U.S. Foreign Policies During World War II
World War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945 and included all of the world's powers, who ultimately formed two opposing military alliances: the Axis and the Allies. This widespread war started on September 1, 1939, when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the president of the United States during this time period, and he led his country into war against Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Showa Hirohito, who were the leaders of Germany, Italy, and Japan at the time. The United States went to war in order to stop the spread of fascism and Nazism, and to establish democracy. When World War II began, the United States exercised isolationism, or the non-involvement in the affairs of other nations, because they wanted to stay neutral and avoid war. Eventually, the United States implemented the foreign policy of collective security, or working with other countries to influence different nations, because they joined the Allies and continued to fight against the Axis powers. The United States' exhibited isolationism in World War I when it refused to assist other countries until it was nearly too late, eventually joining into collective security with the allies. In contrast, the United States was brought into World War II earlier by the bombings at pearl harbor, and quickly made similar alliances with Britain and Russia.