The United States was determined to remain neutral in future wars. In 1937 the Neutrality Act was passed which declared the US was forbidden to sell war equipment to belligerent nations, prohibited loans to belligerents, prohibited American from sailing on ships of belligerents, and restricted the entry of American ships into war zones.

The United States took several steps to modify the strict neutrality it declared in the Neutrality Act of 1937:

1. 1939-revised the Neutrality Act to allow US firms to sell munitions to bellgerents but only on a cash and carry basis.

2. an executive agreement in 1940 transferred 50 old American destroyers to Great Britain;

3. the Lend Lease Act of 1941-- allowed the US to supply war materials to Great Britain on credit.