Student Question
What steps led to American participation in World War II according to Give Me Liberty! chapter 22?
Quick answer:
Initially, many Americans opposed involvement in World War II, with some businessmen maintaining profitable ties in Germany and others viewing Hitler as a bulwark against communism. The attack on Pearl Harbor radically shifted public opinion overnight, prompting the U.S. to enter the war. Following Japan's declaration of war, American men enlisted, war bonds were sold, and women joined the workforce, marking a significant mobilization of the nation's resources and resolve.
Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, many Americans were against any involvement in World War II. Successful businessmen had profitable relationships in Germany. Henry Ford utilized Hitler's slave labor in Europe to produce his vehicles.
Throughout the 1930s, some Americans admired Hitler and saw him as a response to communism. Others saw our involvement in World War I as a mistake, something they were eager to avoid repeating.
Pearl Harbor changed everything, and it did so overnight. While America intercepted Japanese communications about an attack in the Pacific, no one knew how or when it would come. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a devastating blow and a shock to the American psyche.
The Japanese declared war on the United States, and America was now deeply entrenched in the conflict. Quickly, young men enlisted, war bonds were sold, and women found work in the manufacturing world. The Japanese had woken a sleeping and hesitant giant.
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