U.S. and WWII

“Good Neighbor Policy” Roosevelt Announced during his inaugural address (1933) We would oppose armed intervention in Latin American affairs In response to increasing tensions/conflicts We will “respect the rights of others”

“This nation will remain a neutral nation, but I cannot ask that every American remain neutral in thought as well.” - Franklin Roosevelt, 1939

Neutrality Tested  No question that U.S. favored Allied Powers  What would it take for the U.S. to assist them?  At the very least, Roosevelt believed we should make armaments available to Allied armies

Neutrality Acts ( )  Only trade non-military goods with nations at war  President to warn Americans from travelling in hostile waters  (1937) “Cash-and-Carry” Policy

Lend-Lease Agreement (1941) The U.S. could lend or lease armaments “to any nation deemed pivotal to the defense of the United States.” They would be returned after the war

The Atlantic Charter, Aug.1941  Called for “certain common principles” on which to base “a better future for the world.”  Openly called for “the final destruction of the Nazi tyranny.”  Statement of war aims?

$$$ War Spending $$$ 1941 Budget $9 Billion GNP $91 Billion Debt $49 Billion 1945 $100 Billion $166 Billion $259 Billion

Zoot-suits

D-Day Invasion June 6, 1944 – Invasion to retake France Thousands of planes, ships, tanks, landing craft, and 3.5 million troops American, Canadian, French and British forces Among the Americans alone, 3,000 died

June 6, 1944 – D-Day Aug 25, 1944 – Paris Liberated By September – France, Belgium, and Luxemburg Liberated Dec 44-Jan 45 - Battle of the Bulge May 8, 1945 – Victory in Europe (VE) Day General Eisenhower accepted the unconditional surrender of the Third Reich

Yalta Conference Early Feb 1945, Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt met Decided upon unconditional surrender for Germany 4 Occupation zones demilitarization Soviet Union would enter war with Japan 3 months after the fighting in Europe ended Stalin would join the newly formed United Nations

Dresden, Germany February 13, ,000 tons of explosives dropped 35,000 – 135,000 dead Strategic, or payback for blitz?

Hitler greeting his “soldiers” in Berlin, April 20, 1945

Berlin Falls May 2, 1945 (VE Day May 8)

United Nations June, nations signed the UN Charter which pledged “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”

The Security Council is made up of 15 member states, consisting of 5 permanent members–China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States–and 10 non-permanent members, currently: Azerbaijan, India, South Africa, Colombia, Morocco, Togo, Germany, Pakistan, Guatemala, and PortugalAzerbaijanIndiaSouth AfricaColombia MoroccoTogoGermanyPakistan GuatemalaPortugal

War in the Pacific ends July 26, 1945 – Potsdam Declaration issued August 6 – First bomb dropped on Hiroshima August 8 – Soviet Union invades Manchuria August 9 – Second bomb dropped on Nagasaki August 15 – Emperor Hirohito gives radio address declaring acceptance of Potsdam Declaration terms - (VJ, Victory over Japan Day) September 2 – Japan surrenders in Tokyo Harbor to General Douglas MacArthur

Truman Doctrine 1947 U.S. must help “free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.” Offer of financial and military support to Greece and Turkey (prevent instability) Beginning of “containment” philosophy

Marshall Plan June 1947 (European Recovery Program) Sec. Of State George Marshall We will offer financial aid to countries in Europe who want it Equal aid was offered to the Soviet Union

Basketball reads: “European Recovery.” Caption: “Can he block it?”

The Second Red Scare / McCarthyism Berlin Blockade (led to Airlift in 1948/49) Russia Detonates Bomb 1949 Communist Victory in China (1949) Korean War Espionage + Subversion - Hiss Case -Ethel & Julius Rosenberg Politics – Dems week on communism