How Do You Understand World War II American Isolationism?
Nearly all Americans banded together for a common cause after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. But from the moment Germany marched into Poland on Sept. 1, 1939 until that day, a majority of Americans believed the country should remain out of World War II. Why did the isolationists work to keep the U.S. from entering the war? Here are some reasons. Understand that Germany had already overrun most of Western Europe by June 1940. The Nazis were winning the Battle of Britain as well and were in the process of brutalizing Poland. Germany had also advanced deep into the Soviet Union by December 1941. It appeared quite possible that Adolf Hitler’s military machine would capture all of Europe. Study the America First Committee, which was founded by such future political leaders as former president Gerald Ford and one-time vice-presidential candidate Sargent Shriver. The AFC believed the United States needed to become strong enough militarily so it couldn’t be successfully attacked
