Which 1941 act authorized lending arms to Britain?

• A. Neutrality Acts
• B. Cash-and-carry
• C. Draft
• D. Lend-Lease Act

Answer: (D)

This question tests how the United States began aiding Britain before entering World War II. The act authorized lending or leasing military equipment to countries whose defense the United States considered vital, with Britain serving as the main recipient as it faced German aggression and strained resources. This policy marked a shift from strict neutrality toward active support for Allies, while stopping short of full war involvement.

It differs from the Neutrality Acts, which aimed to keep the U.S. out of conflict by restricting arms sales to belligerents, and from cash-and-carry, which allowed arms sales only on cash payment and with buyers transporting the materials themselves. The Lend-Lease approach enabled Britain to obtain war materiel without immediate payment and without the U.S. having to send troops, signaling a significant step toward deeper U.S. involvement while the nation remained officially at peace. This policy helped sustain Allied resistance and set the stage for greater U.S. involvement after Pearl Harbor.