My history teacher began lecturing on WWII this week and began to mention events that led to USA to partake in the war. Of course, the attack on Pearl Harbor was intolerable and forced the USA to join the war. If the attack on Pearl Harbor had not happened, would the USA keep to its, presumed, isolationist ways or would they have joined to war either way?
The USA was already involved in the war indirectly through trading with the U.K. and suppressing trade with the Axis power (e.g. America's oil embargo on Japan which was one of the causes of Pearl Harbor).
If the attack on Pearl Harbor had not happened would they have joined to war either way?
I am leaning on yes since the USA's actions previous to the war gave full indication that they would not allow the U.K. to fall under Nazi rule. Also Japan would have attacked the U.S. regardless if they went after Pearl Harbor. Japan's goal and cockiness caused them to want to invade all land related to Asia, this included U.S. Asian territories like Guam and the Philippines. Japan would've attacked those territories and the U.S. would declare war on Japan; this results in Italy and Germany declaring war on the U.S.. The only difference is that the U.S. would have a stronger Pacific Fleet at the beginning of their war.