America’s Neutrality Entering World War II

            Yesterday, I blogged about America’s isolationism during the Great Depression/pre World War II.    For this post, I will focus on neutrality.  As I see it, America’s “neutrality” entering World War II was simply a continuance of this isolationist attitude.  Though, being a democratic, isolationist world power while tyrannical dictatorships started to pop up proved to be an extremely difficult task.

            America’s first step toward being a neutral nation while tensions rise in Europe was quite logical.  We began with The Neutrality Acts (first introduced in 1935, later revised).    They said that if the president formally recognized a foreign war, certain measure would be emplaced.  The biggest was sailing, trading munitions, or making loans to the countries at war would be illegal.  The idea was to keep the United States out of another terrible disaster like World War I. (spoiler alert: it would fail) Many historians argue that this neutrality, though, was quite foolish, as, while America failed to care about anything beyond its borders, dictatorships started forming in Europe. 

            The first example would be the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), in which fascist rebel leader Francisco Franco overthrew the Loyalist powers in Spain.  This was with the aid of Hitler and Mussolini.  For the most part, the United States stayed out of this fighting, with the exception of Abraham Lincoln Brigade.   This was a volunteer troop of about three thousand men and women who went to fight against Franco.  Roosevelt, using the existing Neutrality Acts, placed an arms embargo on not only the rebels but also the loyalists.  He would regret placing an embargo on the rebels later.  It is important to note that, at the time, if Roosevelt had asked for any more involvement in the Spanish Civil War from the Americans, he would receive strong retaliation.  The Americans were not ready to deal with Europe’s problems.

            Over in China, things weren’t looking too good either.  In 1937, Japan invaded the country.  In Roosevelt’s famous Quarantine Speech, the president urged for a trade embargo on Japan.  This received backlash from isolationists, as they didn’t want to mess with the already fragile relationship with Japan.  The thought was to keep doing what we are doing, so we avoid war.  Eventually the fighting became more personal when Japan sank the Panay in 1937, an American gunboat.  Yet, Japan apologized and quickly paid for damages.  They weren’t ready to fight us either, and essentially economic neutrality was kept.

            Meanwhile, back in Europe, Hitler was planning his conquest of Europe.  As Germany took the Rhineland and threw the Treaty of Versailles the window, England and France continued appeasement.  (Think of Mr. Stewart’s cookie analogy:  Germany was like a child asking his mom for a cookie before dinner.  Europe, the mom, gave Germany the cookie, or Rhineland rather, because she didn’t want to fight.) 

            In August 1939, the Hitler-Stalin pact was signed, which was essentially a nonaggression treaty with Hitler.  The Soviet Union wanted to secure its own safety.  Though, now Hitler was free to go focus on the west, as he didn’t have to fear a stab in the back from his neighbor to the east.  By this point, war, in my opinion, was inevitable.

            On September 1, 1939 Hitler invaded Poland, and Britain and France kept their promise as they declared war on Germany.  And for the United States?  Well, neutrality.  Roosevelt even issued a revised Neutrality Act of 1939, which allowed the democracies to buy war materials from America using cash-and-carry.  (Goods shipped on other countries’ ships, and they must pay in cash)  The act also established parts of the seas where it would be illegal for American ships to enter.  This actually hurt China, as there were no trade routes between them and us as Japan created dangerous seas for American merchants. 

            “Neutral,” while it was the term America decided to use, would not accurately describe our country’s actions entering World War II.  We were no doubt biased in helping democracies.  Roosevelt wanted to keep an image of favoring England and France without going into war.

            Here is a question to ponder:  Was it better for America to remain neutral as World War II began, or did this hurt us in the end?  On one hand, we didn’t want to be dragged into war.  On the other hand, it gave more time for Japan and Nazi Germany to build its regime.  What’s your opinion?