You are citing polls from a time when most US citizens expected the US would be dragged into the war regardless and the poll did not specify Britain would defeat Germany and Italy "alone". The question is would the US be as keen to heavily back a horse it did not expect to win - OTL there was only luke warm US support for the Soviets until they had proven themselves. Another forum member has referenced a poll from mid 1940, where <25% of the US population expected an Allied victory.
Nah.
The question was "who do you believe will win the war - England, or Germany and Italy". They said England.
As for opinions in mid 1940... fasten your seatbelt.
EUROPEAN WAR
Interviewing Date 5/5-10/40
Survey #193-K Question #2a
The war between England and France and Germany has been going on for eight months. Which side do you think is ahead so far?
Germany........................... 67%
England and France................. 8
Even............................... 13
No opinion......................... 12
Interviewing Date 5/5-10/40
Survey #193-K Question #2b
Which side do you think will win the war?
Allies.............................. 55%
Germany........................... 17
No opinion......................... 28
Oh, and also this gem.
Interviewing Date 5/5-10/40
Survey #193-K Question #la
Do you think the United States will go into the war in Europe?
Yes................................ 51%
No................................ 49
As for neutrality....
MAY 10 NEUTRALITY
Interviewing Date 4/19-24/40
Survey #191-K Question #7
If you were voting for President, which type of candidate (on card) do you think you would be more likely to vote for: (A) A candidate who promises to keep us out of war and refuses to give any more help to England and France than we are now giving them, even if they are being defeated by Germany; or (B)
A candidate who promises to keep us out of war, but who is willing to give England and France all the help they want, except sending our army and navy.
Refuses help........................ 34%
Aid except troops.................... 66
Nine per cent expressed no opinion.
Pre-fall of France opinion on what essentially became lend-lease
MAY 24
EUROPEAN WAR
Interviewing Date 5/16-21/40
Survey #194-K Question #6
If England and France are unable to pay cash for airplanes they buy in this country, do you think we should sell them planes on credit supplied by our Government?
Yes................................ 51%
No................................49
Views on the war immediately following the Fall of France
Interviewing Date 6/27-7/2/40
Survey #199-K Question #12
Which side do you think will win the war?
Allies.............................. 32%
Axis............................... 35
No opinion.........................33
Keeping in mind the polls now narrowly show an Axis victory is predicted by the US population
JULY 19
AID TO ENGLAND
Interviewing Date 7/5-10/40
Survey #200-K Question #3d
Do you think we are giving enough help to England, or do you think more ways should be found to give England help, short of going to war?
Give more help...................... 53%
Enough help now....................41
Give less help....................... 6
Ten per cent expressed no opinion.
SEPTEMBER 23
NEUTRALITY
Interviewing Date 9/5-10/40
Survey #209-K Question #2
Which of these two things do you think is the most important for the United States to try to do — to keep out of war ourselves or to help England win, even at the risk of getting into the war?
Keep out...........................48%
Help England....................... 52
Five per cent expressed no opinion.
NOVEMBER 18
AID TO ENGLAND
Interviewing Date
10/11-16/40
Survey #215-K Question #1a
If it appears that England will be defeated by Germany and Italy unless the United States supplies her with more food and war materials, would you be in favor of giving more help to England?
Yes................................ 90%
No................................ 10
Six per cent expressed no opinion.
You have chosen to cite polls after lend-lease had already been in place for a number of months and by some measures FDR had already entered the US into the war. Citing polls after the fact ignores the potential impact of the PODs of poor British military performance might have in the US choice of Britain as their champion in Europe.
Think I've put this one to bed now.
No. There are at least half a dozen Gallup polls through 1940-1941 where the percentage of US citizens favouring US intervention in Europe was <20%. There was no grass roots support for US intervention into Europe. Per OTL, the US entry into the war would need to be carefully crafted against the isolationist wishes of the general public. #inconvenient facts
Boots on the ground; yes. No appetite. I don't think I ever suggested otherwise.
What I said was that the public were firmly behind Britain, wanted Britain to win, and were supportive of any and all measures to help Britain win.
Britain had no military victories to speak of in the period covered - BoB I guess - and our performance in the war was worse than could possibly have been imagined. And yet America didn't write Britain off as a bad bet. Making Britain's performance a bit worse would have had no discernible impact.