"It seems to be unfortunately true that the epidemic of world lawlessness is spreading. When an epidemic of physical disease starts to spread, the community approves and joins in a quarantine of the patients in order to protect the health of the community against the spread of the disease. . . . We are determined to keep out of war, yet we cannot insure ourselves against the disastrous effects of war and the dangers of involvement."
— President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chicago address, 1937
Which of the following historical developments during the late 1930s best explains the domestic political conflict surrounding the ideas expressed in the excerpt?
- An attempt by the executive branch to challenge prevailing isolationist sentiment and advocate for collective securityAnswer
- BA shift toward absolute isolationism, resulting in the total suspension of all US trade and diplomatic relations with European nations
- CThe formal abandonment of the Monroe Doctrine in order to establish military alliances with democratic European powers
- DThe immediate implementation of the Lend-Lease program to provide direct military support to nations resisting aggression
Answer
An attempt by the executive branch to challenge prevailing isolationist sentiment and advocate for collective security
The correct option is the one stating that the excerpt reflects an effort by the executive branch to challenge prevailing isolationist sentiment and promote collective security. In his 1937 Chicago address, Roosevelt used the metaphor of a quarantine to suggest that international lawlessness could not be ignored and that peaceful nations must cooperate to contain aggression. This stood in sharp contrast to the prevailing isolationist sentiment of the era, which was codified in the Neutrality Acts.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The tension between isolationist sentiment and the executive branch's shift toward collective security in the late 1930s.