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Nye Committee Ruling
The Nye Committee investigated arms manufacturers' profits during World War I, fueling public suspicion that financial interests influenced U.S. entry into the war. This led to increased support for neutrality and isolationist policies. -
Neutrality Acts
A series of laws aimed at preventing U.S. involvement in future wars, including arms embargoes and "cash-and-carry" provisions, reflecting America's desire to stay out of European conflicts. -
Start of WWII
Germany's invasion of Poland marked the beginning of World War II in Europe, challenging U.S. neutrality and prompting debates over intervention. -
Destroyers for Bases
The U.S. transferred 50 destroyers to Britain in exchange for military base rights, a covert step away from strict neutrality and toward supporting Allied powers. -
Hemispheric Defense Zone
Roosevelt declared the entire western Atlantic a U.S. defense zone, allowing U.S. naval patrols against German submarines, signaling a shift toward active defense measures. -
Lend-Lease Act
This law authorized the U.S. to supply arms and supplies to Allied nations, especially Britain and later the Soviet Union, marking a clear move toward intervention without formal war. -
Atlantic Charter
Roosevelt and Churchill outlined postwar ideals of democracy and free trade, aligning their goals and indicating a commitment to oppose Axis aggression. -
Pearl Harbor Attack
The surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor led to U.S. entry into World War II, fully transitioning the nation from isolationism to active intervention.