Question

What was the purpose of the Lend-Lease Act?

A
Congress passed it as part of the formal end of United States neutrality in World War II.
B
It was intended to secure military bases in Europe in case the United States went to war with the Soviet Union.
C
It allowed President Roosevelt and pro-war members of Congress to support the Allies without formally joining World War II.
D
It was intended to warn the Japanese that any attempts to attack Hawaii would be responded to with overwhelming force.​

Answer 1

The Lend-Lease Act stated that the U.S. government could lend or lease (rather than sell) war supplies to any nation deemed “vital to the defense of the United States.” Under this policy, the United States was able to supply military aid to its foreign allies during World War II while still remaining officially neutral in the conflict. Most importantly, passage of the Lend-Lease Act enabled a struggling Great Britain to continue fighting against Germany virtually on its own until the United States entered World War II late in 1941.

The Lend-Lease Policy

Lend-Lease, as Roosevelt’s plan became known, ran into strong opposition among isolationist members of Congress, as well as those who believed the policy gave the president himself too much power. During the debate over the bill, which continued for two months, Roosevelt’s administration and supporters in Congress argued convincingly that providing aid to allies like Great Britain was a military necessity for the United States.

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In March 1941, Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act (subtitled “An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States”) and Roosevelt signed it into law.

Impact and Legacy of the Lend-Lease Act