Final answer:
During the 1930s, the United States adopted a policy of neutrality in response to the rise of fascism in Europe and Asia. This policy was driven by a desire to avoid involvement in foreign conflicts, as many Americans were still recovering from the trauma of World War I.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the 1930s, the United States adopted a policy of neutrality in response to the rise of fascism in Europe and Asia. This policy was driven by a desire to avoid involvement in foreign conflicts, as many Americans were still recovering from the trauma of World War I. The Neutrality Acts passed by Congress prohibited the export of arms and the making of loans to belligerent nations, effectively preventing the U.S. government from aiding countries under attack. However, the 1937 Neutrality Act allowed for nonmilitary assistance to be provided to nations that could pay cash and transport the goods themselves.
Despite the official policy of neutrality, President Franklin D. Roosevelt privately favored supporting the British and other Allies in their fight against Germany and Japan. He believed that the U.S. should use its industrial might to supply the Allies, leading to the establishment of the "arsenal of democracy." This approach helped stimulate the American economy and bolster the war efforts of the Allies, although the U.S. did not officially enter the war until the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.