The Holocaust and American Foreign Policy

The Holocaust, the systematic genocide of six million Jews by the Nazi regime during World War II, had a profound impact on American foreign policy. Before, during, and after the war, the Holocaust influenced the way the United States interacted with other countries and how it approached issues of human rights and international relations. This essay will assess the role of the Holocaust on American foreign policy in these three distinct phases.

Before World War II

Prior to the outbreak of World War II, the United States had a policy of isolationism, whereby it sought to avoid entanglement in foreign conflicts.

This policy was reflected in its response to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the persecution of Jews in Germany. Despite reports of increasing violence against Jews, the U.S. government did not take significant action to address the situation. The State Department, in particular, was hesitant to admit Jewish refugees fleeing persecution in Europe, citing concerns about national security and economic stability.

The American public, however, was becoming increasingly aware of the atrocities being committed against Jews in Europe. Organizations such as the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Emergency Committee for the Jewish Refugees were formed to advocate for the rescue and resettlement of Jewish refugees. These groups pressured the U.S. government to take a more active role in addressing the refugee crisis and the persecution of Jews.

During World War II

As news of the Holocaust began to emerge during World War II, American foreign policy towards Europe shifted. The U.S. government became more involved in efforts to rescue and assist Jewish refugees, as well as to hold Nazi perpetrators accountable for their crimes. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the War Refugee Board in 1944 to coordinate rescue and relief efforts for victims of the Holocaust.

American foreign policy during the war was also influenced by the need to defeat the Axis powers, which were responsible for the genocide of millions of Jews. The United States and its allies, including the Soviet Union and Great Britain, worked together to defeat Nazi Germany and its allies. The liberation of concentration camps by Allied forces in 1945 brought the full extent of the Holocaust to light and solidified American commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

After World War II

After the end of World War II, the Holocaust continued to shape American foreign policy. The United States played a key role in the establishment of the United Nations and the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. These developments reflected a growing commitment to promoting human rights and preventing future genocides.

The Holocaust also influenced American attitudes towards immigration and refugee policy. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed the Displaced Persons Act, which allowed for the admission of European refugees, including Holocaust survivors, to the United States. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 further expanded immigration quotas, allowing for increased resettlement of refugees from Europe and other regions.

American foreign policy in the post-war period also focused on preventing the spread of totalitarian regimes and promoting democracy and freedom around the world. The Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union shaped American foreign policy in the decades following World War II, with the United States seeking to contain the spread of communism and support democratic movements in Europe and beyond.

Conclusion

The Holocaust had a profound impact on American foreign policy before, during, and after World War II. It forced the United States to confront the atrocities being committed in Europe and to reevaluate its approach to issues of human rights and international relations. The lessons of the Holocaust continue to shape American foreign policy today, as the United States seeks to promote democracy, human rights, and peace around the world.

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