2. Pearl Harbor & US Involvement in World War II

3. US During the Inner War Years After World War I most Americans felt that they didn’t want or need to be involved in Europe’s affairs. America went through a period of isolationism which is the policy of avoiding political or military involvement with other countries.

4. Hostilities Begin in Europe While things were not looking good in Europe many Americans were still hesitant to get involved. From 1935 – 1937 Congress passed a series of neutrality acts which made it illegal to sell weapons or lend money to countries that were at war. However, in September 1939 President Roosevelt (FDR) convinced Congress to allow Allies to buy weapons from us if they paid cash and came over on their own ships to get the weapons.

5. Edging Towards War In March 1941 the Lend – Lease was passed, saying that the President could lend or lease arms and supplies to countries vital to the US. By the summer of 1941 the US navy was escorting British ships carrying US arms. Hitler ordered his submarines to sink any cargo ships. On September 4, 1941 a German U-boat fired on a US destroyer in the Atlantic. FDR ordered navy commanders to respond, and shoot German submarines on sight. Technically we were involved in an undeclared naval battle with Hitler.

6. Japan’s Ambitions Japan’s ultimate goal was to build a large Japanese empire. They had already taken over Manchuria, and began moving into China. However, they still found themselves short of resources. Japan began looking at islands in the Pacific, specifically some of the European colonies. In 1941 Japan overran French Indochina. As a result of this FDR cut off oil supplies to them.

7. Leading up to the Attack By August 1940 the US had cracked the Japanese code, and they knew Japan planned to attack Pacific islands. We still didn’t want to get involved so we sent more aid money to China’s resistance to fight the Japanese. Japan’s naval strategist Isoroku Yamamoto planned massive attacks in Southeast Asia and the Pacific at the same time. He viewed Pearl Harbor as “a dagger pointed at our throats” and felt it was necessary to take it out. US was aware that a large attack was planned, but not the exact locations or when.

8. Japan Attacks at Pearl Harbor Early in the morning on December 7, 1941 sailors stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii awoke to the Japanese attacking them. Within two hours the Japanese had sunk or severely damaged 18 ships, eight of which were battleships. This was nearly the whole Pacific fleet. 2400 Americans were killed, and nearly 1000 wounded.

9. Pacific Before December 7, 1941

10. Locations Attacked by Japan

11. Aftermath of Attacks News of the attack stunned the American people. The following day President Roosevelt made a speech asking Congress to declare war on Japan. Congress approved and the US was in the war.

12. FDR’s Address to the Nation

13. World War II Alliances AlliesAxis Britain (and colonies) France (although they are occupied by Germany) Soviet Union United States Canada Australia Germany Austria Italy Japan