people who were most desperate to get to America, e.g. the poor of Italy and Greece and Adriatics found it difficult to get visas (formal entry documents).