Which term is used to describe a stance of staying out of foreign wars even when tensions exist abroad?

• A. Isolationism
• B. Neutrality Acts
• C. Lend-Lease Act
• D. Cash-and-carry

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is a foreign policy stance of staying out of foreign wars even when tensions exist abroad. The best term for this approach is isolationism. Isolationism describes choosing to avoid entangling alliances and military commitments overseas, focusing on domestic concerns instead. After World War I, many Americans favored keeping the United States out of overseas conflicts, believing that involvement would bring more harm than good. The Neutrality Acts reflect that mindset by aiming to keep the U.S. neutral and uninvolved, rather than committing forces; they are tools that express isolationist thinking but don’t define the stance by themselves. In contrast, policies like lending aid to allies or selling goods under certain conditions—such as the Lend-Lease Act or cash-and-carry—move the country closer to involvement in foreign wars rather than staying out of them.