Nationalistic WWII American poster stamp

America First poster stamp encouraging the public to support American isolation regarding United States’ participation in World War II. Poster stamps were collectable stamps, slightly larger than postage stamps, with designs similar to posters. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as a means for fundraising, propaganda, and educational purposes. After World War I (1914-1918), the public felt that the United States should stay out of future foreign wars. The government agreed, taking a new isolationist stance regarding national polices by reducing military forces, restricting immigration, and outlawing aggressive war. After the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, most Americans favored isolation over intervention. However, pro-Allies governmental policies and growing anti-fascist public sentiment began to shift opinions and groups supporting both intervention and isolation emerged. Many isolationist groups, such as the America First Committee (AFC), believed in the policy of “America First,” which dictated that Americans should stay out of the war. They believed that entanglements in European wars would weaken American independence, which was the foundation of America’s prosperity. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and America’s entry into the war, the isolationist movement subsided and the mainstream isolationist groups disbanded.