Few years in the history of the world have been as significant as the years 1939-1941. Not only did a cataclysmic conflict break out, far more worthy of being called a genuine world war than its predecessor, but large areas of the globe changed hands. By the end of 1941, a new German Empire dominated Western Europe and much of Eastern Europe as well. The Japanese Empire had penetrated extensively into China, held northern Indochina, and was threatening the Philippines, Singapore, and the Dutch East Indies. Moreover, France was under occupation, while much of her empire was divided between Vichy and Free French forces. If most of the British Empire was intact, the home isles were under siege, and such lifelines as the Suez Canal were severely threatened.
Yet, during all this time, major segments of the American public hoped that the United States would not enter this new world war.
