World War Two and public opinion
After the end of World War One, American governments followed a policy of isolationismA policy of embracing national isolation and avoiding involvement in international affairs, often adopted by the USA throughout the 20th century. Popular opinion favoured the USA staying out of European affairs. In order for the USA to be successful in World War Two, the government would need to mobilise the whole population to support the large-scale war effort.
Explore America's role in World War Two through animation and archive footage.
Public opinion before 1939
There was a growing threat from Nazi GermanyPeriod in German History from 1933 to 1945 when the Nazis were in charge of the country. in Europe in the 1930s. Despite this, many Americans felt that they should not be involved in European affairs after the devastating impact of World War One.
During World War One over 115,000 American soldiers died in combat from illness or wounds, despite America only joining the war in 1917. Other countries lost many millions of soldiers and civilians. These losses meant many Americans were in favour of their government returning to the policy of isolationism. This feeling was strengthened by a Senate investigation that raised questions about whether America had entered the war to make profits for American businesses rather than to defend democracy.
Politicians recognised the strength of popular feeling and passed a series of Neutrality Acts A series of laws passed by Congress to keep the USA out of war, by not allowing any American to sell or transport any war materials to countries that were fighting. between 1935 and 1937. These prevented American weapons being sold, or loans being made to foreign countries at war.
Changes in government and national opinion
Following the German takeover of Czechoslovakia in March 1939, President Franklin D Roosevelt began to speak out against fascismA very right-wing set of political beliefs that requires complete unity on a national level and complete following of the rules. It is sometimes used as a metaphor to suggest someone who wants absolute control. and started to develop America’s armed forces. The number of American troops had declined since the end of World War One and their equipment was seen as outdated.
In 1938 President Roosevelt ordered the production of 20,000 planes per year, and in 1939 he called for the defence budget to be increased to $1.3 million. In the same year, the Neutrality Acts were amended to allow countries to purchase arms from the USA as long as they were transported by the buyers. This was known as the Cash and Carry Plan.
The war in Europe intensified and in 1940 Americans saw news reports of German aircraft bombing British civilians. As a result, many Americans who had believed in isolationism now changed their minds and wanted to help by sending more resources. In March 1941, Roosevelt agreed the Lend Lease deal. Instead of selling weapons to Britain and the Soviet Union, America would lend millions of dollars’ worth of weapons.
Despite this, there were still many American groups, including the mothers’ movement and the America First Committee, that opposed American involvement in the war.
The impact of Pearl Harbor, 1941
A turning point for support for America’s involvement in World War Two came on 7 December 1941. Japanese planes attacked the US navy at Pearl Harbor, which was on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. More than 2,400 Americans were killed and around 350 US aircraft and 20 warships were damaged. On 8 December, the USA declared war on Japan. Within days, both Germany and Italy declared war on the USA.