Question

Pretend that you are US citizen in the 1930s. As you hear about Germany and Italy invading other countries to expand the influence, explain whether you would be in favor of isolationism, or in favor of helping the countries being invaded

Answer 1

As a US citizen in the 1930s, whether to favor isolationism or support countries being invaded by Germany and Italy would depend on various factors, including the impact of WWI, the Great Depression, and the complexities of international politics. While isolationism was the prevailing sentiment, President Roosevelt had indicated a desire to aid Britain and France should they enter a conflict with Germany.

Step-by-step explanation:

As a US citizen in the 1930s, the debate between isolationism and intervention is highly complex. The daunting memories of World War I and the current hardships of the Great Depression might lean many towards isolationism, which was the prevailing sentiment of the United States during much of the 1930s. The Neutrality Act of 1935, for example, banned the sale of weapons to nations at war, reflecting a cautious approach to foreign entanglements following experiences from the previous global conflict.

The discussion of whether to assist countries like Ethiopia and China, victims of aggression by Italy and Japan respectively, was overshadowed by the United States' efforts to recover economically and avoid another costly war. The U.S. adopted policies to reinforce this stance, despite some internal and external pressures to take a more active role in combating the rise of fascism, particularly as aggression from Germany, Italy, and Japan mounted. President Franklin Roosevelt publicly maintained a neutrality stance, though he privately indicated a willingness to support Britain and France in the event of a war with Germany.

Overall, the sentiment towards aiding those being invaded was limited, and the U.S. remained largely isolated from European and Asian conflicts until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which catapulted the country into World War II.

Answer 2

If I was an ordinary person in my 1930s and aged 40 with a middle income job such as an 'office assistant', I would not be in favour of helping other countries.

I would personally prefer a policy of isolation from the rest of the world. Primarily, this would be because I had seen with my very won eyes, the death and destruction bought on by World War I and more importantly the Great Depression.

With millions of job less people, poverty and people barely making ends meet, I would want our government to concentrate on the welfare of our own people, rather than go to war with countries thousands of miles away.