Charles Lindbergh’s “America First” speech prior to WW2

Charles A. Lindbergh’s speech labeled “America First” was delivered at the America First Committee meeting in New York City on April 23rd, 1941. His speech “championed American isolationism” and embodied American exceptionalism. The purpose of his lecture was simply for Americans to refrain from getting involved with international affairs and focus on how to boost as much internal American success as possible. Lindbergh emphasizes how the United States is the most powerful and capable nation in the world, and that they would only gain more power and status by focusing internally and not wasting time, effort, and money on global affairs. Most American’s agreed with Lindbergh as well. A poll in 1939 showed that 94% of Americans were in favor of refraining from war, in fact (LoProto, Mark. “Why Didn’t America Join the War Sooner?”). Obviously, once the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the US had no choice but to respond and join the war.  Some European immigrants, who had immigrated to America not long before WW2, would be more in favor of joining the war earlier as some had ties in the war. An example would be how a Polish person would want to join the war as the Polish were being invaded by the Germans. Although, the general agreement of Americans prior to being attacked was something special as almost everybody bought in to the idea that America was more advanced than other countries and was bigger than the war going on.             Link to “America First” speech