The Nye Committee: In 1934, the Nye Committee was established to investigate the arms industry and its role in the outbreak of World War I. The committee's findings, which were published in 1936, suggested that the arms industry had played a significant role in pushing the United States into the war. This report made Americans skeptical of involvement in foreign wars and contributed to the isolationist sentiment of the time.
The Neutrality Acts: In response to the Nye Committee's findings, Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts in the 1930s. These acts were designed to prevent the United States from being drawn into another foreign war. The acts prohibited the sale of arms to belligerent nations, forbade American citizens from traveling on ships of belligerent nations, and required the United States to remain neutral in any conflict between foreign nations.
Pro-Allied Sentiment: Despite the isolationist sentiment of the time, there was also a strong pro-Allied sentiment among many Americans. Many Americans sympathized with the Allied powers, particularly Great Britain and France, and believed that the United States had a moral obligation to support them in their fight against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.
The Sinking of the Lusitania: In 1915, the British passenger ship Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 people, including 128 Americans. The sinking of the Lusitania caused outrage in the United States and further eroded support for neutrality.
The German U-Boat Campaign: During World War I, Germany waged an unrestricted submarine campaign, which resulted in the sinking of numerous American merchant ships and the loss of American lives. The U-boat campaign further increased anti-German sentiment in the United States and made it difficult for the country to maintain neutrality.