1. America Moves toward War
From a Nation of Neutrality to the Great Arsenal of Democracy

2. United States Musters Its Forces
In response to acts of aggression abroad, Congress passes the Neutrality Acts of 1937—no weapons can be sold to nations at war
1939Germany invades Poland; Britain and France declare war.
IS America in danger?
1939 Roosevelt persuaded congress that American security depended on Britain
Congress passed the Neutrality Act of 1939 and the cash-and-carry policy went into effect

3. The Axis Threat
By summer of 1940, France had fallen and Britain was under siege
Roosevelt sent aid to the British rifles, machine guns, and Fighter Planes
On September 27, 1940 Germany, Italy and Japan had signed a mutual defense treaty  Tripartite Act-designed to keep the United States out of the war
*Axis PowersGermany, Italy and Japan

4. Building Defenses
Roosevelt asked Congress to increase spending for National Defense
1940 Congress passed the first peacetime military draft
16 million men between the ages of 21 and 35 were registered

5. Great Arsenal of Democracy
Britain had spent all of their money
Lend-Lease Policy the president would lend or lease arms and other supplies to “any country whose defense was vital to the United States.”
Congress passed the Lend Lease Act in March 1941.
U.S. not only helped Britain, but helped the Soviet Union as well

6. Great Arsenal of Democracy
This act was to aid Britain and the Soviet Union, and ensure the safe delivery of goods to the countries
Hitler deployed hundreds of U-boats to sink ships bringing supplies to Britain and the Soviet Union
In 1941, Roosevelt granted the Navy permission for U.S. warships to attack German U-Boats in self defense.

7. FDR’s Plans for War
Churchill and Roosevelt created a joint declaration of arms
Atlantic Charter a 1941 declaration of principles in which the United States and Great Britain set forth their goals in fighting the Axis Powers. Makes Britain and U.S. ALLIES
Allies The nations who fought against the Axis powers: United States, Britain, Soviet Union, (China, Mexico, Brazil, and numerous others)

8. Japan Attacks the United States
Germany’s European victories created new expansionist opportunities for Japanese Empire
In 1937, Hideki Tojo launched an invasion on China.
French, Dutch and British colonies in the area were unprotected
British were too busy fighting off Hitler to protect their colonies.
Only the U.S. and its Pacific Islands were in Japan’s way.

9. Road to Pearl Harbor
In response to Japan’s attack on China in 1937, the United States begins supplying weapons to the Chinese
Since it is an “undeclared” war, the Neutrality Acts are not violated
The US continues to sell oil and scrap metal to the Japanese as well.
In 1941 the US cuts off oil to Japan to protest its aggression in French-Indo China

10. Japan Needs Oil!
The Japanese leadership decides to invade the Dutch East Indies to gain its Oil
This means that the US will most likely declare war on Japan since Holland and Britain are allies.
If war against the US is inevitable then Japan will strike the first blow!
This is why Japan attacks Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941

11. Japan Attacks the United States
Tojo promised Emperor Hirohito that the Japanese government would attempt to preserve peace with the Americans.
November 5, 1941 Tojo ordered the Japanese Navy to prepare for an attack on the U.S.
U.S. had broken military codes and found out that Japan was going to attack but they did not know where or when.
Roosevelt sent a general warning out to all of the U.S. islands in the Pacific.
On December 7, 1941 the Japanese bombed the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii “The Day That Will Live in Infamy”
Killed 2,403 Americans and wounded 1,178.
The next day Roosevelt asked congress to declare war on Japan
American cultural bias against the Japanese made this attack so much more devastating
December 10, 1941 Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.

12. The Pacific Theatre of World War II
The United States Versus Japan

13. Japan’s Early Success
The first 6 months after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese conquered an empire
On the Asian mainland Japanese troops had overran Hong Kong, French Indo-China, Malaya, Burma, Thailand, and much of China.
In the Philippines, 80,000 American and Filipino troops battled the Japanese for control.
General Douglas MacArthur is ordered by Roosevelt to flee the island before being captured
“I’ll Be Back!”

14. The Battle of Midway Turning point of the Pacific War
From this point the American Navy consistently drives the Japanese back towards Japan
Japan suffers the staggering loss of 4 aircraft carriers
American Strategy of “Island Hopping”
US Navy and Marine Corps travel from Island to Island slowly making their way to Japan
Each Island represents brutal combat against the Japanese army that is taught that surrender is dishonorable

15. The Atomic Bomb Ends the War
Several Battles convince the United States Leaders that Japan will not surrender:
Iwo Jima
Okinawa
President Truman is told about a secret weapon called the “Manhattan Project”
Truman authorizes the Military to use this weapon
August 6, 1945 the first ever atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima
August 9, 1945 the second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki