In the US neutrality act of August 31, 1935, promulgated by Franklin Roosevelt, it was decided to impose an embargo on the sale of arms and other war material in case of conflicts between foreign countries.
This law was passed to prevent the United States from getting involved again in case of a new world war in Europe. This provision was specially created for American companies and was almost immediately used when Benito Mussolini, dictator of Italy, invaded Ethiopia in October 1935.
At the time, the majority opinion among Americans was that their country had participated in World War I only to satisfy bankers and arms dealers and that the American people had no interest at all in getting involved in this war. This opinion was mostly defended by the Republicans but was also shared by many Democrats, even if President Roosevelt, from their party, was against this vision. He thought it was a duty for the United States to defend his allies. Afraid of losing the support of the people for his re-election in 1936, he preferred not to listen to his own convictions and agreed to promulgate these neutrality’s laws.
Grade: 9-12
Subject: History
Chapter: From Neutrality to War (The United States and Europe, 1921–1941)
Keywords: the US neutrality act of 1935 definition, World War II, Franklin Roosevelt, World War I, US neutrality, isolationism
