The 1920s in the United States were a period of relative calm in foreign policy. America enjoyed peace, and three successive Republican presidents, all conservatives, were more interested in domestic economic development than international affairs. Yet by this time, the United States had become the world’s foremost power, connected to other nations through trade, politics, and shared interests.

Americans generally preferred to maintain a traditional foreign policy of minimal involvement, avoiding entanglement in global conflicts. However, the international situation was becoming increasingly complex: Europe faced the growing threats of fascism and renewed war, the Soviet Communist regime was consolidating power, and Latin American countries were asserting greater independence. Even so, during the 1920s, the United States was still learning how to manage its emerging leadership role and responsibilities on the world stage.

In China, the 1920s were a period of civil war. The Soviet Union intervened to support both the Chinese Communist Party and Sun Yat-sen’s forces. Meanwhile, the United States focused almost entirely on its domestic economy and affairs in the Americas, deliberately avoiding involvement in China. Unlike Stalin, who sought influence in China to advance Soviet interests, the U.S. left the region largely untouched, and its presence or influence in East Asia during this period was minimal.