Chapter 24 Section 4: From Isolationism to War

The US Chooses Neutrality 1930 Congress passed the Hawley- Smoot tariff to protect American industries from foreign competition 1930 Congress passed the Hawley- Smoot tariff to protect American industries from foreign competition –Other nations raised their tariffs –Reduced in 1934; barriers prolonged the Depression & isolated the US

Neutrality Acts banned the US from providing weapons to nations at war banned the US from providing weapons to nations at war banned loans to such nations banned loans to such nations

1937- permitted trade with fighting nations in nonmilitary goods, as long as they paid cash & transported the cargo permitted trade with fighting nations in nonmilitary goods, as long as they paid cash & transported the cargo –Cash & carry Prevented the US from selling arms even to nations that were defending themselves from aggression Prevented the US from selling arms even to nations that were defending themselves from aggression

FDR later said that it encouraged aggression FDR later said that it encouraged aggression –1938- Italy conquered Ethiopia, Japan had China, & Germany took over Austria & the Sudetenland

American Involvement Grows Our economy was recovering Our economy was recovering Germany & Japan stepped up their aggression Germany & Japan stepped up their aggression –Softened our isolationist views Sept Germany invaded Poland Sept Germany invaded Poland –FDR looked for ways to aid the Allies

Debating the American Role FDR asked for a revision of the Neutrality Acts FDR asked for a revision of the Neutrality Acts –Congress repealed the arms embargo & provided GB & France with the weapons they needed

–Later allowed our merchant ships to transport these purchases –Still prevents us from lending money June France fell to Germany & Hitler prepared to invade Britain June France fell to Germany & Hitler prepared to invade Britain

Sept. 3- sent 50 old destroyers to GB in return for permission to build bases on British territory in the western hemisphere Sept. 3- sent 50 old destroyers to GB in return for permission to build bases on British territory in the western hemisphere Isolationists formed the American First Committee to block further aid Isolationists formed the American First Committee to block further aid –Attracted more than 800,000

Election of 1940 Election of 1940 –FDR & Wendell Wilkie both supported aiding GB Disagreed on how much Disagreed on how much Both knew that war would be hard to avoid Both knew that war would be hard to avoid

Lend-Lease FDR won reelection to a third term FDR won reelection to a third term –Pushed for a greater involvement to the Allies Plan- providing war supplies to GB without any payment in return Plan- providing war supplies to GB without any payment in return

Authorized the President to aid nations’ whose defense he believed was vital to American security Authorized the President to aid nations’ whose defense he believed was vital to American security By the end, the US loaned $49 billion to 40 nations By the end, the US loaned $49 billion to 40 nations

Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor July FDR began limiting what Japan could buy from the US July FDR began limiting what Japan could buy from the US Sept. ended sale of scrap iron & steel- hoped to stop further expansion Sept. ended sale of scrap iron & steel- hoped to stop further expansion Japan took control of French Indochina Japan took control of French Indochina

FDR froze Japanese financial assets in the US & cut off all oil shipments FDR froze Japanese financial assets in the US & cut off all oil shipments –Led Japan to turn to the Dutch East Indies for supplies

Final Weeks of Peace In Oct Gen. Hideki Tojo took power in Japan who supported a war with the US In Oct Gen. Hideki Tojo took power in Japan who supported a war with the US A year earlier we cracked the top secret Japanese code that allowed us to read intercepted diplomatic messages A year earlier we cracked the top secret Japanese code that allowed us to read intercepted diplomatic messages

Nov. 27- Leaders knew that the Japanese aircraft carriers were on the move in the Pacific Nov. 27- Leaders knew that the Japanese aircraft carriers were on the move in the Pacific –Fleet of 6 aircraft carriers & 20 other battleships Target was Pearl Harbor- home of the US Pacific Fleet Target was Pearl Harbor- home of the US Pacific Fleet

The Attack Shortly after 7a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941, an American radio operator on Oahu noticed a large blip on his radar screen Shortly after 7a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941, an American radio operator on Oahu noticed a large blip on his radar screen –The officer in charge believed they were American & said to ignore them

Less than 1 hour later, 180 Japanese planes attacked Less than 1 hour later, 180 Japanese planes attacked –Half of the Pacific Fleet was anchored at Pearl –By 9:45 the attack was over 2,400 Americans were killed & 1,200 wounded 2,400 Americans were killed & 1,200 wounded

200 warships were damaged or destroyed 200 warships were damaged or destroyed –18 sunk or heavily damaged –8 of the 9 battleships Japan lost 29 planes Japan lost 29 planes

US Declares War “A date which will live in infamy…” “A date which will live in infamy…” Dec. 8- FDR asked for a declaration of war on Japan Dec. 8- FDR asked for a declaration of war on Japan –Only one member voted against Dec. 11- Germany & Italy declared war on the US Dec. 11- Germany & Italy declared war on the US