Question

The neutrality act of 1939 allowed for cash and carry clause what was the intention of the clause?

A) Option A: The clause intended to promote trade between the United States and European nations during World War II.
B) Option B: The clause intended to prevent the United States from getting involved in foreign conflicts by allowing the sale of arms to warring nations on a cash-and-carry basis.
C) Option C: The clause intended to provide financial assistance to neutral countries during times of war.
D) Option D: The clause intended to restrict the sale of arms to any foreign nation during World War II.

Answer 1

The cash and carry clause of the Neutrality Act of 1939 prevented U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts by permitting the sale of arms on a cash-and-carry basis, indirectly supporting nations against Axis powers while keeping America neutral.

Step-by-step explanation:

The 'cash and carry' provision of the Neutrality Act of 1939 was a critical amendment to earlier neutrality legislation that reflected a shift in U.S. policy in the lead-up to World War II. Under the cash and carry policy, belligerent nations, primarily those opposing Hitler and Japan, were allowed to purchase military equipment and other supplies from the United States as long as two conditions were met:

1. Purchasers had to pay in full for their merchandise at the time of the purchase (“cash”).
2. They had to transport those items back to their nations on their own vessels (“carry”).

This appeared to maintain U.S. neutrality while implicitly aiding the Western Allies, since German ships were unlikely to traverse waters controlled by their adversaries to reach U.S. ports. The policy also sought to keep the nation out of foreign conflicts and avoid the risks associated with American ships crossing U-boat infested waters. However, it clearly provided indirect support to European nations, such as Britain and France, that were in conflict with Germany, enabling them to access U.S. markets and military supplies.

Thus, the correct option regarding the intention of the 'cash and carry' clause is B) The clause intended to prevent the United States from getting involved in foreign conflicts by allowing the sale of arms to warring nations on a cash-and-carry basis. It helped keep the United States out of direct conflict while still allowing it to support nations opposed to the Axis powers economically.