The United States remained, for the most part, at peace with other nations for nearly one hundred years. The ideals of isolationism were still prominent and influencing citizens. Americans were satisfied with growing their own nation first before looking towards others. Even with all the conflict in Europe, Americans were reluctant to venture over the Atlantic. It served as a natural barrier to the problems of the Eastern Hemisphere. To them, national growth was the most important aspect, not foreign politics. Peace, not war, was what Americans loved. But soon, questions of how to best maintain peace rose. Should the US stay away? Or should the US fight for peace by engaging in violence? Eventually, the US realized there was no alternative: War was inevitable.
Building Support for World War I
"The effect of the war upon the United States will depend upon what American citizens say and do. Every man who really loves America will act and speak in the true spirit of neutrality, which is the spirit of impartiality and fairness and friendliness to all concerned. The spirit of the nation in this critical matter will be determined largely by what individuals and societies and those gathered in public meetings do and say, upon what newspapers and magazines contain, upon what ministers utter in their pulpits, and men proclaim as their opinions on the street." -- Woodrow Wilson's Appeal to Neutrality
Woodrow Wilson was a fervent believer in progressive and pacifist beliefs. His entire cabinet did not want to engage in any warfare. Because of his pacifist views, Wilson called for a "spirit of neutrality" (Appeal). While still attempting to maintain freedom of speech, he urged individuals and leaders of advertisement companies to speak on neutrality, not war.
Wilson, Woodrow. "Appeal for Neautrality." 1937. Points of View Reference
Center, eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/
detail?vid=6&sid=71e32b43-1724-467a-82b3-f0542aacda8c%40sessionmgr4009&bdata=JnNp
dGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=21212231&db=pwh. Accessed 30 Oct. 2017.
Wilson, Woodrow. "Appeal for Neautrality." 1937. Points of View Reference
Center, eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/
detail?vid=6&sid=71e32b43-1724-467a-82b3-f0542aacda8c%40sessionmgr4009&bdata=JnNp
dGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=21212231&db=pwh. Accessed 30 Oct. 2017.
After fighting in World War I, America had had its fill of violence. Years passed. The United States, and the world, remained relatively quiet and at peace. It was not until over 20 years later that the threat of another world war surfaced. With the devastating actions of the Germans threatening world peace, the question was once again raised: "Do we interfere?"But this time, Americans had a completely different view. Although some continued to promote neutrality and peace, many more pushed for the entrance into World War II.
The US Enters World War II
On December 7th, 1941, Japanese fighters flew over Pearl Harbor, where the United States had ships stationed in port. The planes attacked the harbor, killing than 2,403 Americans, 68 civilians included (Cited in Groff). Following the devastating attack, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's famous "a date which will live in infamy" speech issued an official state of war against the Japanese Empire: "I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire" (Roosevelt, cited in Groff). Although the bombing of Pearl Harbor was not the only factor in the United States entering the war, it was ultimately the final domino that pushed the United States into the Great War.
Groff, Bethany. "Franklin D. Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor Speech." ["Defining Documents: World War II"]. Defining Documents: World War II, 7/1/2015, pp. 82-85. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=khh&AN=120893805&site=eds-live.
Prior to Pearl Harbor, much of the American public wanted to remain neutral. Roosevelt did not have populous support to declare war. However, approximately half an hour after FDR's speech, there was widespread support for the war (Groff). Compared to its once ideals of isolationism, the US would no longer remain neutral and stand back while the world fought for peace.
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano. "Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor Speech." 8
Dec. 1941. YouTube, 22 Mar. 2008, www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrVI6ENDL8Y.
Accessed 11 Jan. 2018. Speech.
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano. "Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor Speech." 8
Dec. 1941. YouTube, 22 Mar. 2008, www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrVI6ENDL8Y.
Accessed 11 Jan. 2018. Speech.
To read more about FDR's influential wife and the role she played in foreign policy, click the button below.
This was a Bugs Bunny commercial produced in the 1940s, during World War II, in an attempt to increase public support for purchasing liberty bonds.
Bugs Bunny War Bond Drive WW2. Warner Bros, 1943. YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TUPUbvO0eU. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017. Advertisement.
Bugs Bunny War Bond Drive WW2. Warner Bros, 1943. YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TUPUbvO0eU. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017. Advertisement.
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Click the button below to explore the United States' involvement in other wars.