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Difficulty: MediumInterwar Foreign Policy and Road to World War II

"The essential qualities of a true Pan Americanism must be the same as those which constitute a good neighbor, namely, mutual understanding, and, through such understanding, a sympathetic appreciation of the other’s point of view. It is only in this manner that we can hope to build up a system of which the cornerstone is an abiding peace."
— President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Address to the Pan American Union, April 12, 1933

Which of the following was a primary purpose of the United States foreign policy shift described in the excerpt?

  1. A
    To enact strict legislative neutrality to prevent any economic or military ties with foreign nations.
  2. B
    To transition to complete diplomatic and economic isolation by withdrawing all representatives from the Western Hemisphere.
  3. To build hemispheric solidarity and secure regional cooperation in the face of rising global instability.Answer
  4. D
    To establish a formal military alliance that obligated the United States to defend European democracies from aggression.

Answer

To build hemispheric solidarity and secure regional cooperation in the face of rising global instability.
The Good Neighbor Policy, championed by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s, marked a departure from previous U.S. military interventions in Latin America (such as the Roosevelt Corollary and the 'Banana Wars'). By emphasizing mutual respect and non-intervention, the United States aimed to foster hemispheric solidarity. This regional cooperation became increasingly crucial as global instability and militarism grew in Europe and Asia, ensuring that the Western Hemisphere would remain united and less vulnerable to foreign Axis influence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document for key terms and context.
The excerpt mentions 'Pan Americanism' and 'a good neighbor,' identifying Franklin D. Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy toward Latin America in 1933.
Understanding the source and context allows us to identify the specific foreign policy initiative being addressed.
2
Evaluate the underlying motives and historical context of the Good Neighbor Policy in the early 1930s.
During the 1930s, the rise of aggressive fascist regimes in Germany, Italy, and Japan threatened global stability. The U.S. sought to protect the Western Hemisphere from foreign influence and secure regional trade and diplomatic support.
Connecting the policy to the broader geopolitical environment of the interwar period reveals its strategic purpose.
3
Select the option that matches the strategic purpose of cultivating friendly relations and non-intervention in Latin America.
The goal was to build hemispheric solidarity and cooperation, ensuring that Western Hemisphere nations remained aligned with the U.S. and resistant to Axis influence.
This directly matches the historical consensus that the Good Neighbor Policy prioritized regional solidarity over unilateral military intervention.

Key Concept

Good Neighbor Policy and Interwar Hemispheric Diplomacy
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Topics

Interwar Foreign Policy and Road to World War II

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