From Neutrality to War Chapter 20.2

American Neutrality Many Americans didn’t want to enter the war: Most European nations announced they wouldn’t pay back their war time debts during the depression The sacrifices they made in WW1 seemed pointless There was a rise of dictatorship and militarism across Europe that Americans wanted no part of Americans supported isolationism and trying to avoid involvement in international conflicts

The Nye Committee Senator Gerald P. Nye investigated allegations that arms manufacturers had tricked/influenced the United States into entering WW1 The arms factories made huge profits during the war, and strongly influenced politicians into going to war

The American Neutrality Act of 1935 and 1937 The Act established that it was illegal for Americans to sell to any country at war It was in response to growing aggression in Europe by Italy and Germany 1937 Continued the ban on selling arms to warring nations Also required that any nation buying non-military supplies from the United States would need to do so on a “Cash for Carry” basis.

Roosevelt’s Internationalism It was the idea that trade between nations creates prosperity and helps prevent war He warned that the neutrality acts, “might drag us into war instead of keeping us out” Roosevelt authorized the sale of weapons to China when Japan invaded them in 1937, he claimed that because China didn't’t declare war before attacking the Neutrality Acts didn't’t apply.

Neutrality Tested Roosevelt wanted to help Britain and France Asked Congress to alter the neutrality acts Congress passed the Neutrality Act of 1939, which permitted the sale of weapons but only on a ”cash for carry” basis Britain asked for old American destroyers to replenish their fleet Roosevelt accepted and traded it for use of British Bases in the Atlantic (went around the Neutrality Acts) Roosevelt expanded the nation’s role in the war, he listed the Four Freedoms: Freedom of Speech Freedom of Worship Freedom from Want Freedom from Feat

The Lend Lease Act Britain had run out of funds to fight the war The Act, which was proposed by Roosevelt, allowed the United States to lend or lease arms to any country considered “vital to the defense of the United States” Britain now could receive weapons, then return them or pay rent for them after the war

Submarine Warfare Due to continued ties between the United States and Britain, tensions between the United States and Germany escalated In early September of 1941, a German U-Boat fired on an American Destroyer that had been radioing the U-Boat’s position to the British. Roosevelt responded by ordering American ships to follow “a shoot on sight” policy toward German Submarines The Reuben James, an American Destroyer was torpedoed by a German Submarine and sank, killing 100 American Sailors

Reasons for Japans Attack on Pearl Harbor Japan depended on the United States for key materials, but the United States restricted the sale of strategic materials (items important to fighting the war) to Japan They did so because they feared the Japanese would attempt to take control of British colonies (India), once the British removed their warships from Southeast Asia in order to use in the war.

Reasons for Japans Attack on Pearl Harbor Roosevelt expanded the Lend Lease Act to China in 1941, hoping to enable the Chinese to tie down the Japanese and prevent them from attacking other countries Roosevelt also froze all Japanese assets in the United States, and reduced the oil shipments to Japan He also sent General Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines to start building up America’s defense.

Attack on Pearl Harbor With their war in China now in Jeopardy, due to the lack of resources, Japan planned to attack the resource rich British colonies in Southeast Asia, and the American Fleet at Pearl Harbor

Surprise Attack The United States didn’t believe an attack was coming: Japan was still negotiating with the U.S. for peace Their was great distance between Hawaii and Japan However, they did decode messages that showed Japan was preparing for war with the United States, and that they were going to attack The U.S. inability to interpret the information left Pearl Harbor an open target https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxIsVYdB0lA

Devastation and Aftermath 2,403 Americans died 180 Aircraft, 8 Battleships, 3 Cruisers, and 3 Destroyers were all decimated The next day Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=s7hc0oyEfgE

Another Great Scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFhY6IaUJ40