Lend-Lease Act (1941):
- The Lend-Lease Act was a significant piece of legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in March 1941.
- It authorized the United States to provide war materials, such as weapons, ammunition, and supplies, to any country whose defense was deemed vital to the defense of the United States.
- Under this act, the U.S. provided substantial aid to Britain, the Soviet Union, and other Allied nations, though the United States remained technically neutral in the war.
Neutrality Acts:
- Prior to the passage of the Lend-Lease Act, the United States had a series of Neutrality Acts in place to avoid direct involvement in the war.
- These acts restricted the sale of arms to belligerent nations and prohibited American ships from transporting war supplies to those nations.
- However, the U.S. interpretation of neutrality gradually shifted over time, leading to increased support for the Allies.
Destroyer-for-Bases Agreement:
- In September 1940, the United States and Britain reached an agreement known as the "Destroyer-for-Bases Agreement."
- Under this agreement, the U.S. transferred fifty old destroyers to Britain in exchange for the right to establish naval and air bases in British territories in the Western Hemisphere, including Newfoundland, Bermuda, Jamaica, and Trinidad.
- This agreement marked a significant step in U.S.-British cooperation and provided the United States with strategic advantages in the Atlantic.
Moral Support and Public Opinion:
- Many Americans felt sympathy for the Allied cause, particularly after the fall of France in June 1940.
- Public opinion in the U.S. increasingly favored providing support to the Allies and taking a more active role in opposing Nazi aggression.
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had campaigned on a platform of neutrality, started speaking more openly about the need to support the Allies and prepare the country for potential involvement in the war.
The Atlantic Charter (1941):
- In August 1941, President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met in secret and issued a joint declaration known as the Atlantic Charter.
- This declaration outlined a set of principles that would serve as the basis for postwar peace and cooperation among nations, including the right to self-determination, freedom from want and fear, and the establishment of a collective security system.
Overall, the United States involvement before Pearl Harbor was characterized by increasing support and aid for the Allied powers while maintaining a technical stance of neutrality. The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, marked the direct entry of the United States into World War II, leading to a full-scale mobilization and commitment to the Allied cause.