What factors led to US involvement in World War II?

When the war began, the United States had entered a period of isolationism. Americans viewed the conflict as Europe’s problem and wished to keep it that way. However, as the situation in Europe grew increasingly dire, the United States began to slowly edge toward war. The breaking point, of course, was the sudden attack by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. However, in retrospect, the attack may not have been such a sudden and unforeseen event. Tensions between the United States and Japan had been consistently escalating for several years before the attack.
Although the United States distrusted the USSR because of the recent communist takeover, the two nations maintained relatively sociable relations at the time. Irritated that the Japanese had moved into their backyard, the USSR began to strongly criticize the Japanese and began to posture militarily in the northern Manchuria region. Due to the United States' relatively amicable relations with both the USSR and China, it too began to publicly criticize the Japanese for their increasing aggression.
The United States cautioned Japan against further aggressive actions by threatening to cut off shipments of raw materials to the nation. This was an especially risky situation for Japan, its only source of oil and metal came from the United States, while their primary source of rubber came from the British territories in Malaya. Therefore, it would seem that the nation would have to tread lightly to avoid angering the West.
In the fall of 1940, Japan met with Nazi Germany and fascist-controlled Italy to create an alliance known as the Tripartite Pact. Under this agreement, these three nations agreed to work with and support each other in their respective countries’ efforts to create a new world order.
The United States responded by beginning to funnel money and equipment to the embattled Chinese. This aid, covered under the Lend-Lease Act, was a tool used by the United States to provide aid to friends and allies without having to directly become involved in conflict. Also receiving aid from the United States were Great Britain and the USSR as those nations struggled to fend of the growing Nazi threat in Europe.
The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 8, 1941, was initially a striking blow to the United States’ ability to wage war in the Pacific. The morning after the attack, the United States declared war on Japan. However, Japan had scored a tactical victory and was able to mop up what was remaining of the United States military in the Pacific, promptly taking over Guam, the Philippines, British Malaya, and many other small islands and territories in short succession.


The United States attempted to remain neutral during the initial phases of World War II, despite the increasing conflicts which were occurring in Europe.
However, they were forced into the conflict after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a military base in Hawaii. This attack was perpetrated by the Empire of Japan, for reasons which are still debated among historians. The main consensus is that Japan was trying to expand across the Pacific.
The attack occurred on December 7, 1941. The day after the attack, President Roosevelt formally asked Congress to declare war against Japan. From that day, the destiny of World War II changed. The United States represented a huge force, both from an economic and military point of view, which completely shifted the balances of the conflict.
The war between Japan and the United States definitely ended with the atomic bombing of Japan, which occurred on August 6 and 9, 1945. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed; around 130,000 people died on the spot, mostly civilians. A huge number of people also died from radiation in the following months.

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