Printed Page 685 Chapter Chronology
The Onset of War
How did Roosevelt attempt to balance American isolationism with the increasingly ominous international scene of the late 1930s?
Between 1939 and 1941, fascist victories overseas eventually eroded American isolationism. At first, U.S. intervention was limited to providing material support to the enemies of Germany and Japan, principally Britain, China, and the Soviet Union. But Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor eliminated that restraint, and the nation began to mobilize for an all-out assault on foreign foes.