GOV 312L Lecture 9 Outline of Current Lecture I. TMFPQII. The Versailles Treaty: How did it Contribute to World War IIIII. The Great Depression I: How did American policy contribute to it?IV. The Great Depression II: What were its key political consequences?V. Pearl Harbor and American participation in World War II: How did domestic politics shape American entryVI. World War II and the origins of the Cold War: Why did allied wartime cooperationso quickly collapse into the Cold War?VII. Containment: How did George Kennan characterize the Soviet threat? How did this characterization give rise to a containment strategy?VIII. Kennan: Why did the Soviet Union behave this way?Current LectureNews:· Barack Obama points out that since WWII era, the US has been the country that has taken on big projects· US has gained materially from that but psychologically as well, flip side is that it is a burden and this is the struggle of US foreign policy· Frustration implied—struggle, why is it always us?· This narrative that Obama is given is the legacy of 1930’s and what happens after failure of Versailles treaty where US doesn’t step up leading to these conditions Treaty of Versailles1. Harsh, imposed peace on Germany, significant economic reparations, political military and territorial losses2. Key role for Wilson and USThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.1. Compromises ideals associated with anti imperialism and self determination to protect the League2. US capital necessary for reparationsb. Promotes own undoing by destabilizing German domestic politics and activating harsh conservative backlash The Great Depression: how did US contribute? · Unemployment at about 10%· Great depression dramatic global downturns from 1928-1934· Elements -Collapsing industrial production, falling agricultural prices, rising unemployment,international trade contracts significantly (50% drop for some countries which made it impossible to export way out of domestic economic downturn) · Tight monetary policy (pushing interest rates up) by federal reserve in 1928 halts loans to Germany (big implication for reparations)· Smoot Hawley (1928): high tariffs provoke reciprocal measures in world and global trade collapses· FDR (1933): takes US off gold standard to offset deflation (foster inflation) → anchor of choice to guard against inflation, did it in banking crisis and offset of deflation (“i don't care what happens to you, i need to get prices up”-- damaging international relations by devaluing dollar and made american exports cheaper threatening competitiveness) -unilateral policies to turn american economy around Consequences of the Great depression· FDR and US withdrawal from Europe (isolationist from 1933-1938)o Congress passes series of Neutrality acts (1935, 1936, 1937)· German government makes collapse worse by pursuing austerity (dramatic spendingcuts, tax hikes, high interest rates) and creates political space for Hitler’s Nazi Party to seize government o Financial system collapsed in 1931, government eroded unemployment insurance safety net just as need for this social program accelerated – these polarized German electoralo Driven by economic voting- groups hurt worst by depression (agriculture, small business owners) voted for Nazis—setting stage for Hitler’s nationalism (anti Semitism, territorial expansion for land of farmers and overthrow of Versailles treaty)o Hitler started economy in military buildup, shifting power in Europe leading to warin 1939· Congress wanted to draw US out of war because they saw the war coming in Europe—consequences for global political stability because it magnified responseso Economic and military power of US was necessary in WWI to defeat Germany in 1918, its withdrawal would enable Germany under Hitler to threaten rest of Europe· Long, global contraction of economic activity· US contributes via monetary policy, tariff hikes, withdrawal from gold standard· Significant political consequences: facilitating Hitler US in the world war II· War breaks out in Europe over Poland in September 1929o Hitler steady program of territorial expansion in 1930 eventually challenged· US enters war in December 1941 following attack on Pearl Harbor· Two theaters connected by strong US-UK ties and Tripartite pact among Germany, Italy and Japan (Sep 1940)· Elimination of isolationism—response How does domestic politics shape American entry into WWII· Isolationist sentiment in US still strong following outbreak of war in Europe 1939o 80% still opposed to entering war in Autumn 1941, but strong majority wanted Axis defeated· FDR wants to support Great Britain and confront Hitler but constrained by Neutrality actso Designed to limit executive authority and preserve non-intervention ******** IMPORTANT WORD→ Lend lease: enormous implications: US transferred 50 billion dollars through this act to facilitate comparison (half of GDP spent on allies war effort) -huge in defeat of Germany in Japan· RECAPo Isolationist sentiment in US after great depression limits how FDR can respond toGerman threato Relies on economic support of British effort until Pearl Harbor switches public support for intervention Cold War· Once Japan attacks US, neutrality banished and US entered war and was decisive player in defeat of Nazi defeat and also imperial Japan in Asia – CRUCIAL in end of WWII and defeat of these two powers that would have led to a different world· US found itself in an alliance with Soviet Union which would become its chief enemy after WWII with emergence of cold war· Why did the allied war cooperation between US and Soviet Union so quickly collapsed and turned into cold war?o Competing goals US goals: universal and ambiguous A. Maintain US international engagement B. Promote democracy, free and fair elections C. Promote free and open markets D. United nations and collective securitySoviet Goals: Concrete and territorialBuffer zoneSphere of influence: Joseph Stalin—“This war is not as in the past; whoever occupies a territory also imposes on it his own social system. Everyone imposes his own system as far as his army can reach . It cannot otherwise”2. Why did allied wartime cooperation so quickly collapse into Cold war?· Mutual suspicionso Philosophical underpinning: World RevolutionUS mistrust of the