Drifting From Isolationism to War The United States Drifting From Isolationism to War

Isolationism A belief of the United States that they should avoid any international commitments that might drag the nation into another war. Lasted from right after WWI until Pearl Harbor.

FROM ISOLATIONISM TO WAR During the 1920s and 1930s, U.S. policy toward Europe was one of isolationism. Many Americans felt the WWI had not been worth the cost Pacifist (Peace) Movement: Believed that war was wrong

Isolationism U.S. Foreign Policy in the 1920s & 1930s 1929 1935 1936 1937 U.S. Foreign Policy in the 1920s & 1930s Neutrality Act of 1935 Prohibits Arms Sales to Belligerents (Nations at War) Neutrality Act of 1936 Prohibits Loans to Belligerents U.S. signs Kellogg-Briand Pact Outlawing War Neutrality Act of 1937 allowed trade of non-military goods to belligerents on a “cash & carry” basis

U.S. Becomes an “Arsenal for Democracy” 1939 1940 1941 U.S. Foreign Policy in the Late 30s and Early 40s Congress Repeals Neutrality Acts FDR Declares U.S. an Arsenal for Democracy Destroyers for Bases Deal Jan. 1941 Lend-Lease Act August, 1941 U.S. Signs Atlantic Charter Dec 7, 1941 Congress Declares War After Pearl Harbor Undeclared Naval War w/ Germany

The Neutrality Act of 1939 Roosevelt officially declared the U.S. neutral after Britain and France declared war on Germany Under the Neutrality Act of 1939 warring nations could buy weapons from the U.S. only if they paid cash and carried them to their own ships

Destroyers for Bases Deal British Prime Minister asked Roosevelt to give Great Britain old destroyer ships because Britain needed more ships to fight the war Roosevelt agreed only if Great Britain would allow the U.S. to build American bases in Bermuda, the Caribbean and Newfoundland. (did this technically violate Neutrality Acts?)

Edging Toward War/The Lend Lease Act Great Britain went bankrupt during WWII so the U.S. created the Lend Lease Act This allowed the U.S. to lend or lease arms to any country that was vital to the defense of the U.S.

The Hemispheric Defense Zone The Germans sunk British ship by the hundreds as they crossed the Atlantic to get weapons from the U.S. Roosevelt declared the hemispheric defense zone and proclaimed that the entire western half of the Atlantic was neutral and ordered the U.S. Navy to patrol the Atlantic to reveal German sub locations to Great Britain

The Atlantic Charter Roosevelt and Churchill met on a warship and drafted the Atlantic Charter pledging to focus on democracy in the world after the war The Germans responded by torpedoing the Reuben James an American destroyer ship 115 sailors died

American Embargoes Japan Roosevelt began sending Lend Lease aid to China The Japanese attacked China Roosevelt responded by freezing all Japanese assets in the U.S. On November 26, 1941, 6 Japanese aircraft carriers, 2 battleships, and several warships headed towards Hawaii

Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor American intelligence decoded Japanese communications that Japan was preparing for war against the U.S. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 sinking 21 U.S. ships, 188 airplanes, and killing 2,403 Americans

Pearl Harbor

Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor The Senate voted 82 to 0 and the House 388 to 1 to declare war on Japan On December 11 Germany and Italy both declared war on the U.S. The U.S. was officially in WWII

Go to the following website to complete the worksheet-Isolationism to Conflict https://history.state.gov/milestones