1. Neutrality Acts: Despite the outbreak of World War II in Europe in 1939, Roosevelt initially pursued a policy of neutrality. He sought to maintain peaceful relations with both the Allies (mainly Britain and France) and the Axis powers (primarily Germany, Italy, and Japan). The United States passed several Neutrality Acts in the 1930s, designed to prevent the US from being drawn into the conflict.
2. Lend-Lease Act: As the Axis powers gained momentum in the war, Roosevelt increasingly favored supporting the Allies while still avoiding direct military involvement. In March 1941, he introduced the Lend-Lease Act, which allowed the United States to provide military aid (on credit) to Allied nations fighting against the Axis.
3. Atlantic Charter: In August 1941, Roosevelt met with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and issued the Atlantic Charter, which outlined eight principles for a peaceful post-war world. Although it avoided any explicit commitment to join the war, it indicated Roosevelt's growing alliance with the Allies.
4. Four Freedoms Speech: In January 1941, Roosevelt delivered his famous Four Freedoms speech in which he outlined four essential human freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. He presented these principles as goals for a better future and linked them to the ongoing struggle against tyranny.
5. Atlantic Conference: In August 1941, Roosevelt and Churchill met again in Newfoundland for the Atlantic Conference. They agreed to a joint declaration pledging cooperation in the war effort, even though the US was still not formally at war.
6. Destroyers for Bases Agreement: In September 1940, Roosevelt traded 50 American destroyers for military bases in British territories, demonstrating a further deepening of ties between the US and Britain.
7. Japan's Expansion and Pearl Harbor: Roosevelt expressed concerns about Japan's growing aggression in the Pacific and attempted diplomatic negotiations. He imposed economic sanctions on Japan and froze Japanese assets in the United States. Eventually, Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, led to the United States' entry into the war on the side of the Allies.
In summary, Roosevelt's position before pro-intervention was characterized by cautious neutrality, increasing support for the Allies through actions such as the Lend-Lease Act and the Atlantic Charter, and a gradual escalation in diplomatic and economic pressure on the Axis powers. His policies reflected a careful balancing act between maintaining American interests, upholding democratic values, and avoiding direct military involvement until the attack on Pearl Harbor brought the US into the war.