Neutrality Act of 1935

The Neutrality Act of 1935 was the first of several Neutrality Acts passed by the United States Congress in the 1930s, aimed at keeping the U.S. out of emerging conflicts in Europe and other parts of the world. Signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 31, 1935, the act prohibited the export of "arms, ammunition, and implements of war" to foreign nations at war, requiring arms manufacturers in the U.S. to apply for an export license. Additionally, the law placed an embargo on 'belligerent nations' and restricted American citizens from traveling on vessels of nations engaged in hostilities.

The goal of the law was to maintain U.S. neutrality in response to growing tensions in Europe and the looming threat of another world war. The act was influenced by the belief that U.S. involvement in World War I had been driven by financial interests, a concern that led to the push for stricter non-involvement policies.

Key Terms and Concepts

External Links

The Neutrality Act of 1935 - U.S. Code Collection at the Library of Congress

References

Dallek, Robert. *Franklin D. Roosevelt and American Foreign Policy, 1932-1945*. New York: Oxford University Press, 1979. ISBN 978-0195027260.
Schlesinger, Arthur M. *The Age of Roosevelt: The Politics of Upheaval*. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1960. ISBN 978-0618340865.
Cole, Wayne S. *Roosevelt and the Isolationists, 1932â45*. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983. ISBN 978-0803260859.

Neutrality Act of 1935

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