What factors led to the U.S. becoming more involved in the war prior to Pearl Harbor?

Answer 1

Brandi, I am not sure what you actually mean. The United States and Hawaii signed a treaty in 1878 permitting the U.S. to establish a coaling and repair station at Pearl Harbor. The U.S. annexed Hawaii in 1898 and established a naval base there in 1908. The U.S. entry into World War II was precipitated by a Japanese attack on the base on Dec. 7, 1941. Does that answer your question or did you want to know something else? Michael Montagne

Answer 2

The German invasion & conquest of neutrals Denmark & Norway in April 1940 signaled that Hitler would not respect the neutrality of other nations (including the US). The quick German defeat of France in May-June 1940 was a profound shock to the American leadership, that meant that Germany was a very serious threat that Britain (sole surviving Allied power) was unable to stop. The German methods to defeat Britain with unrestricted submarine warfare in WW2 was a repeat of the very same German actions in the First World War that brought America into that war (in April1917). American leaders realized that Hitler (based on both his words & actions) would eventually be real threat to the US if Britain were defeated or not. From that point on, the United States took "all measures short of war" to help Britain survive, knowing that Hitler could only be defeated by a major effort of the United States (unless the Soviet Union opposed Hitler). The Soviet Union up until June 22, 1941 was helping Hitler. So the future appeared very scary.