Unit 6: WWII

Leading up to War The U.S. position was isolationism The Nye Committee (1934) investigated how the U.S. had gotten involved in WWI Argued that arms manufacturers and bankers influenced the government’s decision to go to war Most Americans became Isolationists as a result of the findings Neutrality Acts of 1935 Series of acts banning aid to countries involved in war or civil war

Moving away from Neutrality Neutrality Act of 1939 With war breaking out in Europe FDR persuaded Congress to pass a “cash and carry” provision Allowed warring nations to buy U.S. arms as long as they paid cash and transported them in their own ships FDR argued it was good for the defense of the US 1940 conscription: FDR pushes through a peace-time draft of millions of young men Selective Training and Service Act First peace-time draft Response to the fall of France and the Battle of Britain

The Axis Threat 1940: Germany, Italy, and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact Become the Axis Powers Pact was designed to keep the U.S. out of war If one nation was attacked the others would come to its defense U.S. could not afford a 2-ocean war

Lend-Lease Bill: No. 1776 March 1941 Marks the end of neutrality U.S. would lend old, out of use weaponry to the struggling democracies to aid them against the “enemy” Loaned to Great Britain and China mainly Returned upon completion of the war Hotly debated throughout Congress Isolationists vs. Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies Hitler viewed lend-lease as an act of war Begins to deliberately attack U.S. ships FDR orders the Navy to escort Lend-Lease convoys and attack German U-boats in the Atlantic if necessary

FDR plans for War June 22, 1941 FDR extends lend-lease to the USSR Germany attacks the USSR FDR extends lend-lease to the USSR Believed to be necessary to protect the U.S. Increase in German attacks on U.S. ships headed for Britain and the USSR Atlantic Charter (August 1941) Churchill and FDR Outlined the goal of the war, post-war agreements and became the basis for the United Nations

War with Japan Japan’s ambitions in the Pacific 1937 Japan launches an invasion of China U.S. cut off trade with Japan to protest against the aggression Included oil Without oil, the Japanese could be defeated

Surprise attack Washington intercepted encoded messages and knew that the Japanese were going to attack They did not know when or where Commanders were notified but not strenuously warned Feared sabotage more than an actual attack Entire U.S. Pacific fleet was concentrated at Pearl Harbor Hawaiian commanders: Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and General Walter C. Short Airplanes were grouped together to protect against tampering

“Day of Infamy” Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941 First wave of Japanese airplanes attacked airfields at 7:50 am then struck the anchored fleet Second wave followed at 8:50

A sleeping giant awakened U.S. losses: All but a few airplanes on the island were destroyed All eight battleships anchored were put out of action, two were sunk Oklahoma and Arizona Three cruisers and three destroyers damaged 2,403 casualties Japan: 29 airplanes; 5 midget subs; 1 fleet submarine

Declaration of War FDR, before joint session of Congress, asked for a declaration of war on Dec. 8th Congress declares war on Japan Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. Dec. 11, 1941 Unofficial war now made official