During the 1930s, the United States was consumed by the harsh economic crisis of the Great Depression. The economy was plagued by bank failures and high unemployment rates. President Roosevelt’s New Deal economic policies were helping the nation recover from the crisis. By the end of the 1930s, the Great Depression was weakening, but Americans were still hindered by the poverty that the Depression had created.
In Europe, World War II started in 1939 with the German invasion of Poland. Germany invaded neighboring European countries and destroyed lives and property in its wake. Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt had promised to stay out of the war, but he wanted to support Britain in its struggle against German aggression.
Great Britain’s prime minister, Winston Churchill, requested Roosevelt’s assistance after sustaining a heavy loss of ships, planes, and other military equipment at the hands of Germany. Churchill asked Roosevelt for supplies to help Great Britain defend itself in the war.
Roosevelt wanted to keep his promise of neutrality, but he also wanted to be able to supply the British with supplies. His solution was the proposal of the Lend-Lease Act.
