Question

Why did the United States want to remain neutral in the European war?




America was very busy dealing with the progressives and other problems.

America not did not see how getting involved could help the United States.

Americans do not like to fight.

America did not want to send troops to fight in another country's war.

Americans felt that it was not our business.

Answer 1

http://www.answers.com/Q/Why_did_the_US_initially_stay_neutral_in_World_War_2

Answer 2

what you guess here about the answer...?

Answer 3

I'm guessing it's the first one.

Answer 4

I have to assume you mean prior to Dec 7, 1941. For after that the US was hardly neutral. Prior to that bombing of Pearl Harbor the United States basic policy was one of neutrality and isolationism stemming from WWI. President Roosevelt did offer and aid through material sources help to Great Britain prior to our delcaration of war on Germany.Supplies were sent and guarded by the US Navy to England throughout the early years of 1940 and 1941.As to the invasion of Poland and why we did not declare war on Germany then, we had no treaty with European Countires to aid them in time of war.Only after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor did we declare war and only with Japan. Hilter soon after delared war on the US and our country was in an all out war on two fronts. Our neutrality was in the period before Pearl Harbor. The attack by the Japanese against our fleet instantly ended all thoughts of neutrality.
Why did we wish to be neutral? There are a variety of reasons.

1. The United States was in the middle of the "Great Depression," and we had our hands full trying to recover from that great problem. We didn't need to add to our troubles by going to war.

2. In our minds we had "won" the Great War (WW I) for the Allied side. Our president, President Wilson had suggested the "14 Points" which were so fair that it pursuaded the Germans to ask to end the war. (Summarized it said the war should end with no winners and no losers). President Wilson personally traveled to Paris to help plan, not only the end of the war, but a way to end wars in the future. He was mostly ignored by the leaders of England and France that felt it was necessary to punish Germany and reward their own nations. In that way they could tell their people that those that died had gained something for their nations. We Americans were aware of how they idnored our president, and felt that the Second World War was their fault for not following Wilson's plan. So if they ignored us, we would then ignore them. It was their fault there was a Second World War.

3. In the period between the wars it was revealed in a book that we had broken the English and French codes, and that during the peace talks that followed The Great War one of thse leaders had suggested that Wilson was trying to prevent their desires for glory and rewards for winning, and perhaps they should kill Wilson. It is most unlikely the suggestion was serious, but even if meant as a joke we found it to be bad thinking. So if that is the way they thought about the American leader, then they didn't deserve our help.

4. We suspected the British tricked us into joining WW I. That the sinking of the Lusitania was set up by the British to get American mad enough against the Germans to declare war. We will never know of sure it that was true, but it was suspected by many Americans, and that influenced our thinking. We did find out after the war that the British had purposely delayed the release of some information until they had enough combined things that would make American so mad they would demand war. (We believed in "Freedom of the Seas" meaning the right of a neutral nation to sail anywhere at anytime, even during a war. This hurt the German chance for victory, so for a time they sank our supply ships going to England. President Wilson was able to get them to stop sinking our ships. This continued for more than a year, but the Germans realized they could not win if they didn't shut off ALL supplies going to England, so they planned to start sinking American ships again. (This was called "Unrestricted Submarine Warfare.) The British discovered this information, and told us about the German plan a day ahead of time, plus they revealed another secret they had discovered -- "The Zimmerman Note." This "note" was a deal the Germans wanted to make with Mexico. If Mexico would declare war on the U.S. Germany would win the war. Having won the war they would demand America return the state of California and the territories of Arizona and New Mexico (they were not States yet) to Mexico. The combination of those two bits of information made Americans so mad even the President could not prevent a declaration of war.

5. Many Americans were of German and Italian origin. They were impressed by what had happened in Germany and Italy in the years before the war started. At the least they thought we should stay out of a "European War," that had nothing to do with us.

6. There was the "American First" movement. The attitude was that we had our own problems, and should think of America before we thought of any problems in some other part of the world. One of the most important speakers for this group was Charles Lindberg. Possibly the most famous American at that time. Lindberg had toured Germany (and other countries) before the war. The Germans liked him so much that they not only showed him their latest and most secret aircraft, but even let him fly one of their newest aircraft. Lindberg returned to America convenience that the Germans were so advanced over our nations aircraft (which they were), that we should not get involved in a war we could not win.
So the answer to your question is not one, but a combination of different influences.
http://www.answers.com/Q/Why_did_the_US_initially_stay_neutral_in_World_War_2

Answer 5

That's what I found so far.

Answer 6

\(\color{blue}{\text{Originally Posted by}}\) @perii224
I'm guessing it's the first one.
\(\color{blue}{\text{End of Quote}}\)
I think that's wrong.

Answer 7

so you guys agree with me with D...? @confluxepic @perii224

Answer 8

The majority of Americans felt that the United States should stay out of World War I because it was not a signatory to any of the agreements that had lured the European powers into conflict across the continent, so President Woodrow Wilson declared a neutrality policy, attempting instead to broker a peace agreement.
http://www.ask.com/history/did-united-states-want-remain-neutral-wwi-589f0b09022a9484

Answer 9

\(\color{blue}{\text{Originally Posted by}}\) @paki
so you guys agree with me with D...? @confluxepic @perii224
\(\color{blue}{\text{End of Quote}}\)
I think D is also wrong.

Answer 10

\(\color{blue}{\text{Originally Posted by}}\) @confluxepic
The majority of Americans felt that the United States should stay out of World War I because it was not a signatory to any of the agreements that had lured the European powers into conflict across the continent, so President Woodrow Wilson declared a neutrality policy, attempting instead to broker a peace agreement.
http://www.ask.com/history/did-united-states-want-remain-neutral-wwi-589f0b09022a9484
\(\color{blue}{\text{End of Quote}}\)
Read this.

Answer 11

hmmm... C

Answer 12

Why are you guessing?

Answer 13

I'm thinking A,B,D or E..

Answer 14

:O

Answer 15

I just submitted it.. and I put A.

Answer 16

No.

Answer 17

\(\color{blue}{\text{Originally Posted by}}\) @confluxepic
\(\color{blue}{\text{Originally Posted by}}\) @confluxepic
The majority of Americans felt that the United States should stay out of World War I because it was not a signatory to any of the agreements that had lured the European powers into conflict across the continent, so President Woodrow Wilson declared a neutrality policy, attempting instead to broker a peace agreement.
http://www.ask.com/history/did-united-states-want-remain-neutral-wwi-589f0b09022a9484
\(\color{blue}{\text{End of Quote}}\)
Read this.
\(\color{blue}{\text{End of Quote}}\)
Read this again.

Answer 18

@paki was right, It was D.

Answer 19

I disagree with D.

Answer 20

Even if it was right.

Answer 21

conf please re read the text... i am thinking about D...

Answer 22

I am thinking about E.

Answer 23

They had no reason to be involved.