This image shows three flat tires representing unemployment, depression, and poverty.  Surprisingly going to World War 2 helped the nation with the Great Depression. The European nations that went to war needed goods like jeeps, tanks, and airplanes to supply their militaries. American factories and manufacturing made goods to help supply our allies. This boosted the economy and made millions of jobs for citizens. Most men went to go fight in the war while women were working in the factories but some women joined special forces of the military as well.   Franklin D. Roosevelt was president when we declared war which was on December 1941.

Why did America want to stay neutral at the start of both world wars?

America wanted to stay neutral in the start on World War 1 and World War 2 because they wanted to avoid involvement in Asian or European affairs. America also wanted to stay neutral in the wars because they believed they didn’t need any allies and didn’t need to rely on any other nation for help to fight the war.

How did world war II begin in Asia and Europe?

World War 2 started in Europe because on September 1st, 1939, Germany invaded Poland.  Britain and France declared War on Germany on September 3rd, 1939. The soviets invaded Eastern Europe. Within a month of Britain and France declaring war on Germany, Poland was defeated by Nazi Germany and the soviet union. On May 10th, 1940, Germany overran France and western Europe invading low countries like Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. On June 10th, 1940, Italy joined Germany in war. On October 31st, 1940, the Nazis lost an air war over England called the Battle of Britain. In 1941, Germany invaded the USSR. In July 1938, Japan attacks China and the Soviet-held area Manchuria. The United States refused to recognize conquests and imposed an embargo on oil and steel.

United States stays neutral and many Americans are isolationist which means a nation stays out of disputes and affairs of other nations. Cash and Carry is a policy requested by United States president Franklin Roosevelt. It was requested at a special session of the United States congress on September 21st, 1939. Another way United States stayed neutral is Bases for Destroyers. Between the United States and United Kingdom on September 2nd, 1940, Caldwell, Wickes, and Clemson- class United States Navy destroyers were transferred from the United States Navy in exchange for land rights on British possessions. The Lend- Lease act was passed in March 1941. It provides United States military aid to foreign nations in World War 2.

On December 7, 1941, Japan attacks the United States. This attack is known as the Pearl Harbor which led into the United States entry into World War 2.  America entered World War 2 during the war because of the Pearl Harbor attack that happened on December 7th, 1941. The Pearl Harbor attack was a surprise military strike lead by the Japanese Navy against United States naval base located at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack happened because Japanese wanted to keep the United States from interfering with their military actions against United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.

http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/us-entry-and-alliance

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