Question

Why did events from World War I lead to a powerful isolationist sentiment in the United States?

Answer 1

Many Americans during the 1920s came to feel that America's entry into the War was a mistake. Even before the end of the War, this attitude began to to appear. Critics popularized the charge that America was dragged into the War by British propaganda, greedy bankers, and international arms merchants. The term 'merchants of death' became popular. The position of America in a Europe dominated by Imperial Germany was simply ignored in the debate during the 1920s. After the rise of the NAZIs in the 1930s and Germany's rearmament, it became increasingly clear that Europe was moving toward another war. There was considerable talk of war profiteering. Many were determined that America should avoid war at any cost. The anti-war sentiment in America and the memories of the men lost convinced many Americans that America must not get involved in any future European war. And with the rise if the NAZIs, fear of fighting the powerful German military became an important factor.

Answer 2

The distance. America largely viewed it as a European problem, and didn't want to concern itself in a foreign war.