The decision by the United States to stay out of war until 1941 was wise since it helped save war resources and lives. America restrained itself from getting tangled in European affairs, having the perspective that it would limit its ability to act independently. The United States had also signed treaties with other nations intending to maintain international peace. Congress had passed a Neutrality Act, which limited America from selling arms to fighting countries. The United States could not support any of the parties fighting during World War II until an attack was made on Pearl Harbor.
American citizens and politicians wanted the United States to restrain from being entangled in European issues since it would end up establishing barriers to its ability to act independently. America wanted to ensure that it was free from European issues and other commitments likely to negatively impact the nation. The United States maintained an isolationist tradition even to reduce the likelihood of a global conflict even though it engaged in international affairs.
America’s decision was greatly influenced by a noninterventionist foreign policy aimed at reducing the likelihood of war and defense expenditure. The United States was not involved in the war until 1941 since it had a Neutrality Act which established limits to the sale of weapons to fighting parties (Corbett et al. 1). The nation also had to refrain from lending money or moving individuals and weapons for countries who were active during the course of the war.
The United States made the decision to become active in the war after the Japanese launched an attack on a Pacific fleet in Pearl Harbor. The attack made America lose fighting equipment and recorded the deaths of several soldiers with other nursing injuries. The attack happened as Japanese diplomats were negotiating a possible agreement with the United States in Washington. This caused President Roosevelt to ask Congress to issue a declaration of war.
In conclusion, the United States could not be active during World War II until an attack was made by the Japanese fleet. The lack of involvement was aimed at ensuring that the nation maintained its capacity to act independently. The United States was also restrained from being mixed up in the war by the Neutrality Act, which limited the government from helping fighting countries. However, the attack on the American Pearl Harbor fleet made the Americans change their mind, hence issuing a declaration of war.
Work Cited
Corbett, P. Scott, et al. US History. OpenStax, 2017.