Question

Isolationists and hostile critics in 1940–1941, and even after world war ii, charged franklin roosevelt with deliberately and sometimes deceitfully manipulating events and public opinion so as to lead the united states into war. what factual basis, if any, is there for such a charge? which of roosevelt's words and actions tend to refute it?

Answer 1

Many historians have shown that Roosevelt thought that the United States needed to become involved in World War II long before the nation became so. Roosevelt felt that the Nazi takeover of Europe would eventually either spill into the U.S. or greatly effect American economics and political power.  Some argue - as some did in the 1940s - that Roosevelt allowed the Pearl Harbor attach to happen - despite forewarning - in order to spurn Americans into supporting a war against the Axis powers.  Roosevelt contended in public that he felt American involvement in the war was absolutely necessary, even through he did not want American to become involved in the conflict.