World War 2
The U.S. were right in getting involved in the second World War, in fact we should’ve been involved earlier.
● When war broke out in Europe, US President Franklin Roosevelt recognised that the conflict threatened US security, and looked for ways to help the European democracies without direct involvement in the war. (US).
● After the bombing of the US Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor in December 1941, only one congressman opposed the declaration of war; the vote in the senate was unanimous. (US).
● Hitler’s declaration of war on the US, which came four days later, enabled Roosevelt to legitimately pursue a ‘Germany first’ strategy. In November 1942, Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, became the first US military offensive of the war in the West.
Allied troops slowly cornered German forces in North Africa, gained public support behind war efforts. (US).
● By the time the United States entered the war in December, 1941, Germany had occupied most of Europe and Japan was also starting to attack countries in Asia. But the US decision to enter the World War meant that the entire country agreed to sending out troops to sacrifice themselves for humanity’s sake. (US).
● About 16 million Americans served in World War II from late 1941 to 1945. The total population of the country at that time was only 130 million. More than 400,000 soldiers did not return. Another 670,000 were wounded on foreign soil. (US). COUNTER
● The involvement of the United States and the Soviet Union in the war gradually turned a successful German military campaign into a disaster for the German forces. In 1942 and
1943, the German forces lost many battles and it became clear that they would be defeated. (Dunn).
● "Operation Overlord" was the official name for the invasion of occupied Europe, now called D­Day. At a conference in Tehran (Iran) in November 1943, President Roosevelt,
Churchill and Stalin agreed on a date for the invasion to liberate occupied Europe.
(Dunn).
● Isolationists believed that the nation would remain secure, aloof, and separate from the raging war in Europe, believed in neutrality and noninvolvement. President Roosevelt disagreed, called them “shrimps” because they had no brain, he recognized that some believed this because they were acting in good faith, but others were scared to realize their unfortunate situation. (Dunn). COUNTER
● The glamorous public face and articulate voice of the isolationist movement belonged to the charismatic and courageous Charles Lindbergh. (Dunn). COUNTER
● Isolationism refers to America's longstanding reluctance to become involved in European alliances and wars. Isolationists held the view that America's perspective on the world was different from that of European societies and that America could advance the cause of freedom and democracy by means other than war (“Isolationism”). COUNTER

● Taking the non­interventionist approach (which is different from isolationism) would be described as NOT policing the world but knowing when it's morally right and wrong to engage in a war. We are non­interventionists but we are not and should never be isolationist. (“Isolationism”). COUNTER
● Libertarians feel the only time the U.S. should get involved in any war is if there is some kind of interest (usually a financial benefit) in it for us. Trying to save innocent human beings from genocide is not enough of a reason for the U.S. to get involved in a war in the mind of a Libertarian (“Isolationism”). COUNTER
● On December 7th, 1941, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American
Naval Base at Honolulu, Hawaii. ore than 2,000 Americans soldiers and sailors died in
M
the attack, and another 1,000 were wounded. The day after the assault, President Franklin
D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan; Congress approved his declaration.
Three days later, Japanese allies Germany and Italy also declared war on the United
States, and again Congress reciprocated. More than two years into the conflict, America had finally joined World War II (“Pearl”).
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