Figure 1.--We see kids in America playing war after World War I. Many in Europe during the war, fewer in Europe after the War. The press caption here read, "'Playing soldier' offers exceptiol possibilities at thevVeterns of Foreign Wars National Home for widows and orphans of ex-service men at Eaton Rapids, Michigan, where souvenir helmets and other war-time trophies are safely availble." Adults more aware of what war meant reached a different conclusion. The great majority of Americans came to the view that the War had been a great mistake nd tht America hould never agin enter a European War. This was manifested primarily among two groups. First the pacifists and then th isolationists were determined to prevent Aerica from entering another European War. It did not occur to either that their fervently held beliefs created the conditions for the most destuctive and dealy war in human history. Source: VFW.

The euphoria of the World War I victory soon dissolved into disillusionment and rejection of war--all war. Many Americans came to regret participation in World War I. Even before the end of the War, this attitude began to to appear. The World War I casualties, although a fraction of the European fallen, were still sobering. Critics popularized the charge that America was dragged into the War by British propaganda, greedy bankers, and international arms merchants. The position of America in a Europe dominated by Imperial Germany was simply ignored in the debate during the 1920s. The number of men wounded and killed were substantial despite the fact that American units were in combat less then a year. They were a fraction of the losses experienced by the Europeans, but still had a substantial impact on American thinking. No one seemed to ask what would have resulted had the Germans been allowed to win the War and dominate Europe. For centuries the British had based their security on the independence of the Low Countries. Americans in the 1910s did not seem to feel a German-dominated Europe was a threat. Many were objected to the treaty-making process that followed the War. There was not only a rejection of the War, but a growing feeling that industrialists (arms makers which began to be referred to as the 'merchants of death') had drawn America into the War. This would be a recurring theme in inter-War politics and engendered Congressional hearings. And even though Congress turned up no evidence of these changes, it remained a popular theme, in part because it dove-tailed with a popular tenant of Socialist thought. Anti-War feeling divived into two major camps. First, There were pacifists who opposed all war and opposed preparations and military appriopriations. Second, There were also isolationits who wanted no part in another European war, although were not as opposed to a string stand ahainst the Japanese. The Isolationists, unlike the pacifists were not opposed to limited military appropriations supporting a strong continental defense.

Disillusionment

The euphoria of the World War I victory soon dissolved into disillusionment and rejection of war--all war. Many Americans came to regret participation in World War I. Even before the end of the War, this attitude began to to appear. The World War I casualties, although a fraction of the European fallen, were still sobering. Critics popularized the charge that America was dragged into the War by British propaganda, greedy bankers, and international arms merchants. The number of men wounded and killed were substantial despite the fact that American units were in combat less then a year. They were a fraction of the losses experienced by the Europeans, but still had a substantial impact on American thinking.

American Security

The position of America in a Europe dominated by Imperial Germany was simply ignored in the debate during the 1920s. No one seemed to ask what would have resulted had the Germans been allowed to win the War and dominate Europe. For centuries the British had based their security on the independence of the Low Countries. Many Americans saw such power politics as actually evil and the cause of wars. Americans in the 1910s did not seem to feel a German-dominated Europe was a threat. and after the War in the 1920s and 30s most Americans returned to this point of view. The attitude was that Europe was corrupt. and we should not get involved in their meaningless dynastic wars. Now we do not think that washington was wrong when he essentially made this argument in the 18th century. But those who wanted to just ignore Europe failed to ask some very basic questions. What would have happened if Napoleon had won the Napoleonic Wars? How would the restablishment of a French North American Empire affected the United States? How did the primacy of the British Royal Navy promote American security in the 19th century? How would a Europe dominated by German impact America if the Germans won the war? And finally, how would a Europe dominated by the NAZIs or Soviets and an Asia dominted by Japan affect America. Most Americans continued to see our oceanic barriers as isuring our security. Only after Framce fell to the NAZIs (June 1040) did many Americans begin to ask this question. And many refused to ask it even then. Only the shock of the Japanese carrier strike on Pearl Harbor fundamentally changed American strategic thinking. Yhe fact that the Japanese coild launch aowerfulattack hald way across the Pacific seems to have been the decisive game changer for americans. Suddenly the ocean was an invasion route rather than a secure barrier.

Causes

Many rejected the idea that the German had played a central role in launching the war. It is true, that the Kaiser was no Hitler. But it also true that German policy more than any other counret launched the War. And it was Germany that sent its troops across the border of neural Blgium nd declared war on Frnce. Many were objected to the treaty-making process that followed the War. There was not only a rejection of the War, but a growing feeling that industrialists (arms makers which began to be referred to as the 'merchants of death') had drawn America into the War. This would be a recurring theme in inter-War politics and engendered Congressional hearings. And even though Congress turned up no evidence of these changes, it remained a popular theme, in part because it dove-tailed with a popular tenant of Socialist thought. In fact, corporations tend to oppose war because it sisrupts their buiness and markets.

Anti-War Feeling

Anti-War feeling divived into two major camps. First, There were pacifists who opposed all war and opposed preparations and military appriopriations. Second, There were also isolationits who wanted no part in another European war, although were not as opposed to a string stand ahainst the Japanese. The Isolationists, unlike the pacifists were not opposed to limited military appropriations supporting a strong continental defense. It seemed not imporant to the anti-war forces that the countries building massive armies (the Soviets, Italians, Germans, nd Japanese) were totalitarian countries rejecting every aspect of liberal democracy. The British decided they could be appeased. Most Americans concluded that they could just be ignored by staying out of any war.

Created: 10:01 PM 1/9/2016
Last updated: 10:01 PM 1/9/2016