1. US Enters War

2. American Neutrality Roosevelt announced that the US will stay neutral
Sympathized with allies, did not want to go to war with Germany
Isolationist feelings declined with every Nazi success

3. steps toward war… pre-war (~1937) Cash and Carry
Allowed trade as long as recipients paid in cash, arranged for transport with their own ships, and assumed all risk.
Allowed trade with Britain, exploited the fact that Germany was low on funds
March 1941 – Lend-Lease Act
president allowed to give military supplies to nations “vital to the defense of the U.S.”
sent supplies to Britain and USSR, exchange for land
American merchant vessels soon came under attack from Germany

5. Japanese Expansion U.S. alarmed with Japanese aggression in Asia
Japan waged a full scale war against China
Sept 1940 – signs alliance with Germany and Italy: Tripartite Pact (Rome Berlin Tokyo Axis)

6. US banned sale of war materials to Japan
(iron, steel, oil…)
US and Japan hold talks – none are successful

7. Japanese Empire
Emperor: Hirohito
Gained rich resources (rubber and tin) from conquests
Claimed “making Asia for the Asians”
to rid Asia from foreign imperialism
Called empire: Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
many welcomed at first, then realized Japan was the new imperial power

8. Pearl Harbor US ended commercial treaty with Japan
with seizure of Indochina US stopped exporting most goods to Japan
To show military readiness, moved Pacific Fleet from West Coast to Pearl Harbor

9. Japan continues to push into SE Asia
took control of its natural resources
Japanese threat more serious with new Japanese prime minister
General Tojo, an out spoken expansionist

10. Tojo sent diplomats to Washington, D.C.
Japan offered to withdraw from Indochina if the US resumed economic relations with Japan
but would remain in China – US refuses compromise
while negotiations are being held, decision to attack already made

11. US knew of threat – thought would attack Philippines or in East Asia
December 7, 1941 – Japan attack on US naval base at Pearl Harbor
two hour raid – destroyed
8 battleships (crippled 10 others),
188 planes (159 damaged),
killed 2403 Americans (1100 on Arizona)
29 Japanese planes lost

15. December 8, 1941, Roosevelt asks congress to declare war, approved
three days later Germany and Italy declare war on US
“A date which will live in infamy.”

16. Hiroshima – August 6, 1945 70,000 killed immediately.
48,000 buildings destroyed.
100,000s died of radiation poisoning & cancer later.

17. Nagasaki – August 9, 1945 40,000 killed immediately. 60,000 injured.
100,000s died of radiation poisoning & cancer later.