why did the united states take as long as they did to get involved in World War 2?

Answer 1

Simple explanation? There was a very strong trend toward neutrality in the period leading up to Pearl Harbor.

Answer 2

The United States was involved with the first world war and then the depression hit in 1929. The US was still trying to get back on its feet nationally.

Answer 3

Since the US lost a lot of people in WWI, the public was very much against getting involved in another European war. The US of course became involved after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.

Answer 4

FDR set the US Up for WW2:
1. Built Internment camps pre 1941 Dec raid.
2.Knew about Pearl Harbor raid pre Dec 7th.
FDR had War get Country out of Economic doldrums then the early 40s after the Depression.
Too bad about Pearl Harbor Naval Staff @ time in Dec 7th.
Yes the US sent war supplies to the UK.

See Freedom of Information act on Internment Camps built pre 1941 Dec.

Answer 5

We were involved the whole time. Selling Weapons and boats and machinery. Its because after WW1, the isolationist wanted to get off the world stage. Also, we just got out of the depression, and were struggling. Kind of like the internet meltdown in 99 that caused our economy to melt down, hmm then those planes hit the towers, and hmm we're at war again,.,.,,

Answer 6

The US wanted to stay neutral as it was more profitable, selling arms and other supplies to both sides.

There also was a strong "isolationist" policy amongst most Americans at the time in foreign policy.

There were also a large "Nazi Party" operating in the US who influenced politicians, especially from the Republican Party and they were calling for neutrality while reaping the financial benefits of selling to both sides, especially the Germans while denying access to resources for the Japanese.

Once the Japanese, who were allies of the Germans, attacked Pearl Harbour then the US had to declare war on Japan, and in turn on Nazi Germany.

Answer 7

America folllowed a strong isolationist foreign policy before the ww2, this was in keeping with the constitution. They did not want to become entangled in a foreign conflict or alliance, instead America sold machine parts, soft drink and all manner of other consumables to both sides of the war. It wasn't until war was declared on America that it entered into the conflict.

Answer 8

They didnt necessarily have a reason to get involved at that time. It wasn't really a popular topic for the general americans at that time. The only reason they got involved is because of Pearl Harbor. Countries stay out of other countries wars unless there is a reason to be in it.

Answer 9

There was nothing in it for the U.S. until Pearl Harbor was attacked. We were willing to be neutral until that point because until then it hadn't affected us nor did we have any great political or economical interest in the countries involved. However, if the U.S. had had any strong political or economic interests in the countries involved in that war, we probably would have become involved much earlier.

Answer 10

The people in the U.S. were isolationists. They didn't want to get involved. They were forced into it. It is said that FDR knew about Pearl Harbor before it happened (knew the Japanese were going to attack) but let it happen as a way to get us into WWII. He was a smart man but made some unfortunate decisions. But then again the Amerian people seem to (I am one) ignore reality. We rationalize and scoff things off instead of looking deeper. I think we will see less of this if we get more people into college.