1. AMERICA ENTERS THE WAR
Chapter 13 Section 4

2. AMERICA ENTERS THE WAR FDR Supports England MAIN IDEA
President Roosevelt favored changes in American neutrality laws, although Americans remained divided about the war and American involvement

3. FDR Supports the War
FDR officially proclaimed the United States neutral two days after Britain and France declared war on Germany
But wanted to help against Hitler
Destroyers-For-Bases Deal
FDR wanted congress to revise neutrality acts so weapons could be sold to warring nations
“cash-and-carry” came into play with this revision

4. FDR Supports the War
Spring 1940 was first test of American Neutrality when Britain asked for old American destroyers be transferred to them
FDR used loophole that required cash for purchases… gave destroyers for the right for America to build bases on British-controlled areas
Included Newfoundland, Bermuda and Caribbean
Sent 50 destroyers and since didn’t involve sale, neutrality act didn’t apply

5. FDR Supports the War The Isolationist Debate
Public accepted destroyers-for-bases deal which showed change from previous years
By July 1940 most Americans supported offering limited support to Allies but was a debate with isolationists
Extreme anti-isolationist group was Fight for Freedom Committee that wanted repeal of neutrality acts
Extreme isolationist group was “America First Committee” opposed to any American intervention
Center group was Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies
Opposed armed intervention

6. FDR Supports the War
Neutrality debates went on during 1940 election along with speculation about Roosevelt running for unprecedented 3rd term
FDR did run for 3rd term and walked careful line between neutrality and intervention
Voters reelected FDR by wide margin
Wanted to keep president knew during crisis period

7. AMERICA ENTERS THE WAR EDGING TOWARD WAR MAIN IDEA
In 1940 and 1941, the United States took more steps to provide aid to Great Britain

8. EDGING TOWARD WAR After election, FDR expanded nation’s role in war.
Said Britain was fighting for democracy
Talked about 4 Freedoms that US had to help protect
Freedom of speech
Freedom of worship
Freedom from want
Freedom from fear

9. EDGING TOWARD WAR The Lend-Lease Act
December 1940 Britain ran out of funds for supplies it needed for war
FDR removed cash requirement from Neutrality Act
Proposed “Lend-Lease Act”
Allowed US to lend/lease arms to any country considered “vital to the defense of the United States”
Sent arms with promise to pay rent on them after the war

10. EDGING TOWARD WAR
FDR argued that if Britain fell, then “unholy alliance” of Germany, Italy and Japan would try and take over the world
Said America should be “great arsenal for democracy” and help keep British fighting so America wouldn’t have to go to war
American First Committee disagreed but Congress passed Lend-Lease Act
By end, had “lent” more than $40 Billion in weapons, vehicles and other supplies

11. EDGING TO WAR
Lend-Lease sent to Britain and also eventually went to USSR as well
June 1941, Hitler violated Nazi-Soviet pact by invading Soviet Union
Even though GB prime minister (Churchill) didn’t like communism or Stalin agreed to help
Any person or state “who fights against Nazism will have our aid”

12. EDGING TOWARD WAR A Hemisphere Defense Zone
Lend-Lease Act didn’t solve problem of getting supplies to Britain
German Submarines were sinking thousands of shipments each month in Atlantic
Because still “Neutral” couldn’t get US Navy involved to protect shipments
FDR developed idea of “hemispheric defense zone”
Declared that western half of the Atlantic was part of the Western Hemisphere and therefore neutral
US Navy could then help patrol western Atlantic

13. EDGING TOWARD WAR The Atlantic Charter
August 1942 FDR and Winston Churchill met near Newfoundland
Both agreed on the “Atlantic Charter”
Committed both nations to post war world of democracy, nonaggression, free trade, economic advancement and freedom of the seas
By September 15 anti-Axis had signed charter
Provided FDR with excuse to attack German U-Boats when they sank American ships carrying supplies
Tense stand off (no official war) but “shoot on site” for U-Boats

14. AMERICA ENTERS THE WAR JAPAN ATTACKS MAIN IDEA
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor led the United States to declare war on Japan

15. JAPAN ATTACKS
FDRs efforts to help Britain resulted in Japan’s decision to attack the United States
America Embargoes Japan
Britain needed a lot of support in Asia to protect territories from Japanese
But Germans sank many ships so had to move some west from Asia
To stop Japanese aggression, FDR applied economic pressure against Japan

16. JAPAN ATTACKS
Japan relied on many materials from US (like steel, iron and oil)
July 1940 Congress gave President power to restrict sale of “strategic materials”
Materials important for fighting a war)
FDR immediately blocked sale of Airplane fuel to Japan
Angry, Japan signed alliance with German and Italy

17. JAPAN ATTACKS
FDR then began sending lend-lease aid to China (which Japan had invaded and been fighting against)
Hoped China could stop Japan from attacking other places
Planed Failed.. July 1941 Japan threated British Empire in Indochina
FDR then froze all Japanese assets in United States and sent General McArthur to build up American defenses in the Pacific
Made it clear the oil embargo would only end if Japan left Indochina and made peace with China
Japan decided instead to attack resources of other Colonies in Pacific and also attack US at Pearl Harbor
Japan prepared for war but still held peace talks with US
November 1941 Japanese Aircraft carriers and battleships left for Hawaii

18. JAPAN ATTACKS Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
Though Japan said wanted peace, US decoded messages saying Japan planned an attack on US
November 27 Pearl Harbor commanders did receive a warning that attack was coming but it didn’t say Hawaii
Officials thought distance was too far for attack
Because didn’t interpret information from Japan correctly, left Pearl Harbor open for attack
December Japan had surprise attack
Sank or destroyed 8 battleships, 3 cruisers, and 4 destroyers
Destroyed 188 airplanes and killed 2,403 Americans (1,178 injured)
Next day FDR asked Congress to declare war on Japan
Passed 82-0 in senate and in house

20. JAPAN ATTACKS Germany Declares War
Even though allies, Germany did not have to declare war on US
Alliance said only had to come to aid if Japan was attacked
Hitler was tired of US attacks on U-boats and believed time had come for war
Helped Japanese because wanted their help against Stalin after they defeated the US
Underestimated American strength (thought Japan could defeat Americans in Pacific)
Since US wasn’t defeated in Pacific, on December 11th Germany and Italy declared war on the United States