Question: which statement provides the most accurate description of u.s foreign policy in the 1800s

title: History of United States foreign policy
text: When the Spanish Civil War erupted in 1936 , the United States remained neutral and banned arms sales to either side . This was in line with both American neutrality policies , and with a Europe - wide agreement to not sell arms for use in the Spanish war lest it escalate into a world war . Congress endorsed the embargo by a near - unanimous vote . Only armaments were embargoed ; American companies could sell oil and supplies to both sides . Roosevelt quietly favored the left - wing Republican ( or `` Loyalist '' ) government , but intense pressure by American Catholics forced him to maintain a policy of neutrality . The Catholics were outraged by the systematic torture , rape and execution of priests , bishops , and nuns by anarchist elements of the Loyalist coalition . This successful pressure on Roosevelt was one of the handful of foreign policy successes notched by Catholic pressures on the White House in the 20th century . Germany and Italy provided munitions , and air support , and troops to the Nationalists , led by Francisco Franco . The Soviet Union provided aid to the Loyalist government , and mobilized thousands of volunteers to fight , including several hundred from the United States in the Abraham Lincoln Battalion . All along the Spanish military forces supported the nationalists , and they steadily pushed the government forces back . By 1938 , however , Roosevelt was planning to secretly send American warplanes through France to the desperate Loyalists . His senior diplomats warned that this would worsen the European crisis , so Roosevelt desisted .