Class Discussion! How might U.S. foreign policy affect you, your friends, or your family in our world today? We will use a Padlet discussion (click on "Padlet" for hyperlink) to gain insight from other students’ answers. Use your first initial, last initial, and class period when posting (Ex. KF1).
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Familiarization. Take notes and answer questions on the following issues dealing with American foreign policy in the 1920's prior to World War Two.
Issue #1: The League of Nations
Click here to understand why there was so much animosity between President Woodrow Wilson (D) and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (R). Answer the corresponding questions in your module worksheet.
Click here to learn about the League of Nations. Answer the corresponding questions in your module worksheet.
Click here to learn about the League of Nations. Answer the corresponding questions in your module worksheet.
Political Cartoons
Issue #2: The Washington Disarmament Conference
Click here to learn about the Washington Conference of 1921-22. Answer the corresponding questions on your module worksheet.
Issue #3: The Kellogg-Briand Pact
Click here to learn about the Kellogg-Briand Pact and answer the corresponding questions on your module worksheet.
Class discussion. Prepare an answer to contribute to the following discussion point in PADLET: "Based on your learning thus far, what could have possibly kept another world war from occurring in 1939?" We will use a discussion thread to gain insight from other students’ answers.
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Due to the United States not joining the League of Nations, the organization lost a key power as the U.S. was the only country to emerge stronger after WWI. There were conflicts between the League's members as well. Many in the League were weak militarily after the war which meant that the League lacked "teeth" to enforce policies. The USSR and Germany were excluded from the League as well, leading to distrust and tension in the future.
The Washington Disarmament Conference resulted in multiple treaties which limited the building of new warships. However, when Japan sought equal terms with the U.S. and the U.K. (the U.S. and U.K. had been allowed more tonnage as they had interests in two oceans) and were refused, Japan left the treaty and built up its naval assets. This would help the Japanese later in their goal to expand their empire.
While there were attempts to prevent another world war, there were no ways to enforce the idealistic pacts and agreements put in place to do so. Memories of the devastation of World War One, a weak League of Nations, and the effects of the Great Depression led to a lack of will to enforce policies against aggressor nations leading up to World War Two.
The Washington Disarmament Conference resulted in multiple treaties which limited the building of new warships. However, when Japan sought equal terms with the U.S. and the U.K. (the U.S. and U.K. had been allowed more tonnage as they had interests in two oceans) and were refused, Japan left the treaty and built up its naval assets. This would help the Japanese later in their goal to expand their empire.
While there were attempts to prevent another world war, there were no ways to enforce the idealistic pacts and agreements put in place to do so. Memories of the devastation of World War One, a weak League of Nations, and the effects of the Great Depression led to a lack of will to enforce policies against aggressor nations leading up to World War Two.