The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations
Abstract
This article argues that the fall of France in 1940 triggered a profound shift in American public opinion, weakening long‑standing isolationist attitudes and creating fertile ground for Franklin Roosevelt’s internationalist agenda. Drawing on contemporary polling and political developments, it shows how period effects, elite signaling, and coordinated media messaging converged to move the United States toward greater engagement in global security. Ultimately, the study demonstrates how Roosevelt leveraged both crisis and persuasion to redefine the boundaries of mainstream foreign policy in the 1940 election cycle.
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Recommended Citation
Moyer, Ethan
(2026)
"The Fall of France and Public Opinion During the 1940 United States Presidential Election,"
The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations: Vol. 35, Article 8.
Available at:
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/political-realm/vol35/iss1/8