Why did the US wait to get involved in World War 2?

Answer 1

Here are the main reasons agreed by historians.

The treaty of Versailles (peace treaty after ww1) was not signed by the USA because they warned that Germany would want revenge as the treaty was too harsh. America told us and the French that once Germany came back for revenge don't come crying to them.

The Germans allowed Hitler into power as Germany did indeed want revenge.

The Americans sat back and watched as huge numbers of Jews were being slaughtered, France was being defeated and Britain only just holding on. We asked for help but still the Americans didn't join the war. Only once the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour did the Americans realise they had to join in.

Shortly after this Hitler declared war on the USA also. The U.S. government had no mandate from the American people before Pearl Harbor. Americans have always been wary of "entangling alliances" in foreign wars (a phrase from George Washington) and this was especially true after World War I.

Because few in the US wanted to go to war and Japan and Germany did not present a threat to the US. Many felt the US involvement in WWI had been a mistake, which no one wanted to repeat.

Most of the US population did not want to enter a war that had not yet affected them. Therefore the government could not directly enter without disapproval of the majority of the population, until Pearl Harbor. After the attack on the US, citizens wanted vengeance, allowing the government to enter the war without criticism.

This shows the ignorance of most American citizens. While Jews suffered America sat back and watched because "they weren't affected".

The U.S had no reason to enter the war before the attacks on Pearl Harbor. They were letting Russia and Germany fight the war themselves.

In the 30s America was gradually getting better from the Great Depression. Most Americans were isolationists, most were also unconcerned with European peoples' struggle for survival. It is a feeling we have kept until 9-11. When will the U.S. realize that we must keep firm ties with those around us as an image for our great country in which all foreigners can respect? As for you anonymous, you need to be taught the lesson that all things that happen in the world effect everyone. Yes even the United States, anonymous. I am 16 years old, anonymous, and my family is Jewish. For WWII it was hell for our family. We had relatives who fought all over. On battlefields and in offices. One of my great uncles was a captain for a radar station in the Pacific. We had relatives in Normandy and The Bulge. My grandpa's cousin Eleazar joined the Galician resistance group in Poland. He spent 6 years in a forest picking off Nazis whatever form they came in. I can only imagine what he witnessed in that forest. I can only imagine the handshake I would have given to him and to many others. My family lost 30+ family members during the war. Of course there are plenty of 2nd and 3rd cousins I did not include. If I lived back then, well I hope those Nazis would know it would be in their best interest to take their own lives. WWII affected many more families, anonymous, as it did ethnic groups. I'm 16 years old, anonymous, this is my story.

Most of the previous answer seem to have been submitted by Americans and by people who do not have a grasp of the historical situation in their own country.

America was a world power perhaps since 1900, certainly by the end of World War 1, and because of world war 1, all the other countries of the world having been ruined by fighting the war. America had a tradition of not getting involved in world affairs, but at the same time America was an example to the world of democracy and a mostly free market economy. The American idealism meant that they set up the League of Nations and then failed to join it fully.

American public and also the opinion of the govt and media circles was that Europeans were always fighting wars and that they hoped that WW1 was the last big war. But world events such as the economic crash of 1929 and the Russian revolution of 1917 meant that an isolationist view of the world was becoming out of date. What about trade,who was America going to sell its goods to if everywhere ele was a fascist or communist state. From 1933 when Hitler came to power there was a clash of views in America as to what to do about the European situation. Some like Lindberg and Father Coghlan and others wanted America to stay out of European affairs. To be fair not everyone who was an isolationist was pro Nazi. But Lindberg was. As a footnote I am sick of hearing about Lindberg flying the atlantic,2 British pilots ALCOCK and Brown did it in 1919 but history puts them to one side because they were not Americans. Anyway nazi foreign policy in helping the Facists in the Spanish Civil War and taking over Austria and Nazi internal policy of opressing the jews and everyone who did not agree with them helped change opinions in America. In the Far East Japanese actions in China made Americans anti Japanese. FDR helped the allies with lend lease,he would have done more but public opinion in America had to be allowed to catch up. Any Americans who think that American had no argument with Nazi Germany should look up the names USS RUBEN JAMES and USS GRIER on the internet. Leaving aside the fact Amrica would have been a lonely democracy in a world of dictators,who were they going to trade with if everybody else did not believe in free trade. So thanks FDR and the American people for helping the allies to win world war 11. But it was not done just to be nice,it was vital to the continued existence of the united states as the sort of country it claimed to be.

Many Americans during the 1920s came to feel that America's entry into World War I, the "Great War", "the war to end all wars" was a mistake; a decision imposed on the people by British Propaganda, international bankers, munitions makers-as well as by Wilsonian delusions and deceptions In the early 30's, the anti-war sentiment in America and the memories of the men lost convinced many Americans that America must not get involved in any future European war. These sentiments combined with long-standing American isolationism resulted in the passage of a series of Neutrality Acts. These Acts prohibited United States companies to trade with belligerents. In 1937, Indiana Representative Louis Ludlow proposed a constitutional amendment requiring a nationwide referendum before the United States could take us into an unprovoked war without the consent of We the People. The Ludlow Amendment was rejected by Congress on the advice of President Franklin Roosevelt, who, even then, was maneuvering to get the U.S. into the war that he knew was coming. Right through 1941, polls showed 80 percent opposition to American involvement. Only after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor did U.S. entry into World War II become politically possible.

It is a very complex question, one that historians and Americans will debate for years. Let's firsts start by looking at the carnage of WWI. New weapons and tactics were introduced; the tank, the airplane, machine gun and mustard gas to name a few. If we just look at technology, we can see that we had no choice. We would enter the war at some point, but when. The American public was fed up with shedding blood on European soil. However, the Germans advanced quickly across Europe. There was a fear that if Britain fell, the Germans would be that much closer to US soil from which they could advance or attack the United States. Aviation technology was advancing to where that was a distinct possibility. The United States began the design of the B-29 for hemispheric defense in the event that Germany moved to South America or other close countries. We were not prepared for war and public opinion was against it. We were protected by two great oceans, but technology was making that not a safe gamble. To change the view of the American public, one of the Axis powers was going to have to provoke the US. To put it simply, congress and the public opinion would not allow us to enter the war until we were provoked.

we were in a state of neutrality. The president was trying not to get into the war. Also, America Didn't want to spend a ton of money on a war they didn't need.

There are some facts that might prove that we did indeed enter the

sooner than many people may think. In 1941 Britain ran out of money and

needed to buy arms from the United States. That is the start to some

involvement. On September, 5th a United States destroyer was told about

a German submarine in the area by a British plane and immediately

attacked the submarine. President Roosevelt did not tell anyone at first

because it was started by the Americans. then on September, 11th he

ordered the United States Navy to attack any German vessel as soon as

they see it, pretty much declaring war upon Germany. There were a couple

different things that had happened like that but still the president did not

want to declare war. Roosevelt said that he tried to avoid battle but it begun

anyway. There was a similar strategy used against Japan, it is one reason

theories say we knew about the attacks.

There were some differences between WWII and WWI. A main

difference is the weapons, such as machine guns air planes tanks and mustard

gas. The president wanted to go to war but the American public would not have

that so our country just waited around for something to happen. This is why people

thought that Roosevelt had something to do with the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

The war was 'over there' - and in many respects it was the same feeling that permeated America in the First World War. Many Americans felt that the US had enough to grapple with in the Great Depression.

The political climate at that time was affected by news reporters who were openly isolationists. They advocated leaving Europe to the Europeans and avoiding any conflict. Among them, there was no sense of responsibility to help the people who were suffering. There was also very poor reporting regarding the events in Germany. Nobody was accurately reporting the murder of the Jews over there and anyone who made any claims regarding the Holocaust was considered to be a radical and more than a little too eager to go into war. The climate wasn't much different than it is today, with some people wanting to go to war to prevent Hitler from gaining too much power and others saying that it was none of our business.

They wanted to protect their trades so as to protect their economy. they had trades with both the western allies and with countries in the axis.

The main reason that U.S.A got involved with World War 2 was because of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. America was devastated and mobilized (mobilize-to prepare for war) almost overnight.

Answer 2

Here are the main reasons agreed by historians.

The treaty of Versailles (peace treaty after ww1) was not signed by the USA because they warned that Germany would want revenge as the treaty was too harsh. America told us and the French that once Germany came back for revenge don't come crying to them.

The Germans allowed Hitler into power as Germany did indeed want revenge.

The Americans sat back and watched as huge numbers of Jews were being slaughtered, France was being defeated and Britain only just holding on. We asked for help but still the Americans didn't join the war. Only once the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour did the Americans realise they had to join in.

Shortly after this Hitler declared war on the USA also. The U.S. government had no mandate from the American people before Pearl Harbor. Americans have always been wary of "entangling alliances" in foreign wars (a phrase from George Washington) and this was especially true after World War I.

Because few in the US wanted to go to war and Japan and Germany did not present a threat to the US. Many felt the US involvement in WWI had been a mistake, which no one wanted to repeat.

Most of the US population did not want to enter a war that had not yet affected them. Therefore the government could not directly enter without disapproval of the majority of the population, until Pearl Harbor. After the attack on the US, citizens wanted vengeance, allowing the government to enter the war without criticism.

This shows the ignorance of most American citizens. While Jews suffered America sat back and watched because "they weren't affected".

The U.S had no reason to enter the war before the attacks on Pearl Harbor. They were letting Russia and Germany fight the war themselves.

In the 30s America was gradually getting better from the Great Depression. Most Americans were isolationists, most were also unconcerned with European peoples' struggle for survival. It is a feeling we have kept until 9-11. When will the U.S. realize that we must keep firm ties with those around us as an image for our great country in which all foreigners can respect? As for you anonymous, you need to be taught the lesson that all things that happen in the world effect everyone. Yes even the United States, anonymous. I am 16 years old, anonymous, and my family is Jewish. For WWII it was hell for our family. We had relatives who fought all over. On battlefields and in offices. One of my great uncles was a captain for a radar station in the Pacific. We had relatives in Normandy and The Bulge. My grandpa's cousin Eleazar joined the Galician resistance group in Poland. He spent 6 years in a forest picking off Nazis whatever form they came in. I can only imagine what he witnessed in that forest. I can only imagine the handshake I would have given to him and to many others. My family lost 30+ family members during the war. Of course there are plenty of 2nd and 3rd cousins I did not include. If I lived back then, well I hope those Nazis would know it would be in their best interest to take their own lives. WWII affected many more families, anonymous, as it did ethnic groups. I'm 16 years old, anonymous, this is my story.

Most of the previous answer seem to have been submitted by Americans and by people who do not have a grasp of the historical situation in their own country.

America was a world power perhaps since 1900, certainly by the end of World War 1, and because of world war 1, all the other countries of the world having been ruined by fighting the war. America had a tradition of not getting involved in world affairs, but at the same time America was an example to the world of democracy and a mostly free market economy. The American idealism meant that they set up the League of Nations and then failed to join it fully.

American public and also the opinion of the govt and media circles was that Europeans were always fighting wars and that they hoped that WW1 was the last big war. But world events such as the economic crash of 1929 and the Russian revolution of 1917 meant that an isolationist view of the world was becoming out of date. What about trade,who was America going to sell its goods to if everywhere ele was a fascist or communist state. From 1933 when Hitler came to power there was a clash of views in America as to what to do about the European situation. Some like Lindberg and Father Coghlan and others wanted America to stay out of European affairs. To be fair not everyone who was an isolationist was pro Nazi. But Lindberg was. As a footnote I am sick of hearing about Lindberg flying the atlantic,2 British pilots ALCOCK and Brown did it in 1919 but history puts them to one side because they were not Americans. Anyway nazi foreign policy in helping the Facists in the Spanish Civil War and taking over Austria and Nazi internal policy of opressing the jews and everyone who did not agree with them helped change opinions in America. In the Far East Japanese actions in China made Americans anti Japanese. FDR helped the allies with lend lease,he would have done more but public opinion in America had to be allowed to catch up. Any Americans who think that American had no argument with Nazi Germany should look up the names USS RUBEN JAMES and USS GRIER on the internet. Leaving aside the fact Amrica would have been a lonely democracy in a world of dictators,who were they going to trade with if everybody else did not believe in free trade. So thanks FDR and the American people for helping the allies to win world war 11. But it was not done just to be nice,it was vital to the continued existence of the united states as the sort of country it claimed to be.

Many Americans during the 1920s came to feel that America's entry into World War I, the "Great War", "the war to end all wars" was a mistake; a decision imposed on the people by British propaganda, international bankers, munitions makers-as well as by Wilsonian delusions and deceptions In the early 30's, the anti-war sentiment in America and the memories of the men lost convinced many Americans that America must not get involved in any future European war. These sentiments combined with long-standing American isolationism resulted in the passage of a series of Neutrality Acts. These Acts prohibited United States companies to trade with belligerents. In 1937, Indiana Representative Louis Ludlow proposed a constitutional amendment requiring a nationwide referendum before the United States could take us into an unprovoked war without the consent of We the People. The Ludlow Amendment was rejected by Congress on the advice of President Franklin Roosevelt, who, even then, was maneuvering to get the U.S. into the war that he knew was coming. Right through 1941, polls showed 80 percent opposition to American involvement. Only after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor did U.S. entry into World War II become politically possible.

It is a very complex question, one that historians and Americans will debate for years. Let's firsts start by looking at the carnage of WWI. New weapons and tactics were introduced; the tank, the airplane, machine gun and mustard gas to name a few. If we just look at technology, we can see that we had no choice. We would enter the war at some point, but when. The American public was fed up with shedding blood on European soil. However, the Germans advanced quickly across Europe. There was a fear that if Britain fell, the Germans would be that much closer to US soil from which they could advance or attack the United States. Aviation technology was advancing to where that was a distinct possibility. The United States began the design of the B-29 for hemispheric defense in the event that Germany moved to South America or other close countries. We were not prepared for war and public opinion was against it. We were protected by two great oceans, but technology was making that not a safe gamble. To change the view of the American public, one of the Axis powers was going to have to provoke the US. To put it simply, congress and the public opinion would not allow us to enter the war until we were provoked.

we were in a state of neutrality. The president was trying not to get into the war. Also, America Didn't want to spend a ton of money on a war they didn't need.

There are some facts that might prove that we did indeed enter the

sooner than many people may think. In 1941 Britain ran out of money and

needed to buy arms from the United States. That is the start to some

involvement. On September, 5th a United States destroyer was told about

a German submarine in the area by a British plane and immediately

attacked the submarine. President Roosevelt did not tell anyone at first

because it was started by the Americans. then on September, 11th he

ordered the United States Navy to attack any German vessel as soon as

they see it, pretty much declaring war upon Germany. There were a couple

different things that had happened like that but still the president did not

want to declare war. Roosevelt said that he tried to avoid battle but it begun

anyway. There was a similar strategy used against Japan, it is one reason

theories say we knew about the attacks.

There were some differences between WWII and WWI. A main

difference is the weapons, such as machine guns air planes tanks and mustard

gas. The president wanted to go to war but the American public would not have

that so our country just waited around for something to happen. This is why people

thought that Roosevelt had something to do with the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

The war was 'over there' - and in many respects it was the same feeling that permeated America in the First World War. Many Americans felt that the US had enough to grapple with in the Great Depression.

The political climate at that time was affected by news reporters who were openly isolationists. They advocated leaving Europe to the Europeans and avoiding any conflict. Among them, there was no sense of responsibility to help the people who were suffering. There was also very poor reporting regarding the events in Germany. Nobody was accurately reporting the murder of the Jews over there and anyone who made any claims regarding the Holocaust was considered to be a radical and more than a little too eager to go into war. The climate wasn't much different than it is today, with some people wanting to go to war to prevent Hitler from gaining too much power and others saying that it was none of our business.

They wanted to protect their trades so as to protect their economy. they had trades with both the western allies and with countries in the axis.

The main reason that U.S.A got involved with World War 2 was because of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. America was devastated and mobilized (mobilize-to prepare for war) almost overnight.