The United States sought to remain neutral in the 1930s due to various reasons. The American public was not ready to engage in another expensive and fatal war. This is because they had taken part in the First World War. The United States chose to remain silent until when the Pearl Harbor bombing took place. Another reason is that unless, America had been threatened directly they had no reason to take a front line role. This was a valid reason since it was the policy of America to stay neutral in affairs that did not have effect on the United States (Brinkley & Rubel, 102).
America believed that engaging in the war would cost them economically. This is because taxes were expected to go up as spending on war would increase. Due to the care the American government had on its citizens it did not wish to subject them to more economic harm. A policy had been put in place to ensure that United States never took an active role in the war. The policy was put in place with the best interest of the Americans (U.S. Department of State).
Additionally, it should be noted that this was a time when the Great Depression was being experienced. The tumultuous economic situation left little amount money to be used on war activities. The available limited finances could only be used for more constructive activities like building the nation and for provision of the necessary services to the nation. It would be senseless to engage in a war that was not affecting the Americans directly at the expense of providing the basic services required.
Failure to take part in the war like activities was believed to benefit Americans significantly. First, the relationship with other countries after the war would not be ruined. This safeguarded the engagements which America would like to have with the other nations after the war. War would have resulted to loss of lives. Therefore, lives were saved by not engaging in the war. Most importantly the economy was saved from further deterioration.
Works cited
Douglas Brinkley, David Rubel ‘World War II: The Axis Assault, 1939-1942. Macmillan (2003) pp. 99–106.
U.S. Department of State, ‘The Neutrality Acts, 1930s,’ Retrieved from: http://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/id/99849.htm
