US Enters War

American Neutrality Roosevelt announced that the US will stay neutral Sympathized with allies, did not want to go to war with Germany Isolationist feelings declined with every Nazi success

steps toward war… pre-war (~1937) Cash and Carry Allowed trade as long as recipients paid in cash, arranged for transport with their own ships, and assumed all risk. Allowed trade with Britain, exploited the fact that Germany was low on funds March 1941 – Lend-Lease Act president allowed to give military supplies to nations “vital to the defense of the U.S.” sent supplies to Britain and USSR, exchange for land American merchant vessels soon came under attack from Germany

Japanese Expansion U.S. alarmed with Japanese aggression in Asia 1937 - Japan waged a full scale war against China Sept 1940 – signs alliance with Germany and Italy: Tripartite Pact (Rome Berlin Tokyo Axis)

US banned sale of war materials to Japan (iron, steel, oil…) US and Japan hold talks – none are successful

Japanese Empire Emperor: Hirohito Gained rich resources (rubber and tin) from conquests Claimed “making Asia for the Asians” to rid Asia from foreign imperialism Called empire: Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere many welcomed at first, then realized Japan was the new imperial power

Pearl Harbor US ended commercial treaty with Japan with seizure of Indochina US stopped exporting most goods to Japan To show military readiness, moved Pacific Fleet from West Coast to Pearl Harbor

Japan continues to push into SE Asia took control of its natural resources Japanese threat more serious with new Japanese prime minister General Tojo, an out spoken expansionist

Tojo sent diplomats to Washington, D.C. Japan offered to withdraw from Indochina if the US resumed economic relations with Japan but would remain in China – US refuses compromise while negotiations are being held, decision to attack already made

US knew of threat – thought would attack Philippines or in East Asia December 7, 1941 – Japan attack on US naval base at Pearl Harbor two hour raid – destroyed 8 battleships (crippled 10 others), 188 planes (159 damaged), killed 2403 Americans (1100 on Arizona) 29 Japanese planes lost

December 8, 1941, Roosevelt asks congress to declare war, approved three days later Germany and Italy declare war on US “A date which will live in infamy.”

Hiroshima – August 6, 1945 70,000 killed immediately. 48,000 buildings destroyed. 100,000s died of radiation poisoning & cancer later.

Nagasaki – August 9, 1945 40,000 killed immediately. 60,000 injured. 100,000s died of radiation poisoning & cancer later.