America Moves Toward War Focus-Worksheet

Away from Neutrality “cash-and-carry”(1939) provision-permits nations to buy American arms in cash and carry goods home on their own ships. 1940-France/Britain fall under German invasions. Japan, Germany, and Italy signed a defense treaty, the Tripartite Pact-become Axis Powers.

Cont… Created to keep U.S. out of the war. Each would come to defense of other in case of attack.(two-ocean war) Roosevelt scrambles to provide Britain with “all aid short of war”(500k rifles/80k machine guns) Congress increases spending for national defense in 1940.(become weak since isolationism. Selective Training and Service Act-16 million men(21-35) were registered.

Cont… 1940-FDR is reelected as president, and breaks the tradition of a two-term presidency. After election, FDR announces that there is no negotiating a peace with Hitler: “No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it.” To prevent America from living at the point of a gun, U.S. had to help defeat the Axis threat by turning itself into “the great arsenal of democracy.”

Cont… Lend-Lease Act-replaces cash/carry. U.S. would lend/lease arms and other supplies to “any country whose defense was vital to the U.S.” It was supported with $7 billion. In all, it eventually spent $50 billion under the act. June.22, 1941-Hitler invades Soviets with 3 million troops! Prediction: six weeks!! Soviets resisted fiercely using scorched-earth policy(destroy everything the enemy can use). Six weeks turned into six months(then winter set in) U.S. supports Soviets with the Lend-Lease Act.

German Wolf-Packs Hitler deploys hundreds of German subs(U-boats) to destroy/sink any ships helping with the war effort. U.S. ordered the Navy to protect lend-lease shipments and gave warships permission to attack U-boats in self-defense.

Japan Attacks the U.S. The attack that brought the U.S. into the war came from Japan, not Germany Japan wants to create vast colonial empire(China/Thailand/Indonesia). U.S. protests Japan’s aggression by cutting off trade with Japan, including a trade embargo involving oil. Oct. 1941, Hideki Tojo became new prime minister of Japan. Hirohito becomes a figurehead. The day a “peace” envoy flies to U.S., Tojo plans an attack on the U.S.

Cont… U.S. military broke secret codes and knew of a strike; however, they didn’t know when and where. Peace talks went on for a month(stalling). December 6, 1941-president received a message that told the Japanese to reject all American peace proposals.”This means war”

Cont… Early, December 7, 1941, Japanese Dive Bombers(180) launch from six aircraft carriers on Pearl Harbor(Hawaii).(shallow water?) The attack lasted an hour and a half: (quote, pg. 724)(picture/map) Japan’s attack was a stunning victory: crippled the entire Pacific Fleet in one blow, while it only lost 29 planes; 18 ships sunk/damaged; 190 planes destroyed; 2,400 people dead and another 1,178 wounded.(More than navy lost in all of WWI!)

Cont… Next Day: “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy…” FDR asks for a declaration of war against Japan and Congress quickly approves. 3 days later, Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S. Isolationism is dead!