U.S. Enters the war

Do you believe the U.S. should become involved in the wars of other nations even when it is not under attack?

America turns to neutrality Just as before WWI, the U.S. believed in isolationism: belief that the U.S. should avoid international commitments that might drag them into war Americans feared war over German and Italian aggression Neutrality Act of 1935: illegal for Americans to sell arms to any country at war

America turns to neutrality Neutrality Act of 1937: still illegal to sell arms, but a country could buy supplies from the U.S. if they pick up supplies themselves and pay with cash, no loans. Known as cash and carry policy Neutrality Act of 1939: warring nations could buy weapons from the U.S. only if they paid cash and carried arms on their own ships

Destroyers for Bases Deal Churchill needed destroyers to protect cargo ships and to block a German invasion, FDR gave him the destroyers for military bases in Newfoundland, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. This was a loophole, the Neutrality Act didn’t come into play because it did not involve and actual sale

FDR elected to a third term FDR wins an unprecedented third term American people chose to stick with a president they knew during the crisis period

Four freedoms speech Jan. 6, 1941: State of the Union Address FDR said that the US needs to help Britain fight for democracy: Britain was the last democracy left in the war Said that there are four main freedoms in which US and Britain stand for: -Freedom of Speech -Freedom of Worship -Freedom from Want -Freedom from Fear very successful speech

Lend lease act US would be able to lend or lease arms to any country considered “vital to the defense of the US.” (Britain) If US helped Britain, no need to go to war Gave over 40 billion worth of weapons Also helped USSR (Hitler violets pact in June 1941)

The Hemispheric Defense Zone German submarines were sinking hundreds of thousands of British shipping each month FDR couldn’t send American ships because America was neutral FDR got around this by stating that the western half of the Atlantic Ocean was part of the Western Hemisphere and therefore, neutral Sent ships to patrol ocean

The Atlantic charter A commitment between FDR and Churchill that after the war, they would fight for democracy Also there would be free trade between the countries, economic advancement, and freedom of the seas Paved the way for the United Nations

The rise of imperial japan Pre-War Japan: They need resources: food and oil for rapidly growing population (remember, they do not have much land) Growth of radical nationalism; especially in the army Want to gain living space in Eastern Asia Need a market for their goods See themselves as the superior race in Asia

The rise of Imperial japan Military officers blamed corrupt politicians for the economic situation These officers said that the only way back to economic strength would be to seize territory China had already been carved up the Open Door Policy, why shouldn’t Japan do the same?

Rise of imperial japan First target: Manchuria, wanted it for Steele works Politicians tried to end the war but the military officers assassinated him The military was effectively now in control and established a puppet state in Manchuria: 1931

Rape of nanking Dec 1937-Jan 1938 Japan slowly carves away at China The US gave aid to China through the lend-lease program China’s capital, Nanking, falls to Japanese forces and General Iwane orders that the city be burned and destroyed the Japanese butchered an estimated 150,000 male "war prisoners," massacred an additional 50,000 male civilians raped at least 20,000 women and girls of all ages, many of whom were mutilated or killed in the process. As a result, the US gets extremely angry and puts a embargo on trade in Japan, bans silk

Escalation to war Japan puts troops in Indochina to go after rubber, this made them at easy striking distance to British ships July 1941, FDR puts freeze on all oil and steel. Wants Japan out of China. Japan relied heavily on US imports FDR sends General Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines to build up defenses

Escalation to war FDR would lift embargo if Japan left Indochina Japan agreed to withdraw if U.S. sold Japan a million tons of oil FDR considered it, but Britain and China protested it. Japan then sends more troops to Indochina FDR demands withdraw, Japan considers this an insult and prepares for a strike

Pearl Harbor Japan strikes at 7:55am on Sunday December 7, 1941 Strategy: Had to destroy fleet, territory did not matter & it had to be a surprise attack 8 battleships 3 cruisers 4 destroyers 6 other vessels 188 Airplanes killed 2403 Americans US’s aircraft carriers which were out at sea getting repaired

Fdr did not know about the attack ahead of time In October, The War Department knew that there might be an attack but did not regard it as important: They did not believe it, Japan did not have the airplanes necessary to carry on an attack, or so they thought