AMERICA FIRST COMMITTEE

Critics speak out against Lindbergh's views

The America First Committee was created in September of 1940 and was against entering WWII. It also believed that America should not provide aid to the allies. The Committee believed that because America was so militarily strong that it had all the capacity to defend itself against German attack. Because of this the committee believed that aid should not be given to England. By granting aid to England, America’s own defenses would be weakened if we took focus off our own country. The America First Committee was strictly isolationist. Members had various reasons for wanting to join the committee. Some members were genuinely concerned with making sure that American lives were not lost. Others used their position in the committee as a way to go against President Roosevelt and his policies. Still a third group had more sinister motivations. Some members were xenophobic and had racist motivations. No matter the reasons, members of the committee were united in the fact that they believed that under no circumstance should the United States enter WWII.             By 1938 many Americans were opposed to entering the war but hoped that Britain and France would prevail against Germany. When Germany invaded France in 1940 opinions began to change. The defeat of France left Britain to defend Germany by itself. Americans became anxious that Germany could possibly attack the US. Americans believed that by supplying Britain with munitions that they could help to persevere one of the last standing democracies from Hitler and German rule. The America First Committee knew that in order to gain support for staying out of the war with Germany they had to reduce the support for providing support to Britain. The task of the AFC became to equate financial support with war.The committee lack of focus to the crimes that Hitler was perpetrating against Europe brought much criticism. They believed that the United States could work peacefully with Germany and come to its own agreements. This did not make all members of the AFC sympathetic to Germans or their cause many were just trying to stay out of the war. No matter what motivated AFC supporters they began to come together under the same beliefs. Members believed that war hysteria was being generated by the government to divert America’s attention from the failures of the New Deal. ITS GREATEST MEMBER             Charles Lindbergh’s entrance into the America First committee strengthened the organization. Lindbergh had turned down the offer to be its chairman instead opting to be a member of the national committee and speak publicly for it. Lindbergh helped the organization gain support and new members. Lindbergh made his first speech to a crowd of 10,000 in Chicago. He was the organizations most popular speaker but also generated the most criticism. Lindbergh constantly told the American public to not be influenced by propaganda. In a speech in Des Moines, Iowa in 1940 Lindbergh’s sentiments caused huge controversy. He stated that he believed that the Roosevelt Administration, the British and the Jewish were agitating for war and forcing America into conflict. Lindbergh’s lack of sympathy towards the Jewish situation caused uproar and was exploited by his critics to label him and anti-Semite.Lindbergh was vehemently attacked for his beliefs and constantly a target in the press. Lindbergh’s outspokenness gained him many enemies including the President of the United States. His critics ran to interpret many of his actions as un-American in order to diminish popularity for his persona and his beliefs.

Back to Main