1. From Neutrality to War
Chapter 20.2

2. American Neutrality Many Americans didn’t want to enter the war:
Most European nations announced they wouldn’t pay back their war time debts during the depression
The sacrifices they made in WW1 seemed pointless
There was a rise of dictatorship and militarism across Europe that Americans wanted no part of
Americans supported isolationism and trying to avoid involvement in international conflicts

3. The Nye Committee
Senator Gerald P. Nye investigated allegations that arms manufacturers had tricked/influenced the United States into entering WW1
The arms factories made huge profits during the war, and strongly influenced politicians into going to war

4. The American Neutrality Act of 1935 and 1937
The Act established that it was illegal for Americans to sell to any country at war
It was in response to growing aggression in Europe by Italy and Germany
1937
Continued the ban on selling arms to warring nations
Also required that any nation buying non-military supplies from the United States would need to do so on a “Cash for Carry” basis.

5. Roosevelt’s Internationalism
It was the idea that trade between nations creates prosperity and helps prevent war
He warned that the neutrality acts, “might drag us into war instead of keeping us out”
Roosevelt authorized the sale of weapons to China when Japan invaded them in 1937, he claimed that because China didn't’t declare war before attacking the Neutrality Acts didn't’t apply.

6. Neutrality Tested Roosevelt wanted to help Britain and France
Asked Congress to alter the neutrality acts
Congress passed the Neutrality Act of 1939, which permitted the sale of weapons but only on a ”cash for carry” basis
Britain asked for old American destroyers to replenish their fleet
Roosevelt accepted and traded it for use of British Bases in the Atlantic (went around the Neutrality Acts)
Roosevelt expanded the nation’s role in the war, he listed the Four Freedoms:
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Worship
Freedom from Want
Freedom from Feat

7. The Lend Lease Act Britain had run out of funds to fight the war
The Act, which was proposed by Roosevelt, allowed the United States to lend or lease arms to any country considered “vital to the defense of the United States”
Britain now could receive weapons, then return them or pay rent for them after the war

8. Submarine Warfare
Due to continued ties between the United States and Britain, tensions between the United States and Germany escalated
In early September of 1941, a German U-Boat fired on an American Destroyer that had been radioing the U-Boat’s position to the British.
Roosevelt responded by ordering American ships to follow “a shoot on sight” policy toward German Submarines
The Reuben James, an American Destroyer was torpedoed by a German Submarine and sank, killing 100 American Sailors

9. Reasons for Japans Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan depended on the United States for key materials, but the United States restricted the sale of strategic materials (items important to fighting the war) to Japan
They did so because they feared the Japanese would attempt to take control of British colonies (India), once the British removed their warships from Southeast Asia in order to use in the war.

10. Reasons for Japans Attack on Pearl Harbor
Roosevelt expanded the Lend Lease Act to China in 1941, hoping to enable the Chinese to tie down the Japanese and prevent them from attacking other countries
Roosevelt also froze all Japanese assets in the United States, and reduced the oil shipments to Japan
He also sent General Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines to start building up America’s defense.

11. Attack on Pearl Harbor
With their war in China now in Jeopardy, due to the lack of resources, Japan planned to attack the resource rich British colonies in Southeast Asia, and the American Fleet at Pearl Harbor

12. Surprise Attack The United States didn’t believe an attack was coming:
Japan was still negotiating with the U.S. for peace
Their was great distance between Hawaii and Japan
However, they did decode messages that showed Japan was preparing for war with the United States, and that they were going to attack
The U.S. inability to interpret the information left Pearl Harbor an open target

13. Devastation and Aftermath
2,403 Americans died
180 Aircraft, 8 Battleships, 3 Cruisers, and 3 Destroyers were all decimated
The next day Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan
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14. Another Great Scene