Unit 2 Readings

America's experience in WWI soured Americans on the democratic ideals and interventionist policies of Woodrow Wilson, and the Great Depression gave us enough domestic problems to keep us occupied without worrying about the rest of the world. During the 1930's, however, the world became increasingly unstable and hostile: In 1931, Japan invaded China, in 1935 Italy conquered Ethiopia, and between 1936 and 1940, Nazi Germany subdued much of continental Europe. Several prominent Republican congressmen like Gerald Nye and William Borah championed "Isolationism" and neutrality, and many Americans endorsed these policies. Although Roosevelt favored early intervention, it took many years and several jarring events to change American opinion to support the war effort during WWII.