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The '''American First Committee''' was an "isolationist" organization that opposed United States involvement in World War II.  It was highly visible in 1940-41, but failed to stop President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] from forming an informal alliance with Britain,, or stop Congress from passing legislation to aid Britain and Russia fight Nazi Germany.  It concentrated almost exclusively on Europe; most members favored a hard line against Japan, even at the cost of war.

The '''American First Committee''' was an "isolationist" organization that opposed United States involvement in World War II.  It was highly visible in 1940-41, but failed to stop President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] from forming an informal alliance with Britain, or stop Congress from passing legislation to aid Britain and Russia fight Nazi Germany.  It concentrated almost exclusively on Europe; most members favored a hard line against Japan, even at the cost of war.

The committee collapsed after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.  It had been thoroughly discredited and most of the activists reversed positions. Interventionists for years attacked their opponents as "America Firsters".   

The committee collapsed after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.  It had been thoroughly discredited and most of the activists reversed positions. Interventionists for years attacked their opponents as "America Firsters".   

In recent years [[Pat Buchanan]] has identified himself with America First, justifying it historically and calling for its renewal. Conservative historians have rejected his misinterpretations of the 1940s and wondered about his favorable treatment of Nazi foreign policy.<ref> See Alan J. Levine, "Buchanan's Flawed History of World War II," ''World and I,'' Vol. 15, August 2000 [http://www.questia.com/read/5002356598?title=Buchanan's%20Flawed%20History%20of%20World%20War%20Ii online edition]</ref>

In recent years [[Pat Buchanan]] has supported a new political party, the America First Party, that is organized in several states. [[Establishment]] and other critics of Buchanan, who favors a non-interventionist foreign policy, claim that his position somehow justifies "anti-Semitism" or "Naziism" in so doing. Some historians share this criticism of Buchanan's position,<ref>See Alan J. Levine, "Buchanan's Flawed History of World War II," ''World and I,'' Vol. 15, August 2000 [http://www.questia.com/read/5002356598?title=Buchanan's%20Flawed%20History%20of%20World%20War%20Ii online edition]</ref> though defenders note that the committee's goal was to [[Patriotism|put U.S. foreign policy interests first]] and that post-1945 leaders promoted policies that setback U.S. interests.<ref>Byas, Steve (July 26, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/foreign-policy/item/32961-jonah-goldberg-smears-patriotic-america-first-committee Jonah Goldberg Smears Patriotic America First Committee]. ''The New American''. Retrieved July 26, 2019.</ref>

[[File:Go-war1940.jpg|thumb|350px|Approximate positions on war of major players; America First would be at the very top]]

[[File:Go-war1940.jpg|thumb|350px|Approximate positions on war of major players; America First would be at the very top]]

==Debate on war==

==Debate on war==

The debate on America's role in World War II, which began in September 1939, split the country in very complex fashion. Both parties split into "interventionists" and "isolationists." The conservatives split on the issue, and so did liberals. The America First movement gained support from both parties, and from liberals and conservatives. For example, prominent liberal members included Montana Senator [[Burton K. Wheeler]], North Dakota Senator [[Gerald P. Nye]], and [[Socialist Party ]] leader [[Norman Thomas]]. Many people sympathized with the movement without joining.  The many student chapters included future celebrities, such as author [[Gore Vidal]] (a student at Phillips Exeter Academy), and future presidents Kennedy at Harvard and [[Gerald R. Ford]], at Yale.

The debate on America's role in World War II, which began in September 1939, split the country in very complex fashion. Both parties split into "interventionists" and "isolationists." The conservatives split on the issue, and so did liberals. The America First movement gained support from both parties, and from liberals and conservatives. For example, prominent liberal members included Montana Senator [[Burton K. Wheeler]], North Dakota Senator [[Gerald P. Nye]], and [[Socialist Party]] leader [[Norman Thomas]]. Many people sympathized with the movement without joining.  The many student chapters included future celebrities, such as author [[Gore Vidal]] (a student at Phillips Exeter Academy), and future presidents Kennedy at Harvard and [[Gerald R. Ford]], at Yale.

The most prominent member was aviator [[Charles Lindbergh]].

The most prominent member was aviator [[Charles Lindbergh]].

==Supporters==

==Supporters==

At its peak, America First may have had 800,000 members in 650 chapters, located mostly in a 300 mile radius of Chicago. It claimed 135,000 members in 60 chapters in Illinois, its strongest state.<ref>Schneider p 198</ref> Fundraising drives produced about $370,000  from some 25,000 contributors.  Nearly half came from a few millionaires such as [[William H. Regnery]], [[H. Smith Richardson]] of the [[Vick Chemical Company]], General [[Robert E. Wood]] of Sears-Roebuck, [[Sterling Morton]] of [[Morton Salt Company]], publisher [[Joseph M. Patterson]] (New York ''Daily News'') and his cousin publisher [[Robert R. McCormick]] (''[[Chicago Tribune]]''). Future President [[John F. Kennedy]], then a student, sent a contribution, with a note saying "What you are doing is vital."

At its peak, America First may have had 800,000 members in 650 chapters, located mostly in a 300-mile radius of Chicago. It claimed 135,000 members in 60 chapters in Illinois, its strongest state.<ref>Schneider p 198</ref> Fundraising drives produced about $370,000  from some 25,000 contributors.  Nearly half came from a few millionaires such as [[William H. Regnery]], [[H. Smith Richardson]] of the [[Vick Chemical Company]], General [[Robert E. Wood]] of Sears-Roebuck, [[Sterling Morton]] of [[Morton Salt Company]], publisher [[Joseph M. Patterson]] (New York ''Daily News'') and his cousin publisher [[Robert R. McCormick]] (''[[Chicago Tribune]]''). Future President [[John F. Kennedy]], then a student, sent a contribution, with a note saying "What you are doing is vital."

The movement was quite weak in the South, where both liberals and conservatives (and whites and blacks) supported FDR's foreign policy. America First did try to organize local chapters in the South, sponsor noninterventionist rallies, distribute pamphlets and solicit cash. None of the chapters became effective units and no major rallies were held in the South.<ref> See Wayne S. Cole, "America First and the South, 1940-1941." ''Journal of Southern History'' 1956 22(1): 36-47. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2955258  in JSTOR]</ref>  

The movement was quite weak in the South, where both liberals and conservatives (and whites and blacks) supported FDR's foreign policy. America First did try to organize local chapters in the South, sponsor noninterventionist rallies, distribute pamphlets and solicit cash. None of the chapters became effective units and no major rallies were held in the South.<ref>See Wayne S. Cole, "America First and the South, 1940-1941." ''Journal of Southern History'' 1956 22(1): 36-47. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/2955258  in JSTOR]</ref>  

==See also==

==See also==

* Doenecke, Justus D. ''The Battle Against Intervention, 1939-1941'' (1997), includes short narrative and primary documents; by a leading conservative historian

* Doenecke, Justus D. ''The Battle Against Intervention, 1939-1941'' (1997), includes short narrative and primary documents; by a leading conservative historian

** Doenecke, Justus D. ''Storm on the Horizon: The Challenge to American Intervention, 1939-1941'' (2000).

** Doenecke, Justus D. ''Storm on the Horizon: The Challenge to American Intervention, 1939-1941'' (2000).

** Doenecke, Justus D. "American Isolationism, 1939-1941" Journal of Libertarian Studies, Summer/Fall 1982, 6(3), pp. 201-216. [http://www.mises.org/journals/jls/6_3/6_3_1.pdf  online version]

** Doenecke, Justus D. "American Isolationism, 1939-1941" Journal of Libertarian Studies, Summer/Fall 1982, 6(3), pp.&nbsp;201–216. [http://www.mises.org/journals/jls/6_3/6_3_1.pdf  online version]

** Doenecke, Justus D. "Explaining the Antiwar Movement, 1939-1941: The Next Assignment" Journal of Libertarian Studies, Winter 1986, 8(1), pp. 139-162. [http://www.mises.org/journals/jls/8_1/8_1_10.pdf online version]

** Doenecke, Justus D. "Explaining the Antiwar Movement, 1939-1941: The Next Assignment" Journal of Libertarian Studies, Winter 1986, 8(1), pp.&nbsp;139–162. [http://www.mises.org/journals/jls/8_1/8_1_10.pdf online version]

** Doenecke, Justus D. "Literature of Isolationism, 1972-1983: A Bibliographic Guide" Journal of Libertarian Studies, Spring 1983, 7(1), pp. 157-184. [http://www.mises.org/journals/jls/7_1/7_1_10.pdf  online version]

** Doenecke, Justus D. "Literature of Isolationism, 1972-1983: A Bibliographic Guide" Journal of Libertarian Studies, Spring 1983, 7(1), pp.&nbsp;157–184. [http://www.mises.org/journals/jls/7_1/7_1_10.pdf  online version]

** Doenecke, Justus D. "Anti-Interventionism of Herbert Hoover" Journal of Libertarian Studies, Summer 1987, 8(2), pp. 311-340. [http://www.mises.org/journals/jls/8_2/8_2_10.pdf online version]

** Doenecke, Justus D. "Anti-Interventionism of Herbert Hoover" Journal of Libertarian Studies, Summer 1987, 8(2), pp.&nbsp;311–340. [http://www.mises.org/journals/jls/8_2/8_2_10.pdf online version]

* Gordon, David.  ''America First: the Anti-War Movement, Charles Lindbergh and the Second World War, 1940-1941''; [http://libraryautomation.com/nymas/americafirst.html presentation] to The [[New York Military Affairs Symposium]] in 2003

* Gordon, David.  ''America First: the Anti-War Movement, Charles Lindbergh and the Second World War, 1940-1941''; [http://libraryautomation.com/nymas/americafirst.html presentation] to The [[New York Military Affairs Symposium]] in 2003

* Jonas, Manfred. ''Isolationism in America, 1935-1941'' (1966).

* Jonas, Manfred. ''Isolationism in America, 1935-1941'' (1966).

* Parmet, Herbert S.,  and Marie B. Hecht; ''Never Again: A President Runs for a Third Term'' 1968.

* Parmet, Herbert S.,  and Marie B. Hecht; ''Never Again: A President Runs for a Third Term'' 1968.

* [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=105486029 Schneider, James C. ''Should America Go to War? The Debate over Foreign Policy in Chicago, 1939-1941'' (1989)]

* [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=105486029 Schneider, James C. ''Should America Go to War? The Debate over Foreign Policy in Chicago, 1939-1941'' (1989)]

* [http://www.questia.com/library/history/military-history/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-u-s-neutrality.jsp online books on U.S. Neutrality before World War II]]

* [http://www.questia.com/library/history/military-history/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-u-s-neutrality.jsp online books on U.S. Neutrality before World War II]

===Primary sources===

===Primary sources===

*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,790233,00.html "Follow What Leader?" in ''Time'' Oct. 6, 1941 online]

*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,790233,00.html "Follow What Leader?" in ''Time'' Oct. 6, 1941 online]

=====References====

====References====

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[[Category: World War II]]

[[Category:World War II]]

[[Category:United States Political Organizations]]

[[Category:United States Political Organizations]]