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Music Hello everyone and welcome to history of the Second World War Premium episode number three, the Washington Naval Treaty.

After the 1916 naval expansion plan was approved by the United States

Congress, the United States Navy would soon be building its Navy up to a strength of 35

capital ships. This number would then increase to 50 with the 1919 naval bill. This massive expansion

of what was already the second largest navy in the world meant that

the world was very quickly spiraling into another naval arms race.

Before the First World War, the British and German empires had engaged in such a race,

with massive amounts of money being spent on their warships.

In the 1920s, it was possible that three nations would participate in an even larger

and more costly building competition, with the United States, Japan, and the British Empire,

all investigating large fleet expansion programs.

However, at least in 1920, it was the United States that was in control of a possible arms

race. It had the economic and industrial capacity to outbuild any other nation in the world,

and it could choose to do so, or it could choose a different path.

A different path would in fact be chosen.

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