Did the United States enter WW2 justly?

Question

I personally think yes, but what are your responses and why?

Answer 1

We were attacked by Japan, who then declared a state of war existed between the two sides. We declared war on Japan the next day, on the 8th. Germany declared war on the US on December 11th, 1941. At no time did the United States attack any of the belligerents. They ALL declared war on the US.

If someone declares war on you, and you begin to return fire, could it be said you entered the war justly?

Answer 2

Yes they did right after Pearl Harbour If someone attacks you ,you have to return fire.
They really should have entered the war from the start.It was plain for all to see that Hitler and Mussolini were maniacs who needed to be stopped as they were slowly trying to take over the world and eradicate all of the Jewish people but the USA waited for a major catastrophe to happen before doing anything.
I dont think what they did once they were in the war was right either.They decided to test the A-Bomb on Japan because they couldn't be bothered fighting even though they were the last to enter the war and had done the least fighting, demonstrating the American trigger happyness that George Bush still maintains today.
Even though Britain ,Russia etc pretty much had Germany beaten, Americans always think that they won the war just because by coincidence the war in Europe was won after they showed up.For example American Films and Television always try to make out that America had turned the tide of the war bt thats really more the American Publics fault than the government(For example on the american show the Simpsons it states that all of Europe surrendered easily ,Britain never surrendered and fought bravely so did russia and many others).

I do however give credit to the Americans for helping rebuild after the war was over.All of Europe was bankrupt even Britain, the great British Empire lay in ruins sacrificed to stop the Nazi War machine we could never have rebuilt without US help and we still arent as powerful as we were.

So to answer your question Americans were right to enter the war but tey did alot of things wrong and still seem to believe that they played the key role in winning the war.

Answer 3

It depends on ones philosophical position on war as an instrument of foreign policy along with the difficult question as to when and how a country acts in what it perceives to be it's best interests.

Generally speaking, a country will go to war when it's vital interests are in peril. It could be argued that U.S. vital interests were far more threatened during the Cold War than earlier to WWII. Throughout its history, U.S. foreign policy has been keenly relied on free trade with countries who provide open markets for capital investment. Before WWII, the U.S. traded with, and invested in what was to become the Axis Powers (Germany, Japan and Italy), and if the U.S. had decided not to enter the war, it is certain that trade and investment would have continued. During the Cold War however, as Revolutionary Socialist (Communist) governments began to take control of so many countries, U.S. vital interests were gravely threatened because such countries would not permit free market investment or free trade. Instead, they either nationalized industries or expropriated them altogether, while instituting harsh trade restrictions.

It could also be argued that U.S. entry into the war was a political decision. Even until the war, the U.S. economy was still not fully recovered from the Great Depression. A war fought in far away places would be a boost for the economy, by providing full employment which in turn, would guarantee re-election. It must first be pointed out that only Congress can decide to go to war (both declared and un-declared) because they control its funding. A president can only appeal to the people who in return, influence their elected representatives. But in the case of WWII, public opinion was decidedly against entering the war, so some believe that Roosevelt needed to threaten Japan's vital interests by ordering an oil embargo which in itself could be interpreted as an act of war, leading to an attack on the U.S.

There is compelling evidence that the Roosevelt Administration knew of an impending attack, but allowed it to occur without warning because they knew it would sway public opinion toward war. Whatever the motivation, once the Japanese attacked, the congress had no choice but to declare war. Because Germany and Italy were allies of Japan, the U.S. declared war on those countries as well. Finally, the Balance of Power concept must be considered as an explanation.

Answer 4

Yes, we were attacked by Japan, but even if we hadn't been attacked, it would have been in accordance with international law to enter the war after the fall of France, or even before that.

Answer 5

If there ever was a just way to enter a war, being attacked would be it.

Answer 6

Well, we were attacked....I can't imagine you'd need any more justification than that.