Final answer:
Significant segments of the American public supported U.S. neutrality at the start of World War II, and this sentiment was heavily influenced by the diverse immigrant populations within the country and a prevalent anti-war stance. A specific percentage is not given, but the information suggests it was a majority view. President Wilson previously sought neutrality in WWI due to pacifist beliefs and fears of a divided American population.
Step-by-step explanation:
At the start of World War II, U.S. neutrality was a popular stance among the American public. Despite the growing conflicts in both Europe and Asia, many U.S. citizens were reluctant to engage in another international war.
President Franklin Roosevelt indeed favored aiding the British, but there was still strong resistance in Congress and among the general population against intervention, largely due to the fresh memories of the First World War and the desire to avoid the catastrophic human toll it had taken.
This reluctance was compounded by the diverse loyalties among the immigrant population in the United States, who had strong cultural and familial ties to the nations involved in the conflict.
The exact percentage of U.S. citizens who supported neutrality at the start of WW2 is not specified in the reference information provided, but the context suggests it was a significant majority.
Woodrow Wilson's earlier neutrality policies during World War I were rooted in his pacifist beliefs and the notion that the U.S. should not entangle itself in European wars.
The population was divided at that time, with a significant portion of U.S. citizens being either immigrants or the descendants of immigrants from war-engaged Europe.
These divisions led to a public sentiment heavily in favor of neutrality, underpinned by strong anti-war sentiment and isolationist feelings amongst the American public.