Chapter 35 FDR in the shadow of war

Recognition for the Russians In 1933 FDR finally formally recognized the Soviet Union as an official country Roosevelt hoped that the U.S. could trade with the U.S.S.R. which would help the U.S. economy pull out of the Great Depression.

Big World Changes 1937 The result of Filipino Independence America gave independence to the Filipinos Too much financial liability (costs) The result of Filipino Independence Americans were freeing themselves of a liability (the expense of owning the territory) America fell deeper into isolationism

Becoming a Good Neighbor “Good Neighbor” Policy FDR attempted to restore relations with Latin America that had been ruined in the first two decades of the 20th Century (The Roosevelt Corollary)

Storm-Cellar Isolationism After World War I Many autocratic dictators sprang up in Europe: Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union  Benito Mussolini of Italy Adolph Hitler of Germany Francisco Franco of Spain

European Dictators of the 1930s

Adolf Hitler Hitler The most dangerous of the Dictators (because of his ambition and influence) great orator (speaker) Led the German people out of the post-WW1 depression

Time Magazine’s 1938 Man of the Year?

Germany and Italy form the Axis In 1936 Nazi Hitler and Fascist Mussolini allied themselves in what they called the Rome-Berlin Axis.

Conquering Ethiopia In 1935 Mussolini attacked Ethiopia and conquered it The League of Nations failed to take effective action against Italy’s aggressions

Neutrality in America Neutrality Acts in 1935-37 Passed by Congress To prevent America from being sucked into war Under the new law, America could not: sell munitions to warring nations trade with warring nations

Appeasing Hitler The League of Nations allowed Hitler to: introduce mandatory military service in Germany Begin to persecute Jews Annex Austria The European powers (Britain and France) appeased Hitler

Annexing Land After Hitler annexed Austria He annexed a sliver of land in Czechoslovakia called the Sudetenland Neville Chamberlain (British Prime Minister) asked to meet with Hitler to find out his intentions were. The meeting is set up in Munich, Germany

The Munich Agreement September 1938 Terms of the deal Hitler lied Munich Conference Neville Chamberlain (Prime Minister of Britain) and Hitler meet Terms of the deal Chamberlain agreed to let Hitler annex the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia Hitler Promised not to annex any more land in Europe Hitler lied

Hitler’s Belligerency and U.S. Neutrality August 1939 The Soviet Union (Stalin) and Germany sign the Non-Aggression Pact Stated that Germany and Soviet Union would not attack each other Hitler needed this agreement to ensure that the Soviet Union would not attack Germany from the East while he was focused on Western Germany.

The Blitzkrieg in Poland Hitler invaded Poland with his new war tactic the Blitzkrieg (lightning war) After Poland falls France and Britain finally declared war against Germany America remained neutral

Chamberlain Steps Down After Chamberlain appeased Hitler, he was forced to resign. Winston Churchill becomes the new Prime Minister of Britain

American Involvement? Britain desperately needed American weapons to fight off Hitler, but The Neutrality Acts forbade the sale of arms to nations in war

Cash and Carry Winston Churchill sent hundreds of letters to FDR to imploring him to get weapons to Britain to help fight off Hitler. The new Neutrality Act of 1939 allowed European nations to buy weapons on a “cash-and-carry” basis meant Europeans had to provide their own ships to carry the weapons and pay for them in cash

The Fall of France May 1940 France falls to Hitler’s Nazis after the British and French were forced to retreat at the Battle of Dunkirk All that stood between Hitler and the world was Britain: if the English lost, Hitler would have all of Europe

Building American Defense  FDR Began to build its armed forces with expenses totaling more than $37 Billion had Congress pass the first peacetime draft in U.S. history in 1940. 1.2 million troops and 800,000 reserves would be trained.

Bolstering Britain’s Defense Battle of Britain (1940) Hitler launched air raids against the British The British Royal Air Force (RAF) used radar (a new technology) stopped the Nazi’s in air combat.

FDR Acts September 2, 1940 FDR boldly moved to transfer 50 old destroyers left over from WWI In return the British promised to give the U.S. control of islands in the Caribbean that had been under British control. This did not violate the Neutrality Acts because FDR was not selling weapons, he was trading them.

FDR Shatters the Two-Term Tradition (1940) In 1940 FDR decided to run for a third term Republicans- Wendell Willkie FDR won by a close margin because most voters felt that he was the most qualified to lead the country in case of war

Congress Passes the Landmark Lend-Lease Law Britain was running out of money and islands to trade. The Lend-Lease Plan “Lent” arms and ships to the nations that needed them (Britain and the USSR) would be returned after the war (not really) No debt incurred

Abandoning Neutrality The Lend-Lease Act Abandoned the neutrality policy Hitler recognized this and orders German submarines to shooting at American ships

Hitler’s Assault on the Soviet Union June 22, 1941 Hitler attacked Russia Hitler assumed his “invincible” troops would crush the inferior Soviet soldiers U.S. aid to the U.S.S.R. (through lend-lease), and an early and bitter winter stranded the German force The Battle of Stalingrad turned the tide for the Soviets Known as the turning point of the war in Europe.

The Atlantic Charter August 1941 The Atlantic Charter (Signed by Churchill and FDR) There would be no territorial changes after war Affirmed the right for people to choose their rulers (self-determination). Disarmament of aggressive nations The establishment of a “new” League of Nations Freedom of the sea for all nations

Embargoing the Japanese 1940 Japan at war with China America imposes embargoes on key supplies against Japan Oil, steel, cotton After the embargo, Japan had no choice but to either back off of China or attack the U.S.

The Attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor Japanese air bombers suddenly attacked the naval base in Hawaii Took out nearly the entire Pacific Fleet killed or wounded 3,000 American soldiers

A Date of Infamy December 8, 1941 December 11, 1941 FDR gave his “a date which will live in infamy” speech Asked for war with Japan December 11, 1941 Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.

America’s Transformation from Bystander to Belligerent Before Pearl Harbor: Most Americans were isolationists Afterwards Most Americans wanted revenge