Noor Drissi
Block 8
3-13- 2017
Dbq
With the signing of the Neutrality Acts in 1935, which wanted to limit the United
States involvements in future wars, by banning travel on belligerent ships, and forbidding
American ships from entering war zones. With the signing of the neutrality act of 1935
United States citizens never imagined that just four years later the neutrality act would be
rewritten to allow trade with belligerent nations through cash and carry, and that two
years later would get involved in World War II (WWII) after the bombing of Pearl
Harbor executed by the Japanese. However aggression was not just limited to Japan,
Germany too invoked U.S involvement in WWII. The democratic values of the United
States as well as their want for national security and economic needs were major factors
in their response to German and Japanese aggression.
At first due to United States democratic values, they wanted to be neutral in
defense of democracy. “If the principles of democracy mean anything at all, that is reason
enough to stay out” (Doc.7). This mentality, which was reflected by many Americans led
to the passing of the neutrality acts in 1935. However, due to prolonged German and
Japanese fascist aggression, the mentality of many Americans shifted to the want to
defend their democratic values. This was due to the fear that if Germany took over then
democracy would be destroyed (Doc.3). The historical context of this document was war
propaganda condoning the war. Its Purpose was to sway American attitudes away from
neutrality.
Due to Japanese and German aggression, many Americans were fearful of their
security leading them to get involved in the war. Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)
encouraged this by announcing that, not only the security of the U.S was threatened, but
the security of the whole world (Doc.1). FDR intended audience in document one was the