FROM NEUTRALITY TO WAR ISOLATIONISM National policy of

FROM NEUTRALITY TO WAR

ISOLATIONISM • National policy of avoiding involvement in world affairs • Examples of isolationism after WWI - refusing to join League of Nations - insisting on collection of war debt - implementation of high tariffs - restricting immigration • Continued isolationism due to Great Depression (enough problems to deal with at home)

AMERICAN NEUTRALITY Neutrality Acts – designed to keep U. S. out of conflict • 1935 and 1936 – Prohibited selling of arms to nations at war • 1937 – now includes civil wars and sale of non-military goods under new provision of cash and carry - paid upfront in cash and arranged transportation (loophole to help allied forces) • 1939 – “cash and carry” now included sale of arms

LEND AND LEASE ACT OF 1941 • FDR – Fireside Chat – U. S. is the “arsenal of Democracy” • FDR quote “There is far less chance of the United States getting into war, if we do all we can now to support the nations defending themselves against attack by the Axis…” • March 1941 Lend and Lease Act signed by President Roosevelt • This Act authorized America to sell, lease, or lend war materials to countries that were “deemed vital to defense of U. S. ” • This was a direct effort to keep U. S. out of war by supporting British forces

FOUR FREEDOMS • 1941 FDR State of the Union Address – Democratic society should include the following: 1. Freedom of speech and expression 2. Freedom of worship 3. Freedom from want 4. Freedom from fear