ROOSEVELT'S FOREIGN POLICY

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Foreign Policy during the 1930s

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Foreign Policy during the 1930s

Introduction

President Roosevelt, the 32nd President of United States is regarded as one of the most popular presidents of the country largely because of some of his policies and strategies. His foreign policy beliefs and his actions based on those beliefs have been a subject of a lot of discussion. Since the times of George Washington, United States had followed non-interventionism or isolationism and had shown its reluctance to become involved in European alliances since they held different views from that of European societies. Despite the strong national consensus towards isolationism, he led the country to attain victory over the Nazi Germany and its allies in the Second World War. His tenure as the President saw a major shift in the foreign policy of the country and the disappearance of isolationism to some extent from American policies and discourse.

Discussion

The United States had remained politically isolated through a large of part of its existence before there was a shift in policies a few decades after the start of the 20th century. Germany's advancement towards American ships during the First World War provoked the US to leave aside the policies of isolationism and participate in the First World War. This marked the first shift away from non-intervention policies. But as soon as the war ended it reverted back to same policies that it held before the war. Regardless of the President Wilson's efforts, the Senate refused to become a member of the League of Nations. For a few more years, isolationism continued with the 1920s saw the American foreign affairs taking a back seat. During the 1920s and the 1930s, immigration policies introduced quotas to stop people from European countries to enter the country in large numbers and opposition continued towards any alliance towards Europe and war (www.u-s-history.com).

President Roosevelt saw from an early time, the dangers of Hitler and Nazis and also the Japanese militants but he could do little for the support of forces of democracy in Europe. This was largely because of the power the isolationists held in the country in the 1930s. Despite that, he masterfully and with great skill and political courage faced the opposition and convinced the Congress to take measures to aid Britain and France and helped in laying the foundation for a post-war peace organization that became United Nations (histclo.com). ...