by Nick Maziarka

Created on: July 14, 2009   Last Updated: July 30, 2009

Isolationism and neutrality played key roles in American political policy preceding both World War I and World War II. The nation took a firm stance against entering conflict at both these times. However, there occurred a point in each policy where isolationism could stand no more. During both wars, a direct threat to America prompted the States to make important modifications in their policies.

Before the start of World War I, Wilson had engaged the nation in a policy of neutrality. An anti-imperialist, President Wilson did not want America to become involved in any foreign conflict. This led to such policies as the Jones Act, which re-granted the Philippines territorial status to prevent any fighting over it and maintain neutrality. Also, during the Mexican Revolution, when America could have intervened, Wilson chose to keep troops out of the southern neighbor. This lasted only until Mexicans made an attack on American sailors, though.

This type of direct attack is what, on a larger scale, forced America into World War I. The discovered Zimmerman Note, which hinted at a German-Mexican alliance, and the Bolshevik Revolution both looked like a large threat to the nation. Unrestricted submarine warfare started and continued by Germany was the most threatening of all, however. These were the attacks aimed right at American, and these were the attacks that launched America into the war with Wilson now wanting democracy and peace to win over the enemy.

A mirror effect now occurs with the time period before World War II. Franklin Roosevelt, following the stock market crash and the Great Depression, wanted an isolationist policy. This was also prompted by World War I devastation. In essence, Roosevelt wanted complete neutrality, as demonstrated by the Neutrality Acts of 1935-37, which were long upheld. There came a point, though, where America could remain 100% neutral no longer.

The fall of France to Germany proved very threatening to democracy and America. As a result, America decided to join in on the war effort, assisting the world's democracies with the Land-Lease Bill of 1941. December 7th brought a much sadder tone to American history, though - one that caused Americans to truly enter the war effort. Pearl Harbor was a direct attack on the U.S. by the Japanese, and this direct attack forced the U.S. to abandon neutrality and fight fascism.

The neutrality policies of the United States form 1914 to 1917 and from 1939 to 1941 were incredibly similar. Isolationism and neutrality were to be upheld above entering the war (World War I and II). Yet, an attack on America, an attack on democracy, led the nation to take on a new policy both times. It was time for America to fight for what it stood for.

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