"Isolationism" and FDR (1935 - 1941)

1. What were the goals of the isolationists? Why is "isolationism" a misleading term?

2. What did some isolationists feel that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia?

3. What were the purposes of the Nye Committee hearings?
The Nye Committee hearings' purposes were to find out why the U.S. was dragged into the first World War.

4. List two impressions that the Nye Committee hearings created.

One impression that the Nye Committee hearings had created were that Wilson was convinced by businesses that would make a profit off of war to enter World War I. Another is that the bankers and munition-makers were guilty of profiteering, or getting an excess of profit for a necessary product.

5. What were the purposes of the Neutrality Acts?

The purposes of the Neutrality Acts were keep the U.S. out of the war and prevent it from suffering from it.

6. List two reasons that some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous.
Some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous because he gave the government more power in the economy, and people believed he was giving too much power and involvement to the government. Also, his attempt to "pack" the supreme court angered many people and severely hurt his reputation. Finally, he decided to run for a third term, which no president had ever attempted, and people thought he was over-powerful and dangerous as a president.

7. What was "Cash and Carry"?
"Cash and Carry" allowed the sale of war materials to the warring countries, but it required the countries to pay cash and to pick up the goods themselves instead of have them shipped.

8. Why did President Roosevelt freeze Japanese assets in the United States?

FDR froze Japanese assets in the U.S. because it was spreading through Asia, taking land everywhere. Roosevelt stopped trade with them, and stopped selling them crucial supplies. So Japan occupied French Indochina, where they could get those resources for themselves. Because of that, FDR froze Japanese assets in the U.S.

9. What was the purpose of the America First Committee?

The America First Committee dedicated itself to keeping the United States out of war, so its purpose was to do just that.