Existing comment:
The Late 1930s: Imbalance of Power:
"... a democracy has a very hard time in a war, particularly at the start of a war. They can never get ready in advance. The conditions are such that they are very susceptible to surprise action, and the arbitrary government, like the Hitler government, has every advantage in those respects."
-- General George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff, US Army
The world of the 1930s was one of extremes.
In Japan, Germany, and Italy, violently nationalistic leaders were at work building formidable war machines. They used their military power to threaten other countries. Threats soon gave way to hostilities, and the people of Europe and Asia lived increasingly in the shadow of hatred and oppression.
A far different attitude towards war existed in the United States. Situated between Europe and Asia, America had a small peacetime army and a deep unwillingness to be drawn into another global conflict. Americans were content in their isolation. Many were coping with the harsh realities of the Depression. Few wanted to get involved in troubles overseas.
But it was impossible to ignore events taking place around the world. Some Americans harbored growing concerns that these events could pose a threat to the United States. Still, isolationist sentiment remained strong. Bowing to popular pressure, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Neutrality Acts, which kept the country in a passive position.
Meanwhile, the German, Japanese, and Italian armed forces continued to grow. By 1939 it was clear that the United States was at a grave military disadvantage. Should it be drawn into war, it would face a difficult situation. |