President Franklin Roosevelt’s foreign policy was influenced in 1937-1941 by America’s ability to improve their economy by trade, increase national security by increasing America’s military and navy strength,, and demonstrate his democratic values by becoming very involved and prepared before entering the war against Germany and Japan. Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) was able to take America out of the Great Depression in the early 1930’s through his liberal, hands on methods; and as a result he had full trust of the American people during the lead up to World War II (WWII). After Fascist dictators such as Hitler (Germany) and Mussolini (Italy) started to break all of the deals that the world had come to in the Treaty of Versailles and other agreements,
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FDR could use this to his advantage, and by increasing national security, he could also prepare for the possibility of war in the future. Because Americans were still isolationists, they believed that having a strong navy could protect them from war. Leaders such as Charles Lindbergh, who was a part of the America First group (a group against going to war), said that those who thought that war was inevitable were showing true defeatism (Document H). He also claimed that building a strong military and navy would protect them from even having to go to war. That being said, most Americans thought that pouring money into their protection made a lot of sense, but for different reasons than FDR. The President thought that increasing the strength of the military would help prepare them for war. The whole country was backed up on spending money for national security, and some even claimed that “[We] shall have no other business, no other aim in life, but primitive self-defense” (Document C). Besides the navy, the peace draft created through the Selective Service Act (1940) was also important to maintain national security. By preparing the soldiers to defend their country, FDR was also preparing them to go to war. The army would be the only way to secure protection from Germany, which would lead to horrible effects for the Americans, such as having to deal with Germany trade control (Document D). By providing relief to Americans by increasing national security, FDR was also able to use the national defense and prepare them to go to
FDR could use this to his advantage, and by increasing national security, he could also prepare for the possibility of war in the future. Because Americans were still isolationists, they believed that having a strong navy could protect them from war. Leaders such as Charles Lindbergh, who was a part of the America First group (a group against going to war), said that those who thought that war was inevitable were showing true defeatism (Document H). He also claimed that building a strong military and navy would protect them from even having to go to war. That being said, most Americans thought that pouring money into their protection made a lot of sense, but for different reasons than FDR. The President thought that increasing the strength of the military would help prepare them for war. The whole country was backed up on spending money for national security, and some even claimed that “[We] shall have no other business, no other aim in life, but primitive self-defense” (Document C). Besides the navy, the peace draft created through the Selective Service Act (1940) was also important to maintain national security. By preparing the soldiers to defend their country, FDR was also preparing them to go to war. The army would be the only way to secure protection from Germany, which would lead to horrible effects for the Americans, such as having to deal with Germany trade control (Document D). By providing relief to Americans by increasing national security, FDR was also able to use the national defense and prepare them to go to