What was the Public opinion about World War 2 in 1940?

Answer 1

Public opinion in the USA as late as November 1941, a full two years into the European war, indicated the American public was about evenly split on whether to support Britain or stay neutral.

In WWI, the USA had been duped by British Propaganda on a wide assortment of issues including supposed German atrocities, the Zimmerman telegraph to Mexico, the Lusitania sinking, and many other issues. Americans, for the most part, were determined not to be manipulated by the British again.

President Roosevelt was an advocate of war with Germany and was trying everything he could as the leader of a representative democracy to get the USA involved. Mostly he used his powers to provoke Germany - arming and financing her enemies, killing her sailors, providing volunteers to the British military, etc. Had these provocations been reversed there is little doubt that the USA would have given a declaration of war to Germany.

In the USA many persons wished for the USA to remain neutral. These included members of the Bund, a large social organization mainly of German-Americans (the largest ethnic group in the USA was and is German-American). The most popular public figure in America was Charles Lindberg, the flier. He was an advocate for things German and a big admirer of their air force.

On the other hand were the Jewish groups. Jews essentially controlled the movie industry in America and used it to promote their anti-German ideals. Jews were also very influential in Washington, much more so than their relatively small population would indicate.

All this changed December 7, 1941. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Most Americans were not aware that Japan had been provoked by American moves to steal their financial assets in the USA, Britain and Holland, nor that Japan's economy was threatened due to an American instigated oil embargo. However, Americans became instantly aware of the 'sneak attack' on sleeping sailors.

Nonetheless, while the USA was 99% for the war with Japan, there remained no consensus for the USA to be involved in the European conflict. Into this situation stepped Hitler, who declared war on the USA and thus settled the matter.

The USA was thus unified for war immediately. The Bund and similar groups disbanded almost immediately (with a lot of help from Roosevelt and his political allies). Lindberg suddenly became a born again anti-Nazi. The country organized for total war quickly and efficiently. Even during the disasters that followed in the Pacific over the next six months did not appear to sway public opinion. Americans were determined to revenge Pearl Harbor.

Eventually, as in most wars, the situation took a nasty turn. Public opinion and that of the American leadership became more racist and bloodthirsty. Innocent Japanese civilians were incarcerated en mass. German and Japanese civilians by the hundreds of thousands were killed by indiscriminate bombing of population areas. Japanese prisoners of war became a rarity - while few were willing to surrender, even fewer were allowed to surrender to the Marine Corp. There were plans and discussions to murder the entire German army top officer corp after the fighting was over. There were also serious discussions about turning Germany into an agrarian nation, which was basically a plan to murder/starve about 50% or 60% of the civilian population. While public support for these issues was never secured, the fact that they were occurring and discussed is a clear signal that the USA was fully organized for total war and support for it was near universal.

Answer 2

GOOD/BADMost of the citizens felt the US should take part in the war, and most government officials felt the same way. There are always dissidents, but they did't take lots of drastic actions until the soldiers came home. They did not give returning veterans the respect they deserved.

In general, post-war feelings were very positive. Most believed that the war was justified on the two major fronts, Europe and the Pacific, and were happy with the outcome. There was a sense of exhuberance and for decades the US rode on high hopes for the future. The Allied Forces were more than decent in how they treated the defeated nations. We helped Japan and Germany in their reconstruction and we heartily welcomed them into the world culture and economy. The actions taken by the US were also in the best interests of the US, but few will deny that US aid was crucial in the restoration of the parts of the world that were scarred by the war.

Answer 3

For the US, most people wanted to get the "job" over with. The saying, for the people of the WW2 era was this...referring to the GI's heading into war..."they didn't ask for it, they don't want it, but they're ready...they're ready now!"

Answer 4

Inspired, hopeful and they felt this would be the war to save the world and felt great about everything they were doing, every single citizen.

It was a time of self sacrifice and hard work.

Answer 5

WHAT HAPPEND DURING World War 2 ??

Reply:

Well, i am not really sure ,but i do know a few facts about it since i am only P5.At first, The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour.So,the Prince of Wales and the Repulse were destroyed during that time.Lastly the reason the Japanese surrendered was because the 'Little Boy' was dropped on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945.After that,another atomic bomb named 'Fat Man' was dropped on Nagasaki on 9 August 1945.At first,General Yamashita told a lie to General Percival so that Singapore would surrender was on the 15 February 1942

Does this help?

Please give me a Rating.

Answer 6

Some of the soldiers probably felt a little scared due to they could get killed at any time. Some of the things that Soldiers to like when they win a war, they would be proud when represting their medals and country. Some of the soldiers would also be upset and angry if their team mates and friends die or get killed.

Answer 7

they felt upset because they weren't with their family

Answer 8

That's a generic question. It depends on which power, which country, or maybe even a specific group of people. Not every single person felt the same about WW2.

Answer 9

Try to find poetry written by WW1 and WW2 soldiers separated from their families, seeing friends they'd made having their bodies ripped open by bullets, explosives, or poisoned by deadly gases. Now with the hindsight of history consider that this world's religions could have prevented, or stopped it. All those wasted lives, broken families, post traumatic stress plagued people.

Answer 10

Scared of being killed but proud that they have represented there country.