To what extent and why did the United States adopt an isolationist policy in the 1920's and 1930's?

By the end of World War I, the United States grew increasingly isolationistic in its policies. Even though the United States emerged from the war as one of the victors, the American people were greatly dispirited by the devastation. Many hoped to return to the peaceful decade before the war. Isolationism, according to the people at that time, seemed to be the only way to avoid foreign entanglements that would lead to another war. With …

…these isolationist policies were defeated because it contributed to the Great Depression and World War II. The lack of international trade stalled the economy and the U.S.'s isolationist policies only allowed aggressors to start another world war. If the U.S. had intervened earlier, the devastation of World War II could have been avoided. Sadly enough, the U.S. did not realize this until it was too late. <Tab/>