What was a significant effect of the Lend-Lease Act on U.S. foreign policy?

The Lend-Lease Act, enacted in 1941, was a pivotal piece of legislation in U.S. foreign policy, enabling the United States to provide military and financial aid to allied nations during World War II. The act allowed the U.S. to supply weapons, equipment, and other resources to countries like Britain, France, and later the Soviet Union, facilitating their efforts against Axis powers without requiring direct military involvement from the United States at that time.

This approach reflected a significant shift in how the U.S. engaged in global affairs. Rather than adhering strictly to isolationism, the Lend-Lease Act allowed the U.S. to play an active support role, ultimately enhancing the military capabilities of its allies while maintaining a degree of distance from direct combat until the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. This strategy demonstrated a commitment to defeating common enemies and laid the groundwork for post-war cooperation, which would later contribute to the formation of international organizations like the United Nations, but was not directly created by the Lend-Lease Act itself.