On the eve of Pearl Harbor Day, how many know what drug the US into WWII?

Question

I am mostly thinking of the trade embargo thing with Japan.

Japan's attack was really just a kick in the teeth to us, hoping that it would bring us to our knees and force us to open up trade with them again, right?

Answer 1

It was that whole Pearl Harbor thing, FDR wanted to go to war, because war stimulates the economy and he couldn't get out of the depression without it. He needed to abandon the whole isolationism idea and get back into a global economy. Pearl Harbor was the excuse he needed and he did not hesitate. Prior to Pearl Harbor all he could do is sell the British some war materials and even with German U boats knocking off our merchant vessels he did not have enough clout to convince the American people to enter the war.

Answer 2

Well, FDR had prior knowledge of Pearl Harbor. That really isn't in serious dispute with all the evidence we now have. Beyond that, the policy that led to Pearl Harbor was the sanctions against Japan, which basically amounted to a declaration of war.

In the present, Bush is trying the same crap with Iran. He's trying to provoke them into attacking Americans by engaging in acts of war against the Iranians. Let's hope that Iran take the high road and turns the other cheek until Lame Duck Bush is out of office.

Answer 3

Japan bombing Pearl Harbor and declaring war on the US, and Germany declaring war on the US 2 days later may have been factors.

Answer 4

Well in the Pacific theater it was Pearl Harbor being bombed.

We entered the European theater because Italy and Germany declared war on us.

Answer 5

The origins of the Second World War are generally viewed as being traced back to the First World War (1914-1918). In that war Germany under the ultra-nationalistic Kaiser Wilhelm II along with its allies, had been defeated by a combination of the United Kingdom, United States, France, Russia and others. The war was directly blamed by the victors on the miltant nationalism of the Kaiser's Germany; it was Germany that effectively started the war with an attack on France through Belgium. France, which had suffered a previous defeat at the hands of Prussia (a state that merged one year later with others to form Germany) in the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, demanded revenge for its financial devastation during the First World War (and its humiliation in the earlier war) ensured that the various peace treaties, specifically the Treaty of Versailles imposed tough financial reparations and restrictions on Germany.

A new democratic German republic, known as the Weimar Republic, came into being. After some success it was hit by hyperinflation and other serious economic problems. Right wing nationalist elements under a variety of movements, but most notably the Nazi Party of Adolf Hitler, sought to blame Germany's "humiliating" status on the harshness of the post-war settlement, on the weakness of democratic government, and on the Jews, whom it claimed possessed a financial stranglehold on Germany. Hitler was appointed Reichskanzler (Chancellor) on January 30, 1933, by the aged President von Hindenburg. Hitler's government exercised much of its power through the special emergency powers possessed by the President under the constitution.

Answer 6

Use the word "dragged" not "drug." The US was supplying arms and equipment to Britain and to Russia from the time both both countries got involved in the war.

After the Japanese attacked the US, we declared war on Japan and Germany.

Answer 7

I want to answer this But it just makes little sense. Please add more to make it understandable.

US Japanese relations were very strained Prior to December of 1941. The decisions of trade in steel and Oil had enormous effect on Japans decision to attack.

Answer 8

sentimentally it was our deep connection to the Brits

economically..we had been selling to both sides..scrap steel to the Japs..and arms to our european friends

politically..it was Roosevelt and his response to the bombing of our Hawaiian fleet

rationally..the fact that Hitler attempted to recruit Mexico into the axis earlier in1942..he desired to put a hostile nation on our border..violating the Monroe Doctrine

Answer 9

be more specific..are you speaking of the European theater or the pacific theater...there are many reasons