How did the United States move from a policy of neutrality to entering the war?

Question

World war II area.

Answer 1

The united states was attacked (unprovoked) at it's base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Japan was in a mutual defense pact with German, and Italy, known as the axis alliance. Since one member of this alliance committed an act of war against the United States, the U.S. Congress formally declared war on the axis powers.

Answer 2

I've read the other answers. Here's what happened:
A. The Japanese Combined Northern Fleet, using six aircraft carriers, attacked Pearl Harbor and other military installations on the island of Oahu in the Territory of Hawaii on December 7, 1941.
B. On December 8th the Congress passed a resolution declaring that, since the attack by Japan, a state of war HAS existed with Japan.
C. Several days later Germany declared war on the U.S. We never responded with a similar resolution against Germany.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but the last time the U.S. declared war on a nation was in April of 1917 and it involved Imperial Germany.

Answer 3

Roosevelt had a stated policy of neutrality that he had adopted for political reasons. He however was an Anglophile from the get go. He helped the UK as much as he could within the limits of the congress. As soon as he could he brought the US into the war. He pushed hard against Japan in the Pacific and provided a large amount of material support in the war in Europe.

Answer 4

The USA was never neutral.

It began early in the war supporting England with the LEND LEASE PROGRAM. 50 Destroyers to England.

By SEPT 41, the US NAVY was openly shooting at any Germany Navy ships it came across.

Pearl Harbor was just the excuse needed to declare war.

Answer 5

Oyeah y, you most seriously have your head where the sun doesn't shine. You have a most skewed view of world events.

Great Britain had been putting a great deal of pressure on the U.S since as early as 1936-7 to join in the British efforts to curtail Germany's aggression. The U.S. populace fought against it vigorously as there was a VERY strong isolationist movement here. President Roosevelt very much agreed that the U.S. position should be closely allied with that of the European nations working against Germany, but wasn't making much headway with the political leadership or the populace. He was able to give a great deal of assistance to Great Britain through some pretty innovative programs, such as the Lend-Lease Act, but he could not quite push us over the edge into war.

Meanwhile, through a number of programs in the Pacific Theater, including embargos, etc., the U.S. was attempting to curtail Japanese aggression out there. Well, eventually, we pushed the Japanese too far, and they responded by bombing Pearl Harbor. The bombing was carefully timed to occur literally moments after their embassy in Washington DC had delivered an ultimatum to the U.S. Secretary of State, but through a comedy of errors, their ultimatum was not delivered until AFTER the bombing took place, which just absolutely infuriated the U.S. populace because they saw it as an unprovoked attack that occured without benefit of declaration of war.

With that event, the U.S. Congress declared war on Japan, and Roosevelt had his event. The Empire of Japan was allied with Germany and Italy, the Axis Powers, and our declaration of war on Japan brought an immediate declaration of war on the U.S. by the Axis Powers. And thus began the second World War.

Hope that answers it for you.

Answer 6

Japan bombed US territory.

The US declared war on Japan.

Germany declared war on the US.

The US declared war on germany.

We Won.

End of story.

Answer 7

they agreed to back the plan for the creation of israel. Britain wanted the USA to become involved, USA was reluctant, British zionists said if they get USA involved , could they get the backing for the creation of israel.

most certainly came the answer from the British, and British zionists lobbied hard in America to get them in the war.

Answer 8

Japan Bombed us and we said it's payback time.