1. Topic: Road to WWII
AIM: Why did the United States follow a policy of neutrality during the 1930’s?

2. I. 1920’s Peace Attempts Harding’s “Return to Normalcy” Dawe’s Plan
C. Washington Naval Conference
1. 9, 5, 4 Power Treaty
D. Kellogg Briand Pact
League of Nations
Significance:

3. II. “Isolationism” of the 30’s
A. Stimson Doctrine-1931
1. Response to Japan’s invasion of Manchuria
B. Nye Report
1. “Merchants of Death”- 1934
2. Public Response:

5. III. U.S. Reaction Growing Threat
A. March of Aggression

7. B. FDR’s Good Neighbor Policy 1933
U.S. promises to not intervene in Latin America ever again.
Why?

8. C. NEUTRALITY
Neutrality Act of prohibits all arms shipments and US citizen travel on ships of belligerent nations
Neutrality Act of no loans or credit to belligerents
Neutrality Act of no sale of arms to sides in Spanish civil war

11. 4. America First Committee
a. Charles Lindburgh
b. Against U.S. Involvement

12. D. FDR’s Reaction to Neutrality
“At the very least, we can and should avoid any action, or any lack of action which will encourage, assist or build up an aggressor. We have learned that when we deliberately try to legislate neutrality, our neutrality laws may operate unevenly and unfairly – may actually give aid to an aggressor and deny it to the victim. The instinct of self preservations should warn us that we ought not to let that happen any more.

14. IV. Appeasement A. 1938 – The Anschluss B. 1939 The Munich Pact
Czechslovakia falls
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
Invasion of Poland
1940
France Falls
Japan attacks Indo-China
Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis

16. Quarantine Speech
1. FDR tests public opinion
2. Reaction is negative
3. FDR does increase arms buildup

17. A. Neutrality Act of 1939 – “Cash and Carry”
V. U.S. Involvement Grows “If my neighbors house is on fire and I have a hose, I give it to him.”
A. Neutrality Act of 1939 – “Cash and Carry”
1. May buy arms from US with cash and transport on own ships. (Favored Britain)
Destroyers for Bases Deal
1. Britain receives 50 old destroyers for U.S. right to build ports in Caribbean.
Lend-Lease Act – 1941
1. Sell arms directly to Britain
2. “America First Committee” protest

18. VI. Arsenal of Democracy
A. Atlantic Charter – August 1941
1. Secret meeting b/w FDR and Churchill
2. Outline plan for after the war
a. Self Determination, no territorial gains, free trade
Undeclared Naval War with Germany

19. VII. Pearl Harbor History of U.S. Japanese Relations
December 7, 1941 “A date which will live in infamy.”
2,400 Americans killed, 1,200 wounded
Severely damages Pacific fleet
Declaration of War

21. F. Selective Service Act
1. Registration of men 21-35
2. Training of 1.2 million troops

22. Summary
Why did neutrality laws fail to prevent America’s growing involvement with the military conflicts in Europe and Asia?
How did the process of American entry into World War II compare with the entry into World War I?
Would the United States have entered World War II even if the Japanese had not attacked Pearl Harbor?