Question

1. Did most Americans support President Roosevelt when he condemned Japanese aggression in Asia?

3. Describe Germany's successes at the beginning of World War II.

4. Why did most Americans support isolation at the beginning of the war?

5. After war began in Europe did Roosevelt follow an interventionist or isolationist policy? Support your answers with examples.

Answer 1

1. No. At the time Americans were still very much Isolationist in their thinking.  
3. Before the US entered WWII, Germany had conquered much of Western Europe and were bombing Great Britain. Things were so dire that Churchill famously pleaded for the US to save the "Old World". 
4. The US had long feared getting involved in Old World disputes. Prior to WWII, there was no over-arching ideological reason to do so. WIth the rise of Fascism and later Communism, the US realized it must defeat anti-democratic ideologies.  
5. Roosevelt was publicly isolationist but actually wanted to intervene after WWII broke out. But he knew public support wasn't there and the Congress would object. Nonetheless, he sought ways to aid Britain and France and expanded the US military in preparation for war. As public opinion turned, he became more interventionist. Ultimately, Pearl Harbor rendered Isolationism dead.