Discussion Questions

January 25, 2000

1. What are the differences, if any, between the neutrality of Wilson and the neutrality of FDR?

2. "The decision for war was made long before the end of 1941...."  What evidence would support such a contention?

3. Divine argues that FDR's revision of the Neutrality Act in 1941 was bound to lead to war with Germany within a matter of months, but of course circumstances changed to bring the U.S. into the war sooner.  Why doesn't the U.S. simply declare war much earlier?

4. What differences are there in the perceptions by America of itself and of its place/role in the world between WWI and WWII?  What is different and what is not?  Is the rationale for war in 1941 similar or different from that of 1917?

5. Do the America Firsters have a reasonable case against FDR?

6. Overall, what is your assessment of FDR from the readings?

   ---