What was the deciding factor for Roosevelt's (FDR) going to World War II?

Question

And why was it a good idea to get involved?

Answer 1

He had no choice after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and Hitler declared war on America

Answer 2

The deciding factor for FDR to "officially" go into WWII was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

". . .On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, destroying or damaging most of it and killing more than 2,400 American military personnel and civilians. . ."

". . .On December 11, 1941 the United States declared war on Germany and Italy. . . The War Powers Act was passed on December 18, 1941 (http://www.usmm.org/fdr/wsalaw.html). . .Roosevelt met with Churchill in late December and planned a broad informal alliance between the U.S., Britain, China and the Soviet Union, with the objectives of halting the German advances in the Soviet Union and in North Africa; launching an invasion of western Europe with the aim of crushing Nazi Germany between two fronts; and saving China and defeating Japan. . ."

As far as "was it a good idea to get involved," we were "unofficially" involved by escorting Allied ships (part of the way if not all the way) across the Atlantic among other things. The War Powers Act of 12/11/1941 made our actions official.

Also, as the saying goes, "Hindsight is 20/20.

Answer 3

History will convincingly show it was Pearl Harbor.

Also keep in mind, the quote - "history is a lie agreed upon".

It was a good idea to get involved:
* The US banking institutions financed the German rebuilding after the war an therefore made money.
* The Americans gained a great amount of knowledge from German scientists in Operation Paperclip which led directly their space program.
* It also directly led to the USA becoming a superpower and having influence in Europe, which previous isolationist stance others in govt.

* So all in all it was a good idea.

Answer 4

Roosevelt himself wanted the US to side with Britain and France after Germany invaded Poland in 1939. Many Americans were fiercely isolationist, though, remembering US losses in WWI.

It was only after the Japanes surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that the US entered the War.

Obviously Axis aggression and atrocities needed to stop. This was one case where war was better than peace.

Answer 5

Continental US was under attack....Pearl Harbor. FDR realized that Hitler was seeking world domination and attacking the democracies in Europe. Serepticiously he helped the Brits through military shipments, but agonized on how to get into the war directly since the American public was decidedly isolationists. It took the attack on Pearl to hurl the might of the US onto the allied side. This has spawned conspiracy theorists who claim that FDR knew of the Japanese sneak attack but did little to stop it, knowing it would bring the US into the war.

Answer 6

December 7, 1941 a day that will live in infamy...

Many speculate that FDR knew of the impending attack and did nothing because it gave him the just cause to get into the war.

Was it a good idea? Well, you're not speaking German are you?

Answer 7

Pearl Harbor!

Answer 8

Something called P E A R L H A R B O R

Answer 9

Japanese attack on U.S. naval facilities at Pearl Harbor, the Phillippenes, and Wake Island.

Answer 10

German U-boats were sinking our ships.