From Isolation to Involvement Chapter 19, Section 2 From Isolation to Involvement

War Erupts in Europe As Germany continued to move throughout Europe, they soon attempted to conquer the powerhouses of France and Britain. France fell within 35 days– their forces were no match for the German tanks. When Germany looked to attack Britain, they were ready. The British Royal Air Force (RAF) vs. the German Luftwaffe damaged many British properties in its month-long bombing campaign. But, Hitler called off the raid.

War Erupts in Europe As the war progressed into 1941, there were two definitive sides– the Axis Powers and the Allies. The Axis Powers included Germany, Italy and Japan, and other conquered countries. The Allies consisted of Britain and France and eventually grew to include countries such as the U.S., Soviet Union and China.

Americans Debate Involvement Although Roosevelt was inclined to join forces with Winston Churchill and Britain, the majority of Americans wanted to remain neutral. The severe economic crisis and the cost (both financially and in lives) of WWI pushed Americans more towards an isolationist standpoint.

Americans Debate Involvement One group that emerged in support of this isolationist standpoint was the America First Committee. They urged Roosevelt to remain neutral, despite his friendship with Churchill, and the fall of an array of countries in Europe to Hitler and his armies. The most prominent member was Charles Lindbergh and their membership peaked at 800,000 in 1941.

Americans Debate Involvement Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts in 1935, 1936 and 1937, limiting the power of Roosevelt. The Neutrality Act of 1939 did allow for the U.S. to implement a ‘cash-and-carry’ policy. This policy allowed nations at war to buy American goods and arms, as long as they paid cash and carried them away on their own. Since the British navy dominated, this benefited the Allies.

Americans Debate Involvement Events in Europe continued to sway American opinion towards involvement. Reports from Edward R. Murrow during the bombing of Britain shocked American viewers. The growth of the war in Europe was solidified when Japan, Italy and Germany signed the Tripartite Pact– formally declaring themselves as Allies. The U.S. realized the war would last much longer, and its allies were in danger, so they passed a Selective Service Act, starting a peacetime draft.

America Takes Steps Towards War Once Roosevelt was re-elected (for a record 3rd term), he began pushing more for American intervention. In his address to Congress on January 6th, 1941, Roosevelt gave his famous Four Freedoms speech, which declared that Freedom from want; Freedom of speech; Freedom of worship; Freedom from fear were threatened by Nazi and Japanese aggression.

America Takes Steps Towards War When Britain ran out of money to purchase goods via the cash-and-carry policy, the U.S. came to their aid. The Lend-Lease Act gave Roosevelt the power to “sell, lease, exchange, lend, or otherwise dispose of… defense articles… necessary in the defense of the U.S.” The U.S. was the arms supplier, keeping democracy safe around the world. It was an “arsenal for democracy”.

America Takes Steps Towards War Even though the U.S. had not formally entered the war, they were still actively supporting the Allies. When Churchill and Roosevelt met secretly in August 1941, they signed a mutual agreement preserving “general security” and self-determination. This agreement would become known as the Atlantic Charter.