Question

Why did the US adopted the isolationism policy after WW1? Was it a mistake to adopt the isolationism policy?

Answer 1

The United States adopted isolationism post-WWI partly due to the League of Nations, which it never joined. This shift is attributed to a desire for Europe to handle its own issues and Senate opposition to potential entanglements. Whether this fostered the rise of the Axis powers is speculative and debatable.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Role of the League of Nations in US Isolationism Post-WWI

After World War I, the United States adopted a policy of isolationism, influenced by the disillusionment with the war and the notion that Europe should manage its own affairs without American involvement. The establishment of the League of Nations, designed to prevent future conflicts, paradoxically contributed to the U.S. shift toward isolationism. The U.S., under President Woodrow Wilson, played a pivotal role in conceiving the League, but ultimately did not join due to opposition in the Senate and public sentiment against entangling alliances that could lead to further conflicts.

Was Isolationism a Mistake?

Regarding the policy of isolationism and its effects, it's debated whether this stance was a mistake. Some argue that U.S. isolationism might have emboldened the formation of the Axis powers, as the absence of a strong U.S. presence in international affairs could have allowed aggressive regimes to rise with less opposition. However, this is speculative, and it's unknown if different policies would have prevented their alliance or changed the course of events leading to World War II.

Answer 2

During the 1930s, the combination of the Great Depression and the memory of tragic losses in World War I contributed to pushing American public opinion and policy toward isolationism. Isolationists advocated non-involvement in European and Asian conflicts and non-entanglement in international politics.