Roosevelt’s Isolationism and the Road to War

Explore how Franklin D. Roosevelt navigated the challenging balance between domestic isolationism and international threats in this episode of Mr. Hutchings History. From the Great Depression's domestic focus to the passage of the Neutrality Acts (1935–1937), we examine how U.S. foreign policy evolved under intense public and Congressional pressure to avoid entanglement in global conflicts. Delve into key events like the Nye Committee findings, the Spanish Civil War, and Japan’s invasion of China, which tested Roosevelt’s commitment to neutrality. Discover how Roosevelt used strategic measures like the “cash-and-carry” clause and the Lend-Lease Act to slowly shift the U.S. from isolationism to global engagement. Perfect for IB DP History students, this episode also incorporates historiographical perspectives from Orthodox, Revisionist, and Post-Revisionist schools to provide a nuanced understanding of Roosevelt’s leadership during this pivotal era. #RooseveltIsolationism #GreatDepression #NeutralityActs #WWIIHistory #LendLease #USForeignPolicy #IBHistory #HistoryOfTheAmericas #RoadToWar Works Cited Beard, Charles A. The Devil Theory of War. Viking, 1936. Burns, James MacGregor. Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox. Harcourt, Brace & World, 1956. Dallek, Robert. Franklin D. Roosevelt and American Foreign Policy, 1932–1945. Oxford UP, 1995. Leuchtenburg, William E. The FDR Years: On Roosevelt and His Legacy. Columbia UP, 1995.