diff --git a/change/react-native-windows-2020-04-27-16-11-30-allowRTL.json b/change/react-native-windows-2020-04-27-16-11-30-allowRTL.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b45d80d551f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/change/react-native-windows-2020-04-27-16-11-30-allowRTL.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "type": "prerelease",
+  "comment": "auto-detect RTL and push into root view",
+  "packageName": "react-native-windows",
+  "email": "kmelmon@microsoft.com",
+  "dependentChangeType": "patch",
+  "date": "2020-04-27T23:11:30.614Z"
+}
diff --git a/vnext/Microsoft.ReactNative/ReactHost/ReactInstanceWin.cpp b/vnext/Microsoft.ReactNative/ReactHost/ReactInstanceWin.cpp
index d365e4d2c18..d759d30a997 100644
--- a/vnext/Microsoft.ReactNative/ReactHost/ReactInstanceWin.cpp
+++ b/vnext/Microsoft.ReactNative/ReactHost/ReactInstanceWin.cpp
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ void ReactInstanceWin::Initialize() noexcept {
           strongThis->m_deviceInfo = std::make_shared<react::uwp::DeviceInfo>(legacyInstance);
           strongThis->m_appTheme =
               std::make_shared<react::uwp::AppTheme>(legacyInstance, strongThis->m_uiMessageThread.LoadWithLock());
-          strongThis->m_i18nInfo = react::uwp::I18nModule::GetI18nInfo();
+          react::uwp::I18nHelper().Instance().setInfo(react::uwp::I18nModule::GetI18nInfo());
           strongThis->m_appearanceListener = Mso::Make<react::uwp::AppearanceChangeListener>(legacyInstance);
         }
       })
@@ -200,7 +200,6 @@ void ReactInstanceWin::Initialize() noexcept {
               m_batchingUIThread,
               m_uiMessageThread.Load(),
               std::move(m_deviceInfo),
-              std::move(m_i18nInfo),
               std::move(m_appState),
               std::move(m_appTheme),
               std::move(m_appearanceListener),
diff --git a/vnext/Microsoft.ReactNative/ReactHost/ReactInstanceWin.h b/vnext/Microsoft.ReactNative/ReactHost/ReactInstanceWin.h
index 0543bf8511d..717e4ded4eb 100644
--- a/vnext/Microsoft.ReactNative/ReactHost/ReactInstanceWin.h
+++ b/vnext/Microsoft.ReactNative/ReactHost/ReactInstanceWin.h
@@ -155,7 +155,6 @@ class ReactInstanceWin final : public Mso::ActiveObject<IReactInstanceInternal,
   std::shared_ptr<facebook::react::AppState> m_appState;
   std::shared_ptr<IRedBoxHandler> m_redboxHandler;
   std::shared_ptr<react::uwp::AppTheme> m_appTheme;
-  std::pair<std::string, bool> m_i18nInfo{};
   Mso::CntPtr<react::uwp::AppearanceChangeListener> m_appearanceListener;
   std::string m_bundleRootPath;
 };
diff --git a/vnext/ReactUWP/Base/CoreNativeModules.cpp b/vnext/ReactUWP/Base/CoreNativeModules.cpp
index 4662a6609e1..6b2ce9e013d 100644
--- a/vnext/ReactUWP/Base/CoreNativeModules.cpp
+++ b/vnext/ReactUWP/Base/CoreNativeModules.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ std::vector<facebook::react::NativeModuleDescription> GetCoreModules(
     const std::shared_ptr<facebook::react::MessageQueueThread> &messageQueue,
     const std::shared_ptr<facebook::react::MessageQueueThread> &uiMessageQueue,
     std::shared_ptr<DeviceInfo> &&deviceInfo,
-    I18nModule::I18nInfo &&i18nInfo,
     std::shared_ptr<facebook::react::AppState> &&appstate,
     std::shared_ptr<react::uwp::AppTheme> &&appTheme,
     Mso::CntPtr<AppearanceChangeListener> &&appearanceListener,
@@ -119,11 +118,7 @@ std::vector<facebook::react::NativeModuleDescription> GetCoreModules(
       messageQueue);
 
   modules.emplace_back(
-      "I18nManager",
-      [i18nInfo = std::move(i18nInfo)]() mutable {
-        return createI18nModule(std::make_unique<I18nModule>(std::move(i18nInfo)));
-      },
-      messageQueue);
+      "I18nManager", []() mutable { return createI18nModule(std::make_unique<I18nModule>()); }, messageQueue);
 
   modules.emplace_back(
       AppearanceModule::Name,
diff --git a/vnext/ReactUWP/Base/CoreNativeModules.h b/vnext/ReactUWP/Base/CoreNativeModules.h
index f5ef3861f65..d04ad83cbf6 100644
--- a/vnext/ReactUWP/Base/CoreNativeModules.h
+++ b/vnext/ReactUWP/Base/CoreNativeModules.h
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ std::vector<facebook::react::NativeModuleDescription> GetCoreModules(
     const std::shared_ptr<facebook::react::MessageQueueThread> &messageQueue,
     const std::shared_ptr<facebook::react::MessageQueueThread> &uiMessageQueue,
     std::shared_ptr<DeviceInfo> &&deviceInfo,
-    I18nModule::I18nInfo &&i18nInfo,
     std::shared_ptr<facebook::react::AppState> &&appstate,
     std::shared_ptr<react::uwp::AppTheme> &&appTheme,
     Mso::CntPtr<AppearanceChangeListener> &&appearanceListener,
diff --git a/vnext/ReactUWP/Base/UwpReactInstance.cpp b/vnext/ReactUWP/Base/UwpReactInstance.cpp
index b0361d0ef8a..8fbabcb20ce 100644
--- a/vnext/ReactUWP/Base/UwpReactInstance.cpp
+++ b/vnext/ReactUWP/Base/UwpReactInstance.cpp
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ void UwpReactInstance::Start(const std::shared_ptr<IReactInstance> &spThis, cons
   std::shared_ptr<facebook::react::AppState> appstate = std::make_shared<react::uwp::AppState>(spThis);
   std::shared_ptr<react::uwp::AppTheme> appTheme =
       std::make_shared<react::uwp::AppTheme>(spThis, m_defaultNativeThread);
-  std::pair<std::string, bool> i18nInfo = I18nModule::GetI18nInfo();
+  I18nHelper::Instance().setInfo(I18nModule::GetI18nInfo());
   auto appearanceListener = Mso::Make<AppearanceChangeListener>(spThis);
 
   // TODO: Figure out threading. What thread should this really be on?
@@ -124,7 +124,6 @@ void UwpReactInstance::Start(const std::shared_ptr<IReactInstance> &spThis, cons
                                 spThis,
                                 deviceInfo,
                                 settings,
-                                i18nInfo = std::move(i18nInfo),
                                 appstate = std::move(appstate),
                                 appTheme = std::move(appTheme),
                                 appearanceListener = std::move(appearanceListener)]() mutable {
@@ -203,7 +202,6 @@ void UwpReactInstance::Start(const std::shared_ptr<IReactInstance> &spThis, cons
         m_batchingNativeThread,
         m_defaultNativeThread,
         std::move(deviceInfo),
-        std::move(i18nInfo),
         std::move(appstate),
         std::move(appTheme),
         std::move(appearanceListener),
diff --git a/vnext/ReactUWP/Modules/I18nModule.cpp b/vnext/ReactUWP/Modules/I18nModule.cpp
index 4b73f3f9bc2..b7ed1f7e6c7 100644
--- a/vnext/ReactUWP/Modules/I18nModule.cpp
+++ b/vnext/ReactUWP/Modules/I18nModule.cpp
@@ -30,14 +30,55 @@ namespace uwp {
   return std::make_pair<std::string, bool>(std::move(locale), std::move(isRTL));
 }
 
-I18nModule::I18nModule(std::pair<std::string, bool> &&i18nInfo) : m_i18nInfo(std::move(i18nInfo)) {}
+I18nModule::I18nModule() : m_helper(I18nHelper::Instance()) {}
 
-std::string I18nModule::getLocaleIdentifier() {
+std::string I18nModule::getLocaleIdentifier() const {
+  return m_helper.getLocaleIdentifier();
+}
+
+bool I18nModule::getIsRTL() const {
+  return m_helper.getIsRTL();
+}
+
+void I18nModule::setAllowRTL(bool allowRTL) {
+  m_helper.setAllowRTL(allowRTL);
+}
+
+void I18nModule::setForceRTL(bool forceRTL) {
+  m_helper.setForceRTL(forceRTL);
+}
+
+/*static*/ I18nHelper &I18nHelper::Instance() {
+  static I18nHelper theInstance;
+  return theInstance;
+}
+
+I18nHelper::I18nHelper() {}
+
+void I18nHelper::setInfo(I18nModule::I18nInfo &&i18nInfo) {
+  m_i18nInfo = i18nInfo;
+}
+
+std::string I18nHelper::getLocaleIdentifier() const {
   return m_i18nInfo.first;
 }
 
-bool I18nModule::getIsRTL() {
-  return m_i18nInfo.second;
+bool I18nHelper::getIsRTL() const {
+  if (m_forceRTL) {
+    // Used for debugging purposes, forces RTL even in LTR locales
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  // If the app allows RTL (default is true), then we are in RTL if the locale is RTL
+  return m_allowRTL && m_i18nInfo.second;
+}
+
+void I18nHelper::setAllowRTL(bool allowRTL) {
+  m_allowRTL = allowRTL;
+}
+
+void I18nHelper::setForceRTL(bool forceRTL) {
+  m_forceRTL = forceRTL;
 }
 
 } // namespace uwp
diff --git a/vnext/ReactUWP/Modules/I18nModule.h b/vnext/ReactUWP/Modules/I18nModule.h
index 3e69295bab1..7a171d5209d 100644
--- a/vnext/ReactUWP/Modules/I18nModule.h
+++ b/vnext/ReactUWP/Modules/I18nModule.h
@@ -10,19 +10,42 @@
 namespace react {
 namespace uwp {
 
+class I18nHelper;
+
 class I18nModule final : public react::windows::II18nModule {
  public:
   using I18nInfo = std::pair<std::string, bool>;
   static I18nInfo GetI18nInfo(); // Must be called from a UI thread
 
   // II18nModule
-  I18nModule(I18nInfo &&i18nInfo);
+  I18nModule();
 
-  std::string getLocaleIdentifier() override;
-  bool getIsRTL() override;
+  std::string getLocaleIdentifier() const override;
+  bool getIsRTL() const override;
+  void setAllowRTL(bool allowRTL) override;
+  void setForceRTL(bool forceRTL) override;
 
  private:
-  I18nInfo m_i18nInfo;
+  I18nHelper &m_helper;
 };
+
+class I18nHelper {
+ public:
+  static I18nHelper &Instance();
+
+  I18nHelper();
+
+  void setInfo(I18nModule::I18nInfo &&i18nInfo);
+  std::string getLocaleIdentifier() const;
+  bool getIsRTL() const;
+  void setAllowRTL(bool allowRTL);
+  void setForceRTL(bool forceRTL);
+
+ private:
+  I18nModule::I18nInfo m_i18nInfo;
+  bool m_allowRTL{true};
+  bool m_forceRTL{false};
+};
+
 } // namespace uwp
 } // namespace react
diff --git a/vnext/ReactUWP/Modules/NativeUIManager.cpp b/vnext/ReactUWP/Modules/NativeUIManager.cpp
index 39fde0f6657..14550121ac7 100644
--- a/vnext/ReactUWP/Modules/NativeUIManager.cpp
+++ b/vnext/ReactUWP/Modules/NativeUIManager.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "pch.h"
 
+#include "I18nModule.h"
 #include "NativeUIManager.h"
 
 #include <ReactRootView.h>
@@ -185,6 +186,10 @@ void NativeUIManager::AddRootView(
   XamlView view = xamlRootView->GetXamlView();
   m_tagsToXamlReactControl.emplace(shadowNode.m_tag, xamlRootView->GetXamlReactControl());
 
+  // Push the appropriate FlowDirection into the root view.
+  view.as<xaml::FrameworkElement>().FlowDirection(
+      I18nHelper::Instance().getIsRTL() ? xaml::FlowDirection::RightToLeft : xaml::FlowDirection::LeftToRight);
+
   m_tagsToYogaNodes.emplace(shadowNode.m_tag, make_yoga_node());
 
   auto element = view.as<xaml::FrameworkElement>();
@@ -851,7 +856,9 @@ void NativeUIManager::DoLayout() {
     float actualWidth = static_cast<float>(rootElement.ActualWidth());
     float actualHeight = static_cast<float>(rootElement.ActualHeight());
 
-    // TODO: Real direction (VSO 1697992: RTL Layout)
+    // We must always run layout in LTR mode, which might seem unintuitive.
+    // We will flip the root of the tree into RTL by forcing the root XAML node's FlowDirection to RightToLeft
+    // which will inherit down the XAML tree, allowing all native controls to pick it up.
     YGNodeCalculateLayout(rootNode, actualWidth, actualHeight, YGDirectionLTR);
 
     for (auto &tagToYogaNode : m_tagsToYogaNodes) {
diff --git a/vnext/ReactWindowsCore/Modules/I18nModule.cpp b/vnext/ReactWindowsCore/Modules/I18nModule.cpp
index debb8da029f..824e5ff4707 100644
--- a/vnext/ReactWindowsCore/Modules/I18nModule.cpp
+++ b/vnext/ReactWindowsCore/Modules/I18nModule.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 // Licensed under the MIT License.
 
 #include "I18nModule.h"
+#include <cxxreact/JsArgumentHelpers.h>
+
+using namespace facebook::xplat;
 
 namespace react {
 namespace windows {
@@ -18,7 +21,10 @@ std::map<std::string, folly::dynamic> I18nModule::getConstants() {
 }
 
 std::vector<facebook::xplat::module::CxxModule::Method> I18nModule::getMethods() {
-  return {};
+  return {
+      Method("allowRTL", [this](folly::dynamic args) { this->m_module->setAllowRTL(jsArgAsBool(args, 0)); }),
+      Method("forceRTL", [this](folly::dynamic args) { this->m_module->setForceRTL(jsArgAsBool(args, 0)); }),
+  };
 }
 
 std::unique_ptr<facebook::xplat::module::CxxModule> createI18nModule(std::unique_ptr<II18nModule> module) {
@@ -26,4 +32,4 @@ std::unique_ptr<facebook::xplat::module::CxxModule> createI18nModule(std::unique
 }
 
 } // namespace windows
-} // namespace react
\ No newline at end of file
+} // namespace react
diff --git a/vnext/include/ReactWindowsCore/II18nModule.h b/vnext/include/ReactWindowsCore/II18nModule.h
index ce84ef1ade9..b2e0b0efee8 100644
--- a/vnext/include/ReactWindowsCore/II18nModule.h
+++ b/vnext/include/ReactWindowsCore/II18nModule.h
@@ -10,10 +10,12 @@ namespace windows {
 
 struct II18nModule {
   virtual ~II18nModule(){};
-  virtual std::string getLocaleIdentifier() = 0;
-  virtual bool getIsRTL() = 0;
+  virtual std::string getLocaleIdentifier() const = 0;
+  virtual bool getIsRTL() const = 0;
+  virtual void setAllowRTL(bool allowRTL) = 0;
+  virtual void setForceRTL(bool forceRTL) = 0;
 };
 
 std::unique_ptr<facebook::xplat::module::CxxModule> createI18nModule(std::unique_ptr<II18nModule> module);
 } // namespace windows
-} // namespace react
\ No newline at end of file
+} // namespace react