| | The '''Neutrality Act''' was an Act of Congress providing for the prohibition of the export of arms, ammunition, and implements of war to belligerent countries; the prohibition of the transportation of arms, ammunition, and implements of war by vessels of the United States for the use of belligerent states; for the registration and licensing of persons engaged in the business of manufacturing, exporting, or importing arms, ammunition, or implements of war; and restricting travel by American citizens on belligerent ships during war.<ref>[http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/interwar/neutralityact.htm "Neutrality Act" of August 31, 1935], 49 stat. 1081; 22 U.S.C. 441 note, U.S. Department of State, Publication 1983, ''Peace and War: United States Foreign Policy, 1931-1941'' (Washington, D.C.: U.S., Government Printing Office, 1943, pp. 265-271).</ref> | | The '''Neutrality Act''' was an Act of Congress providing for the prohibition of the export of arms, ammunition, and implements of war to belligerent countries; the prohibition of the transportation of arms, ammunition, and implements of war by vessels of the United States for the use of belligerent states; for the registration and licensing of persons engaged in the business of manufacturing, exporting, or importing arms, ammunition, or implements of war; and restricting travel by American citizens on belligerent ships during war.<ref>[http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/interwar/neutralityact.htm "Neutrality Act" of August 31, 1935], 49 stat. 1081; 22 U.S.C. 441 note, U.S. Department of State, Publication 1983, ''Peace and War: United States Foreign Policy, 1931-1941'' (Washington, D.C.: U.S., Government Printing Office, 1943, pp. 265-271).</ref> |
| − | At the White House on March 20, 1935, President [[Franklin Roosevelt]] told members of the [[Nye Committee]] that an Act should be prepared which would guarantee, in the event of a European war, the absolute neutrality of the American people.<ref>[http://www.rooseveltmyth.com/book/hbzfrm.htm ''The Roosevelt Myth''], John T. Flynn, Fox and Wilkes, 1948, Book 2, Ch. 6.</ref> The Neutrality Act was introduced in the Senate and House and passed by very large majorities. It had a time limit of two years and at the expiration of the time limit it was passed again by enormous majorities in both houses.
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| − | During the [[Presidential Election of 1936]] Roosevelt said "We shun political commitments which might entangle us in future wars; we avoid connection with the political activities of the League of Nations... the effective maintenance of American neutrality depends today as in the past on the wisdom and determination of whoever at the moment occupies the office of President of the United States and Secretary of State."<ref>Public Papers and Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Volume 5, pps. 285-292. (Random House).</ref> And he warned that in the event of war abroad the [[United States]] would have to be on guard against arms manufacturers seeking "fool's gold," or war profits from arms trafficking, those who would find it hard to look beyond, "to realize the inevitable penalties, the inevitable day of reckoning that comes from a false prosperity." America could keep out of war, "if those who watch and desire have a sufficiently detailed understanding of international affairs to make certain that the small decisions of today do not lead toward war and if at the same time they possess the courage to say no to those who selfishly or unwisely would lead us into war." This is what was called [[isolationism]].
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