Why was the US hesitant to get involved in WWII?

The United States was hesitant to get involved in World War II for several reasons:

1. Isolationist Sentiment: After World War I, there was a strong isolationist sentiment in the United States. Many Americans believed that the country should stay out of European conflicts and avoid being drawn into another bloody and costly war that seemed to have little to do with American interests.

2. The Great Depression: The 1930s were dominated by the Great Depression, which was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world. The United States was focused on domestic recovery and the thought of entering into a foreign war seemed to many as potentially detrimental to that recovery.

3. Neutrality Acts: In response to the growing conflicts in Asia and Europe, the U.S. Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts in the mid-1930s. These laws were designed to prevent the United States from becoming entangled in foreign wars by banning arms sales, loans, and other forms of assistance to belligerent nations.

4. War Reluctance: The experience of World War I, which had resulted in significant casualties and a perception that little had been gained by the high cost in lives and resources, left Americans reluctant to engage in another potentially similar conflict.

5. Pacifism: There was a strong pacifist movement in the United States at the time, including various religious and social groups who strongly advocated for peace and opposed any form of military intervention.

6. Political Division: The political climate in the United States was divided, with some sectors (such as the America First Committee) vocally opposing any involvement in the war, while others advocated for support of the Allies against the Axis Powers, especially after the fall of France in 1940.

It wasn't until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, that public and political opinion rapidly shifted, leading to the United States formally entering World War II.