Standard and Objective SSHS-S1C8-01-d Strand 1: American History Concept 8: Great Depression and World War II PO 2. Describe the impact of American involvement in World War II: Students will comprehend America's involvement in WWII by identifying the events that led up to Pearl Harbor.

America’s Involvement From Neutrality to War America’s Involvement

American Neutrality America as discouraged seeing the state Europe was in Felt like WWI had been fought for nothing All of the European countries that owed debt weren’t paying it back Americans felt that arms manufacturers had tricked America into going to war in the first place

The Nye Committee Because of the results of the Nye Committee that showed arms factories had made huge profits during WWI, Americans believed they greatly influenced the decision to go to war Americans overwhelmingly favored neutrality and isolationism

The Neutrality Acts 1935 -made it illegal for Americans to sell arms to any country at war 1936 -banned the sale of arms to either side of a civil war 1937 -in addition to the above, all nonmilitary supplies bought from the U.S. had to be on a “cash-and-carry basis

FDR’s Internationalism Really wanted to get involved Never vetoed any of the neutrality bills though When Japan invaded China in 1937 without declaring war, FDR said the Neutrality Act didn’t apply and started selling weapons to China

Neutrality Tested Neutrality Act revised again in 1939 permitting the sale of weapons to warring nations but on a “cash-and-carry” basis Churchill asked for destroyers to replenish his fleet Roosevelt gave him 50 in exchange for bases in the Atlantic

Wider Acceptance of Involvement Most people accepted the Destroyers-for-Bases deal showing the shift in public opinion The Fight for Freedom Committee vs. The America First Committee FDR won the 1940 election and expanded the nation’s role in the war

The Lend-Lease Act By December of 1940 Britain had run out of funds for the war FDR proposed the Lend-Lease Act This allowed the U.S. to lend or lease arms to countries considered vital to the defense of the U.S. Eventually expanded to Russia

The Hemispheric Defense Zone U-boats were sinking hundreds of thousands of tons of cargo every month British Navy was too limited to help and U.S. was still neutral so couldn’t do anything Declared the Western Hemisphere of the Atlantic neutral so the navy could patrol it and tell the British where there were U-Boats

The Atlantic Charter -August 1941 FDR and Churchill both committed to a postwar world of democracy, nonaggression, free trade, economic advancement, and freedom of the seas Churchill said FDR made it clear he would look for an ‘incident’ that would justify opening hostilities with Germany

Rising Hostilities In September of 1941 a U-boat fired on an American Destroyer that was radioing the U-boat’s position to the British FDR told American ships to “shoot-on-sight” German submarines German started targeting Destroyers

America Embargoes Japan British began removing warships from its colonies in Southeast Asia This left the colonies open to Japanese attacks FDR tried to hinder Japanese aggression by applying economic pressure Blocked the sale of strategic materials Japan was furious so they signed an alliance with Germany and Italy becoming a member of the Axis Power

America gets even more involved 1941 -America started lend-lease with China hoping they would hinder Japan Japan sent forces into Indochina directly threatening the British Empire so FDR froze all Japanese assets in the U.S. and sent General Douglas MacArthur into the Philippines It was going down!

Attack on Pearl Harbor U.S. intelligence decoded Japanese messages that said they were going to war November 27th Pearl Harbor commander received a war warning from D.C. but didn’t expect an attack in Hawaii December 7th 1941 Pearl Harbor was attacked killing 2,403 and injuring another 1, 178

America Declares War FDR asked Congress to declare war The Senate voted 82 to 0 The House voted 388 to 1 But what about that one…?

Jeanette Rankin First woman elected to Congress Was the only vote against going to war with Japan Committed pacifist Also voted against going to war in 1917 Believed FDR provoked the Japanese into attacking “As a woman, I can’t go to war and I refuse to send anyone else.” Needed a police escort out of the building because of an angry mob

Germany Declares war on American and we are now officially in the war