Vocabulary/Identification Axis powers Lend – Lease Act Atlantic Charter Allies Hideki Tojo

America Moves Toward War Chapter 16 – 4 America Moves Toward War

Section 16 – 4 Objectives Describe the American response to the outbreak of war in Europe. Explain how FDR assisted the Allies without declaring war. Identify and explain the events that finally brought the U.S. into the war. Describe the American response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

What did the Neutrality Act allow? Passed in September of 1939, it permitted nations to buy U.S. armaments as long as they paid cash and carried the goods away in their own ships.

Who were the Axis powers? Japan Germany Italy

What did their alliance mean for the United States? The aim of the alliance was to keep the U.S. out of the war. If the U.S. declared war on any of the Axis powers, it would have to fight a two – ocean war.

What did the Lend – Lease Act do? Passed in March of 1941, this act allowed Roosevelt to lend or lease arms and supplies to “any country whose defense was vital to the U.S.” The Act was viewed by some as preventing the war from spreading. Others saw it as a way for Roosevelt to get the U.S. into the war.

What did the United States do to protest Japan’s actions? As a result of Japan’s aggressions in the Pacific, the U.S. cut off trade with Japan. The most important good in this trade embargo was oil.

What pledges were contained in the Atlantic Charter? Collective Security Disarmament Self – determination Economic cooperation Freedom of the Jews

Who were the Allies? An alliance of 26 nations that joined together to fight the Axis powers. They included; United States Britain French Republic Republic of Poland Northern Ireland Norway

What did the attack do to the U.S. Pacific fleet? Almost destroyed it. A U.S. embargo on necessary supplies for war prompted the attack on Pearl Harbor. The attack consisted of; Japanese force of six carriers with 423 planes. Eighteen U.S. ships were hit. Casualties included 2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians. 1178 people were wounded. The day after the attack the U.S. and Britain declared war on Japan.

Battleship Row December 7, 1941

Battleship Row after the attack

Why did Germany and Italy declare war on the United States? Both countries signed a mutual defense treaty with Japan. This bound them to come to Japan’s aid when the U.S. declared war