World War II Pearl Harbor and beyond

America Joins the Fight Japan was angry over American presence in Guam and the Philippines and support of China Japan relied on trade with U.S. for natural resources

Trouble in the Pacific Japan moves into Indochina – a move FDR tries to prevent by placing an embargo on things like oil, ore, fuel, steel and rubber Japan signs pact with Germany and Italy – increase of embargo Only slows them down, doesn’t stop them Tojo becomes Prime Minister – ‘The Razor’ – focuses on military expansion and keeping U.S. neutral (compare to Ukraine and current policy; why would Tojo want to keep U.S. neutral)

Japan wants to continue to expand and U.S. doesn’t want it to happen Sec. of State Hull rejects Japan’s demands in November; negotiate for a week; finally Japan plans to strike a blow against U.S. in early December What did FDR know and when did he Know it?

December 7, 1941 Japan’s navy sails to Pearl Harbor – site of U.S. navy’s Pacific base Forces include 6 aircraft, 360 planes, and assortment of battleships, cruisers and subs American forces taken by surprise – suffering heavy losses, 2,500 killed, 8 battleships damaged, 160 aircraft destroyed, 128 damaged battlefleet knocked out of commission for six months – giving Japan easy access to Pacific lands Aircraft carriers had been sent out on a mission and were not affected by the attack If Japan had been a bit more aggressive and sent a third wave – U.S. Pacific fleet might have been destroyed FDR requests Congress to declare war on Japan – with the pact it meant we were also at war with Germany and Italy

The Country Pulls Together America shows a wave of patriotism like never before – join military, volunteer, mobilize Red Cross All Americans, all ethnicities, join the war effort 1 million African Americans, many Native Americans, Mexican Americans Women join – Women’s Army Corps (WAC) – serving as clerical workers, truck drivers, instructors, and lab techs; Army Nurse Corps – help wounded throughout Europe and Pacific

Industry Through Cash and Carry and Lend-lease America had already begun to mobilize for war Government set up the War Production Board (WPB) to help with conversion of industries Office of War Mobilization (OWM) worked to allocate scarce resources needed for war effort – rationing, victory gardens, etc. Great influx of cash on defense spending ends the Depression American production levels, by 1944, were double of those of the Axis nations put together war not being fought on our land, longer peacetime build up, etc.