The two great world wars of the first half of the twentieth centuries both saw America as outsiders at the outset. Both set in Europe, it was the feelings of America in WWI that Europe was experiencing these problems that they felt the Europeans needed to handle. However, once they realized intervention was direly needed, they entered the war and aided in the victory. Unfortunately, shortly after America fell into an isolationist movement that soon swept through the nation and grew into the popular opinion of the country. Circumstances following the conclusion of the war and the messy situation that resulted in the peace process made America into a sleeping giant. 

            As America was using the New Deal to try and dig themselves out of the rut that was the Great Depression, they didn’t want to be a part of the trouble stirring in Europe. The Germans, angered by the harsh repercussions of the Treaty of Paris, looked for leadership and guidance out of their own economic and social woes. Unfortunately, Hitler was the man who rose to speak and aroused a sense of nationalism that both inspired and promised for the return to greatness (little did they know his aims were to kill of the inferior race, thus creating a dominant Aryan race ruling the world). So, as Hitler was taking charge and creating his Third Reich, the rest of Europe was simply sitting down and watching as he began his aggressive blitzkrieg against the continent. By the time they realized they had a problem on their hands, they were in a very compromising position where the leverage was with Hitler and his commanding military force.

            While this problem is increasing in nature, America continued their stance of standing off on the side and avoiding intervention. Using their previous intervention in WWI as historical precedent and the need to solve their own grievous problems, they decided to stay isolated. However, by late 1940, America realized the severity of the problem at hand: what they once believed to be Europe’s problem was now the world’s problem, a problem that could no longer be ignored. However, it is not as simple as changing the mind of a nation to run to the aid of Europe when the current sentiment was quite the contrary. However, the suave nature of FDR knew that aid from America was necessary and they decided to initiate the Lend-Lease Act. This gave the British the arms they needed at rates they could afford; essentially, they were giving their British friends the helping hand they needed without compromising their isolated position.

In reality, the Lend-lease act shattered any notion of neutrality. The very nature of the legislation was to practically give the British what they needed. By performing this impractical business tactic, they severely undercut the isolationist attitude in one fell swoop. FDR, although a political mastermind, knew that this would arouse great debate amongst his countrymen, and it did. A nation that had relied on neutrality to avoid confrontation was questioning the obvious meaning of such a bill. But, at the same time, the news of the German power was spreading the reality of their world was quite clear: they had to act, and act now. FDR truly displayed wonderful political tactics in allowing the American public a taste before an entire bite by breaking the nation’s neutral stance without directly involving themselves in the war. Although brief, it allowed for a time period to elapse in Americans that the only viable option that would ultimately result in success was intervention in what was no longer an isolated danger-it was a problem on a worldwide scale. 

At the beginning of World War II, the United States issued their proclamations of neutrality.  However the feelings of Americans were not exactly neutral.  They were, of course, hoping the democracies of Europe would emerge as victors.  Americans were also extremely anti-Nazi and anti-Hitler.  President Roosevelt then decided to try to help the “good side” by issuing the Neutrality Act of 1939.  Under this act European Democracies were allowed to buy American war materials.  These materials were to be bought with cash and then to be transported by the country that bought the items.  This method would prevent loans, war-debts, and the destruction of American ships that transport arms.  This act was on of the first aids that were provided to Britain by the United States.  Isolationists also got something from it, the United States was authorized to create danger zones were American ships would not travel through.

            At around the time of the Battle of Britain, the people of the United States were arguing over whether or not they should assist the British.  People who wanted to help Britain formed propaganda groups.  One of these was called the Committee to Defend American by Aiding the Allies.  Arguments of these groups included that Britain was fighting the war of the United States and that it would be better to help the war overseas than for the war to move to the United States.  Isolationists also brought arguments forth.  They felt that Americans should keep all of their own supplies to protect their own country in case Germany decided to attack the United States. 

            The next step of the United States occurred on September 2, 1940.  Roosevelt on this day agreed to transfer fifty old-modeled, four-funnel destroyers to Great Britain.  These destroyers were ones that were left over from World War I.  In return, Britain promised to give eight defensive base sites to the United States. 

            The lend-lease bill was created to further assist the democracies of Europe.  It would allow the United States to send a “limitless supply of arms to victims of aggression, who in turn would finish the job and keep the war on their side of the Atlantic.  Accounts would be settled by returning the used weapons or their equivalents to the United States when the war was ended.” (840).  Many people, but especially isolationists, opposed this bill.  It unofficially declared that the United States was no longer a neutral nation.  

            The United States entered World War I and World War II because of similar reasons.  The entrance into World War I was caused by the sympathy of the Americans towards the allied powers and by the bombing of a ship carrying US citizens.  The United States joined the fighting in World War II again because of their sympathy toward the European democracies and because of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  Both of these cases were similar since the United States’ declaration of war was triggered by an attack on something that was theirs.   

America’s entry into both world wars was preceded by aid to Britain and/or France. When Britain was the last allied stronghold in Europe, America felt that it had to support it, so America sent aid, inviting attacks from German submarines. America also wished to stop Japan’s conquest that threatened American security and trade, but most of all international peace. America slowed Japan’s expansion with embargoes, which were met with retaliation.

Like the First World War, Americans were not eager to enter into World War II. The country was still recovering from the effects of what the war did, and they were not ready to handle a new one. Isolationism was prevalent in the country, and most Americans wanted to leave European affairs, in Europe. In both wars Americans were confident that they would not enter into a war. However, in both wars Americans were forced to compromise their standings, sue to unexpected circumstances.

            Roosevelt managed to move the U.S. toward providing aid to Britain while going isolationist views. Americans were still worried about the current economic situation. They did not want to involve the country in someone else’s problem when they did were barely able to handle their own. Americans were not thrilled about Roosevelt’s decisions to aid Britain, but their concern with the Hitler’s growing power they were more willing to accept a certain responsibility to help the rest of the world. The British were virtually the only thing standing in the way of Hitler achieving world-domination.

            Their neutral status in foreign affairs was compromised by the Hitler’s aggression. America and Roosevelt knew that it was foolish to stick to ideas of being fair and passive in such dire circumstances.