The goals of American foreign policy changed from a policy of isolationism to tentative involvement for the sake of protecting

American foreign interests. Both isolationism and involvement, however, were for the countrys best interests, separate from sympathies for other countries. At the beginning of the growing conflict in Europe, America was initially isolationist for many reasons. One reason the United States did not immediately get involved in the conflict was the cost of the previous conflict in Europe, World War I. Many Americans found that the Great War was not worth the lives or money it took. Most European countries involved in the war owed the United States money; most European countries, as the political cartoon Harmony in Europe (1932) suggests, could not pay their war debts as the whole world - including the United States - was in the stranglehold that was the Great Depression. Thus, the United States was hesitant to provide aid to these countries until they could pay off their debts. The United States also had to consider the potential loss of American lives from another European war. Many American lives were lost in World War I, and many Americans did not want to get involved in the brewing conflict. In Public Opinion Polls conducted between 1939 and 1941, American citizens make it clear that they would do everything possible to help England and France - the United States allies except go to war themselves; they did not want to go to war under any of the circumstances presented to them. Another reason the United States held an isolationist policy was that it did not want to betray the ideals it holds dear: democracy and peace. As President

Roosevelt declared in a speech (1937), .the epidemic of world lawlessness is spreading [and].War is a contagion, whether it be declared or undeclared. He felt that violence was not the route he wanted the United States to take, as a self-proclaimed peace-loving nation. Entering the war would also have been a betrayal of the countrys status as a democracy as much of the country did not want to enter the war. No one can make [the country] fight abroad unless [the citizens] are willing to do so [as]. Over a hundred million people in [the United States] are opposed to entering the war. Charles Lindbergh pointed out .[And] if the principles of democracy mean anything at all, that is reason enough for [the country] to stay out. If the citizens of the United States did not want to fight, the government could not force them to fight in the war. However, as the 1940s began and violence in Europe and Asia began to escalate, the United States turned toward involvement in the conflicts. Americans, especially President Roosevelt, became more anxious as Hitler continued his conquest of Europe and Japan began to break its previous peace agreements with other countries.