America First Committee

Definition

The America First Committee was a non-interventionist organization that opposed the United States' entry into World War II. It advocated for an isolationist foreign policy and sought to keep the country out of the growing conflict in Europe and Asia.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The America First Committee was founded in 1940 and had over 800,000 members at its peak, making it one of the largest anti-war organizations in U.S. history.
2. The committee was led by a diverse group of prominent figures, including aviator Charles Lindbergh, industrialist Henry Ford, and future U.S. President Gerald Ford.
3. The committee argued that the U.S. should focus on its own defense and not get involved in the European war, which they believed was not a threat to American interests.
4. The America First Committee opposed the Lend-Lease Act, which provided military aid to countries fighting against the Axis powers, as a step towards U.S. involvement in the war.
5. The committee's influence waned after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, which led to the U.S. entering World War II, and it was officially dissolved shortly after the U.S. declared war on Japan.

Review Questions

• Describe the key goals and beliefs of the America First Committee.
  • The America First Committee advocated for a policy of isolationism and non-interventionism, believing that the United States should avoid political or military entanglement in the growing conflicts in Europe and Asia. The committee argued that the U.S. should focus on its own defense and not get involved in a war that was not a direct threat to American interests. They opposed the Lend-Lease Act, which provided military aid to countries fighting against the Axis powers, as a step towards U.S. involvement in the war.
• Explain the significance of the America First Committee in the context of American isolationism and the European origins of World War II.
  • The America First Committee represented a significant isolationist movement in the United States during the early stages of World War II. As the conflict in Europe and Asia escalated, the committee sought to keep the U.S. out of the war, arguing that American interests were not directly threatened. This stance was in line with the broader isolationist sentiment in the country, which was shaped by the experiences of World War I and a desire to avoid being drawn into another costly foreign conflict. The committee's influence and the isolationist movement as a whole were ultimately undermined by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to the U.S. entering the war.
• Analyze the impact of the America First Committee on U.S. foreign policy and its role in shaping the country's response to the European origins of World War II.
  • The America First Committee played a significant role in shaping U.S. foreign policy in the years leading up to World War II. As a prominent voice for isolationism, the committee's advocacy for non-intervention and a focus on domestic defense aligned with the prevailing sentiment in the country, which was wary of entanglement in foreign conflicts. The committee's opposition to the Lend-Lease Act and other measures that could have drawn the U.S. closer to the war effort in Europe and Asia was a reflection of this isolationist stance. While the committee's influence waned after the attack on Pearl Harbor, its role in reinforcing American isolationism in the face of the growing global conflict was an important factor in the country's initial reluctance to become directly involved in World War II. This hesitance to intervene, rooted in the aftermath of World War I, was a significant element in shaping the U.S. response to the European origins of the war.

Related terms

Isolationism:

The policy of avoiding political or economic entanglement with other countries, especially by refusing to join international organizations or alliances.

Non-Interventionism: The belief that a country should not interfere in the internal affairs of other nations and should avoid military or diplomatic involvement in international conflicts.

Lend-Lease Act:

A program established in 1941 that allowed the U.S. to provide military aid, including the transfer of equipment and supplies, to countries fighting against the Axis powers.