After World War I, many Americans wanted to return to the "traditional" ways of life. They wanted, as Warren G. Harding said in his presidential campaign in 1920, "a return to normalcy." Harding won the election, and the country began to turn back to its original roots. One policy that the United States adopted, in reaction to World War I was isolationism. This new concept involved having the United States turn away from foreign affairs and concentrate on the internal policies, within their own country. The United States became self-sufficient and reacted very little with other countries.

To accomplish the growth of isolationism, the United States congress passed a series of laws that prevented the United States from aiding warring countries. Later in World War II, congress passed other laws, such as the Lend Lease Act, that allowed the United States to sell military supplies to the allies. Still later, the United States gave up isolationism and openly declared war on the axis powers.

During the beginning of World War II President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that the United States would remain neutral during the war. The isolationist’s in the country were opposed to aiding any countries in the war. However, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt decides to declare war on Japan. Later Italy and Germany declared war of the United States and vice versa. The isolationist believed that Roosevelt was entering a war that the US was not prepared to fight.

However, the US made a huge impact on the war. If the US had not entered the war the axis forces may have won the war and ruled the world. It appears that the United States cannot isolate itself from the world, it must fight to keep order.