Why were many Americans isolationists?

Answer 1

Because of several reasons:

- The people felt that they weren't really involved in the European conflicts. They would rather concentrate on their own well-being and affairs.

- The War caused much trouble and damage. The European countries were collapsing economically, while the US was prospering

- The US didn't know which side to pick. There were many German immigrants, while the US citizens felt and alignment with Britain.

I think you should still look at some other sources, but I think that those are pretty much the general ones.

Answer 2

Americans were already traumatized by the events of the first world war and did not want their kids and grand children to join another war. Another reason was the depression and fear that America was already in too deep.

Answer 3

America was not yet ready for a war but Roosevelt prepared for war anyway. Japan decided to bomb Pearl Harbor. Ironically is where we had most of our fleet. Japan killed and injured lots of Americans and when Americans get killed we get mad. That is how we joined the second world war.

Answer 4

A better question might be "why wouldn't they be isolationists".

The United States is an extremely isolated country, with two oceans and only two countries sharing it's border.

The United States, with the exception of skirmishes with Mexico in the 19th century, have no natural national enemies. Since Roman antiquity, until the end of World War 2... Europe has been an absolute cauldron of warfare, often for ridiculous (IMHO) reasons like wounded pride and subtle hegemony adjustments. It should not be surprising then, that from the very formation of the United States, it's citizens have abhorred the idea of getting dragged into these frequent destructive conflicts.

Much of that changed in 1898, when the United States popular consensus supported a war with Spain which was a text book example of an Expansionist policy. Isolationist sentiment came back with a vengeance during WW1, as America watched across the pond as the great nations of Europe bled each other white.

At the start of WW2- even though the US still considered the UK and France is closest natural allies- Isolationist sentiment remained very strong. There was a frustrating sense of "Oh great... here we go again" with Europe amongst many Americans. Germany had no particular intentions toward the United States; and Japan had not yet made any threats to US interests in the Pacific (a reason why the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor was so successful).

It was only with the end of World War 2, and the need to help rebuild the shattered nations (both victors and defeated) that made United States involvement in global events a necessity.

Economics is the biggest reason for the United States forfeiting isolationist policy. In the 20th century, America didn't just pass up the UK and Germany in terms of industrial output... it positively leapfrogged them. In that scenario Isolationism is a luxury that no country (regardless of domestic policies) could enjoy.

Theoretically, if the United States slips to 3rd or 4th largest economy on Earth in 100 years or so, it could possibly go back to maintaining Isolationist policies. But it's not something anyone reading this post will probably ever see.

Answer 5

The United States did not want to be invloved in a war again, like in WWI ... after they did not sign the League of Nations.. they isolated themselves from the world, but under the table they were secretly leasing and lending arms to countries that were in a war with Germany's Hitler: Russia, Britain, France....

Answer 6

they didn't want to be involved in other country's affairs and thought they were being nosy.

Answer 7

The isolationist policies of the United States lead to a economic downfall. After World War 2 the US was able to climb out of the rigid foreign policies to international markets.

Answer 8

Why did many U.S. officials favor isolationism