American Entry in WWII

WWII had started in Europe in 1939 with Hitler's invasion of Poland however it would be another two years before American became involved officially and the reasons for this are a large debate amongst historians. The Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbour on December 7 1941 is often seen as the trigger point for American's military involvement in the war. However, this is contested by revisionist historians - with some even arguing that FDR Roosevelt provoked the Japanese to attack.

Roosevelt's possible motives for wanting the USA to be militarily involved in WWII:

• Wanting to help the Allies, particularly Great Britain, from the Nazi threat. By 1941 the war was going badly for the Allies and there was a possibility of defeat. France had been taken over by the Nazi's in 1940
• Believing that Axis troops posed a direct threat to America which she needed to directly stop

Actions by Roosevelt which have been interpreted as steps towards war:

• Through persuading Congress to revise the 1935 Neutrality Act Roosevelt was able to allow France and Britain to purchase arms on a 'cash and carry' basis, an action which is seen to show America as funding and equipping the Allies
• After the fall of France Roosevelt enacted the first peacetime draft in U.S. history. Although he justified the measure as necessary for national security, the revisionists contend that it was not purely defensive that it was a major step in preparing the United States to enter the war in Europe
• At the same time, Roosevelt had negotiations with Winston Churchill. They agreed that Britain could have 50 U.S. destroyers in exchange for 99-year leases on eight British naval and air bases in the Western Hemisphere. Roosevelt argued that this was merely for defence. However, others including Churchill argue that it was just a further step to the USA inevitably joining the war
• In March 1941 Roosevelt's Lend-Lease Agreement started which meant that America would 'lend' Britain up to $7,000 worth of weapons; this agreement was extended to the USSR after…