Reasons for U.S. Neutrality
1. Explain the reasons for U.S. neutrality during the 1920s and 1930s. How did ideas about neutrality change during the period from the end of World War I to the passage of the Lend-Lease Act? Be sure to include any events, terms, or people that may support your response.
The U.S. desired to remain neutral in the 1920s and 1930s because of its traditional tendency to lean towards isolationism. In the late 1920s and 1930s, public media suggested that arms manufacturers pushed the United States into entering the First World War for profit. Senate then created the Nye Committee to investigate these claims but, the committee did not discover anything to support them. By the end of the committee’s investigation, tensions ran high across the country and there was a large support for isolationism. This pressure allowed for congress to pass the First Neutrality Act, which prevented the U.S. from lending money or selling arms to any warring nations. About a year later, the Second Neutrality Act was passed, which included the Cash and Carry Policy. The United States could sell military supplies to warring nations, however, they were required to transport the supplies on their own ships and pay for all purchases in cash. This allowed the U.S. to support warring countries overseas but still keep its distance. With the increasing tension overseas involving Japan and Germany invading their respective nearby countries, support began to turn toward China, Poland, and the other Allied nations. The Third Neutrality Act was passed, which allowed the U.S. to sell arms to the Allies. Many Americans opposed this change, feeling that the U.S. should remain truly neutral. President Roosevelt pushed the nation toward intervention in the following years and soon Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act which allowed the president to sell arms or provide defensive aid to other nations without those nations having to pay cash. The main ideas of the First Neutrality Act had now been overturned
The U.S. desired to remain neutral in the 1920s and 1930s because of its traditional tendency to lean towards isolationism. In the late 1920s and 1930s, public media suggested that arms manufacturers pushed the United States into entering the First World War for profit. Senate then created the Nye Committee to investigate these claims but, the committee did not discover anything to support them. By the end of the committee’s investigation, tensions ran high across the country and there was a large support for isolationism. This pressure allowed for congress to pass the First Neutrality Act, which prevented the U.S. from lending money or selling arms to any warring nations. About a year later, the Second Neutrality Act was passed, which included the Cash and Carry Policy. The United States could sell military supplies to warring nations, however, they were required to transport the supplies on their own ships and pay for all purchases in cash. This allowed the U.S. to support warring countries overseas but still keep its distance. With the increasing tension overseas involving Japan and Germany invading their respective nearby countries, support began to turn toward China, Poland, and the other Allied nations. The Third Neutrality Act was passed, which allowed the U.S. to sell arms to the Allies. Many Americans opposed this change, feeling that the U.S. should remain truly neutral. President Roosevelt pushed the nation toward intervention in the following years and soon Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act which allowed the president to sell arms or provide defensive aid to other nations without those nations having to pay cash. The main ideas of the First Neutrality Act had now been overturned