The idea of isolationism was to keep America separate from political affairs of other countries. This movement was established by President George Washington, following the French Revolution, he warned against foreign alliances and affairs not involving America. Following this, the Monroe Doctrine encouraged America to stay away from Europe. America was a country of independence and believed it had the right to govern itself. Isolationists wanted to keep clear of foreign conflicts where they would gain nothing, however, isolationism did not prevent them from taking the opportunity to expand its Empire, or boost its economy or power, but involvement with foreign policies and affairs was inevitable and the idea of isolationism slowly began to erode.

Before the Spanish- American War, America had invested millions of dollars into the sugar plantations in Cuba. As Spanish authority rose oppression of the Cuban civilians increased and many sought out protection from the United States. American President McKinley was committed to neutrality, however, felt that the harsh treatment of the Cubans was not necessary and gave Spain an ultimatum to evacuate the island, giving Cuba its independen

ce and to pay $50 million for war preparations. When, Spain failed to reply, America declared war. Although McKinley had no intention in expanding America, many officials “believed it was the prime opportunity to do so. One such person was Theodore Roosevelt.” Manifest Destiny had a whole new meaning, and now included territorial expansion overseas. Establishing claims across seas gave new sources of raw materials and new investments. This new idea was formulated by Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, who believed that, in able to gain “Sea Power,” sea lanes, coaling stations and choke points had to be established. However, this would take America into the involvement of foreign affairs.

America was now a protectorate over Cuba, and American expansion into the Pacific brought the US closer to Asian nations, especially China. “Several European countries, along with Japan, were fiercely competing for trading rights in China. The United States entered a new and complex arena of international politics.”

Roosevelt was right, and although a large percent of the nation expressed isolationism and large percent also broke away and rebelled against the Neutrality act. This is evident during the Spanish Civil war when 300,000 American volunteers, known as the Abraham Lincoln Brigade fought with the Socialists against Gen. Franco’s Loyalist in the attempt to prevent the spread of international fascism. This made a large statement against isolationism in America. The Axis powers continued to put pressure on the West but remilitarizing the Rhineland as well as invading Poland in 1939.

However several anti- isolationists responded by breaking away from the ideals of isolationism. The Lend- Lease was one example, which was proposed by Roosevelt. This gave Roosevelt the authority to lend the Allied nations up to 30 billion dollars worth of military supplies. Isolationists and Anti- Roosevelt Republicans saw it as getting the US even closer to the war. As a result of this the Lend- Lease effectively ended US neutrality of economic declaration of war, and US war production increased rapidly.

In 1921, at the Washington Naval Conference, President Harding looked for the protection of national interest, by creating an agreement between Great Britain, Japan, and France in the signing of the Four-Power Treaty, which stated, to respect each othe

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