Document Based Question Essay

Americans tried very hard to stay out of the pesky European Wars, but eventually were forced to join World War II. There are arguably three reasons why America started fighting: economics, national security, and democratic values. Legislation leading up to World war II Represents these three reasons for aggression.  Although improving economic conditions and the threat to national security prompted American support for the Allies, the United States entered World War II in order to preserve democratic values worldwide.

The United States’ economy benefited immediately from this increased involvement in the war. World war II dragged the United States out of the great Depression. Document 6 depicts the effects the war had on industry. From 1939 to 1941 the manufacturing output increased by fifty percent , corporate profits nearly doubled and business failures decreased. Productivity and the need for labor was high. By entering World War II the United States was able to preserve free trade increase their industry which helped them become a more powerful nation.

The need to protect democracy from dictators such as Adolf Hitler allowed the United States to enter World War II.  In Document 5, FDR reveals his priority for the preservation of democracy by expressing his “determination that the democratic cause shall prevail”. He even goes as far as to say that protection of democracy is the United States’ “purpose”. The United States did experience a growth in economy while protecting their shores, but their primary goal in entering World War II was to preserve the ideals of democracy.

This platform was expressed throughout the nation in the months before the United States entered the war. To counter anti-war demonstrations which swept college campuses across the nation, World War II was turned into an ideological fight rather than just simply a war against evil, as seen in Document 2. In this ad from The New York Times, the alternative to American intervention is presented, which is the eventual loss of the Allied forces. The ad describes Nazi and Japanese aims to wipe democracy “from the face of the earth”, presenting the public with an alternative which is accompanied with primitive government and chaos. This ad reflects public opinion of the consequences of the loss of democracy worldwide.

As Germany and Japan continued to strike relentlessly and successfully, the threat to national security and the economy became more apparent and helped push the United States into war. The Germans U- boats continued to terrorize the Atlantic, much like they had before World War I. Document 1 describes the increase in the nation’s naval strength by detailing FDR’s actions with the navy before the United States’ entrance to the war. “`A navy second to none,’ said he, was needed as a `contribution to world peace”. Secondly, FDR increased the size of the navy to prepare for a Nazi invasion of the United States. Wendell Willkie expresses these fears in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in 1940, when he describes what effects the loss of the British fleet would have on America. “If the British Fleet were lost or captured, the Atlantic might be dominated by Germany…This would be calamity for us. We might be exposed to attack on the Atlantic (Document 3) Previously, the United States did not need a strong navy in the Atlantic because the British has such a strong navy, but now that they looked to be defeated the United States was forced to take action, and make changes to their foreign policy. No longer could they stay in a state of isolation, relying on methods such as “lend and lease” to aid the allies. The United States needed to increase their involvement in the war against Germany, by increasing their naval size and upgrading to policies in order to insure their safety.

           

From 1937 to 1941, the United States became a Nation prepared to fight a world war for democracy. The contrast between the Neutrality Acts of the mid 30’s to FDR’s declaration of war on December 8, 1941 reflects this transformation and shows the nation’s change in mentality. It was only a matter of time until the United States joined her allies in defense of democracy and freedom for the greater good of mankind