What conclusion did the Nye committee reach? Was President Roosevelt neutral? Support your answer. Explain the actions of Roosevelt towards Japan prior to WWII. What did the “cash and carry” part of the 1939 Neutrality Act allow to happen? Explain 2 core beliefs of the America First committee.
America Enters WWII DUN DUN DUN…
FDR helping out the British Destroyers for Bases Americans gain right to build bases on British owned territory Britain receives old destroyers from America ■ Lend-Lease Act ■ U.S. lends arms to Allies as long as they promise to return them or pay rent for them
Japanese Attack: Surprise? Japanese Justifications for Pearl Harbor Embargo of strategic materials: airplane fuel and scrap iron U.S. provided aid to China Due to embargo…Japan signed alliance with Germany and Italy (Axis powers) Still upset over the Open Door Policy
Open Door Policy America wanted equal access to China’s markets Railroads Ports Selling manufactured goods Sent notes to Japanese and European powers to ask them to leave China opened
Timeline of events… FDR transferred Pacific fleet from California to Pearl Harbor (May 1940) Japan joins Axis Powers (Sept. 1940) Japan occupies Indochina (1941) FDR freezes Japanese assets in U.S. (July 1941) U.S. broke Japanese code U.S. were expecting attack in southern Pacific or Malaya in November
The Attack… Within 2 hours 200 American planes destroyed More than 2,400 Americans killed Almost 1,200 Americans wounded Sunk/Damaged 18 ships (8 battleships) Japan then struck U.S. bases on the Philippines, Guam and Wake Island
Declaration of War… December 8, 1941: FDR declares Dec. 7, 1941 will be a date that “will live in infamy” FDR asked Congress to declare war on Japan Congress asked to declare war on Hitler and Mussolini on December 11th.