lieved that the U.S. would do well (economically speaking) whether Europe went to war or not. Gold was coming in from all the European capitals. Orders increased daily for equipment and supplies of all kinds. Throughout the 30s, Germany was one of the United States most important foreign markets. In fact, American investment in Germany increased 40% during 1936-1940. American business wasnt concerned with the rights or wrongs of trading with fascism. The primary concern was against commercial rivals such as Japan and Germany excluding American goods from Europe and Asia altogether. Eventually when the United States took a firmer stance on the war, they stopped trade with all nations involved in World War II unless these nations would come to the U.S. and pick up the resources themselves. Later, the U.S. only allowed this for the Allied Powers. Its easy to accuse the U.S. of being selfish in regard to its business diplomacy but it is also necessary to understand that any negative actions made might have resulted in the United States falling out of the economic race. A poll taken in 1939 revealed that over ninety percent of U.S. citizens did not want their country to enter the war. Why risk going to war when it was contrary to American policy. However, the United States began to see the effects through the attempted genocide of the European-Jewish population. Another important factor was that the American military was in shambles. Roosevelt had no choice; he had to start building up the U.S. military forces. Still, Roosevelt was not about to start war with the axis powers, which would jeopardize American lives and the American economy. Only unless interests were directly threatened would the U.S. join the war. That day occurred on December 6, 1941. The Japanese Air force led a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, completely destroying the port. Roosevelt could wait no longer. The United States declared war on Axis p...
