ABSTRACT
The American people were their nation's—and freedom's—disillusioned and deadpan defenders. American industry had achieved probably the most extraordinary increase in production that had ever been accomplished in five years in all economic history. By the end of the war the United States had a total of over twelve million men in service, as against less than five million in World War I. During World War I there had been a lively crusading spirit—and there had also been considerable opposition to the war. For the popular disillusionment over World War I and the controversy over involvement in World War II had left their marks. Naturally, then, when war did break out in the autumn of 1939 the Neutrality Act was amended to permit the cash sale of munitions. Yet still the majority of Americans, despite the nightmare change that they were witnessing across the seas, remained stubbornly reluctant to commit themselves; their neutralism died hard.
