The United States at War Part I: The US Enters WW II Guided Reading Activity Answer Guide The United States at War Part I: The US Enters WW II

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt When Roosevelt began running for his third term as president of the United States, he established a precedent – he was the only man in US History to run for a third term in office. Many Americans were uncertain what role our nation would play in the world during this period of conflict. Roosevelt reassured them, “Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars.” Like Woodrow Wilson, history would make a liar out of President Roosevelt.

The Lend Lease Act Due to the Neutrality Acts passed by Congress starting in 1935, the United States was not allowed to provide weapons to one side or the other in the European conflict. Later, we adopted a cash and carry policy, forcing the English to pay for their goods before delivery. But by 1940, the United States realized which side we must support in the conflict. Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act in 1940 to supply England, China, and the Soviet Union with immediate military aid.

The Selective Training and Service Act , 1940 The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 was the first ever peace time draft of Americans in preparation for military conflict. Millions of American men would be selected in the draft. When war was finally declared on Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, over 15 Million Americans would join the Armed Forces.

The Tuskegee Airmen

Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin D Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt Met off Newfoundland.

The Atlantic Charter The Atlantic Charter was negotiated in secret, since most Americans were still committed to an isolationist foreign policy and a neutral stance on the war in Europe. Churchill and FDR made three(3)major commitments, though: The Allies would not seek any territorial gains in the aftermath of the war. The Allies would encourage self-government in every region of the world after the war ended. A new international organization would be founded to replace the failed League of Nations.

FDR cuts of oil and steel to Japan. In the summer of 1941, Japan invaded Indochina – French controlled colonies in Southeast Asia. (Today, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.) The US responded by refusing to trade oil and steel to Japan. The move was a good ten years too late – Japan had invaded Manchuria and Korea in 1931, with no response from the United States. Japan, seeing no use for their American rivals in the Pacific now, began planning to attack Pearl Harbor and provoke war.

Pearl Harbor Attacked: December 7, 1941 The invasion of Pearl Harbor was a complete surprise, although many Americans were aware the relations between the United States and the Empire of Japan were turning sour by the summer of 1941. Unscrupulous reports that Americans knew the attack was coming and refused to warn the men at Pearl Harbor are the products of conspiracy theorists who have more time on their hands than evidence. FDR did want for the United States to go to war, and he did know that Japan was a real threat, but no one withheld any information from the men in Hawaii, and the attack was a surprise.

Pearl Harbor Attacked: December 7, 1941 In addition to the deaths of over 2,400 men, the United States Pacific fleet was devastated by the invasion. The USS Arizona, seen here, was sunk in the harbor itself – and other ships were nearly sunk in places that might have blocked the exit and entrance routes at Pearl. If there was anything positive to report at all, it was a stroke of unimaginable good fortune – most of the aircraft carriers stationed at Pearl Harbor at the time were out to sea, and therefore saved from destruction. Our navy would be able to recover from the devastation.

Pearl Harbor Day: December 7, 1941 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt described the invasion in an address to the American people the day after the attack, and asked for a declaration of war against Japan at the end of his speech: “Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” The US Congress immediately declared war on Japan.

Pearl Harbor Day: December 7, 1941 “The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory. …Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger…With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God. ..I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.”

Italy and Germany Declared War on the United States in return. Nazi Germany Fascist Italy

The Allies During World War II The Soviet Union Great Britain

The Allies During World War II France China