1. How did the U.S. respond to the outbreak of
World War II?

2. World War II (WWII) was a military conflict from 1939 to 1945 that involved some of the world’s most powerful nations.

3. leader of Fascist Italy Adolf Hitler; leader of Nazi Germany
During the early 1930s, fascist military dictatorships rose to power in Germany and Italy.
Benito Mussolini;
leader of Fascist Italy
Adolf Hitler; leader of Nazi Germany

4. These nations combined with Japan to form the Axis Powers.
Emperor Hirohito
of Japan
(Main) Axis Powers

5. The Axis Powers began aggressively seizing land from neighboring nations, which caused the Allies (Britain, France, etc.) to declare war on them, which started WWII in 1939.

6. In order to avoid U.S. involvement in another war, Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts during the 1930s.

7. By the early 1940s, the U.S. acted as an “arsenal of democracy” by agreeing to supply war materials to the Allies.
(Main) Allies
(in 1941)

8. War materials were supplied under the Lend-Lease Act and the Destroyer Deal, which the U.S. adopted in order to help the Allies without entering WWII.

9. This angered Japan and caused them to plan a surprise attack on the U
This angered Japan and caused them to plan a surprise attack on the U.S. at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. X

10. Pearl Harbor

11. December 7, 1941 (over 2,400 Americans killed)

12. After the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan in 1941, the U. S
After the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan in 1941, the U.S. joined the Allies and entered WWII.
U.S. President Franklin D.
Roosevelt asks for and gets
Congress to declare war on
Japan (December 8, 1941)