FDR & WWII Road to War

Road to War Neutrality Act 1935-37 •The Neutrality Act of 1935 prohibited shipment of American weapons to any belligerent nation (that is, any nation at war). Against the wishes of FDR (no differentiate between "the good guys and the bad guys). •The Second Neutrality Act of 1936 No American loans to any belligerent nation, again, without distinguishing between good guys/bad guys •Third Neutrality Act 1937 No U.S. citizens to travel on ocean-going vessels of nations at war. (Lusitania WWI). Allowed sale of non-military goods, such as grain, which the U.S. could sell to belligerent nations, but strictly on a "cash and carry" basis. All cash and carry. http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/lectures/textonly/lecture20.html

Quarantine Speech Causes Listen @ http://history. sandiego • Italy’s take over of Ethiopia • Spanish Civil War Franco • Japan’s invasion of China • Hitler’s rise in Germany FDR is simultaneously promising the search for peace and saying we have a moral responsibility to be ready for war. We must quarantine aggressor nations, but does not say how.

Appeasement 1938 Munich Conference • In January, 1933, Germany re-incorporated the Saar Basin. Rich in Coal. • 1936 They re-militarized the Rhineland, violating the Versailles Treaty. • In March, 1938, they entered Austria; one month later, 99.7% of Austria voted for union with Germany. • 1938 And the final capstone was the German-speaking southern part of Czechoslovakia, Sudentenland. • Treaty: If Czechoslovakia was invaded, Britain and France would have to respond.

Peace In Our Time http://www. wwnorton • In September 1938, England, France and Italy met to discuss Hitlers demands for Sudentenland. • Hitler could annex it if he stopped there. • Neville Chamberlain wrote in a letter to his sister, describing Hitler, "Now here is a man, a true statesman, a man I feel I can really trust." England and France ignored their treaty with Czechoslovakia, and Hitler went in and took Sudentenland.

Sitzkrieg: sit down war or phony war. August 1939 Stalin/Hitler Pact http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?ModuleId=10005070 • Mutual agreement of nonaggression between Russia and Germany. • Designed to let Germany overrun Poland and Russia would share. • Sept. 3, 1939 Br. Fr.agree to mutual protection act promising to come to Poland’s defense. • 2 days later Hitler attacks Poland. • Br & Fr. Declare war, but not ready for war Sitzkrieg: sit down war or phony war.