Why did the united states pass the neutrality acts

the neutrality acts were passed by the united states congress in the 1930s, in response to the growing turmoil in europe and asia that eventually led to world war ii. they were spurred by the growth in isolationism and non-interventionism in the us following its costly involvement in world war i, and sought to ensure that the us would not become entangled again in foreign conflicts.

the legacy of the neutrality acts is widely regarded as having been generally negative: they made no distinction between aggressor and victim, treating both equally as "belligerents"; and they limited the us government's ability to aid britain and france against nazi germany. the acts were largely repealed in 1941, in the face of german submarine attacks on u.s. vessels and the japanese attack on pearl harbor.

although world war i began in 1914, the united states did not join the war until 1917. the additional firepower, resources, and soldiers of the u.s. to tip the balance of the war in favor of the allies. remaining neutral. when war broke out in 1914, the united states had a policy of neutrality.