1. Why Does the US Enter World War II?
Road to US Entry to 1941
American Experience: FDR;;Axis on the
Rise, Isolationists Hamstring FDR, visit of
Br. Royalty 2:39-2:52

2. Rise of Fascism/Totalitarianism
in the 1930’s
Tojo
Mussolini
Hitler
(Italy)
(Germany)
(Japan)

3. Common Traits of future Axis Powers :
Rally support of people with appeals to
extreme nationalism
Authoritarian rule eliminates domestic opposition
Expansionist foreign policy justified by
claims of racial supremacy

4. 1930’s US Foreign Policy:
Condemn dictators, but maintain neutrality & isolationism
Avoid alliances that will drag us into war

6. The “Rape
of Nanking”
1937
Over 200,000
Chinese massacred

7. Hitler Expands in Europe
Rhineland (1936);
Austria (1938)
Sudetenland/Czechoslovakia (1938);
Poland (1939)
France, England
Appease Hitler

8. FDR Attempts to Sway American Public
“Quarantine” Speech – Oct. 1937
Congress Reacts with Neutrality Acts

9. Isolationism Cartoons of late 1930’s

10. Isolationism Cartoons of late 1930’s
Notice Author

11. With German “Blitzkrieg”
WWII Begins on 9/1/39
With German “Blitzkrieg”
US Remains Neutral

12. Miracle at Dunkirk 1940
800 boats
338,000 men saved

13. Churchill
Cautiously Reaches
Out to FDR
The “Battle of Britain” 1940

14. Anti-Isolationist Cartoon

15. FDR elected to a 3rd Term After promising: “Your boys
are not going to be sent into any foreign wars”

16. FDR Uses Political Maneuvering to undo Neutrality Acts:
Cash & Carry Act (’39)
replaced again by Lend-Lease Act ( Spring ’41)

17. FDR & Churchill agree to “The Atlantic Charter”
August – 1941
FDR and Churchill set goals for the postwar world
stated they would not seek territorial gain
stated war was only justified to safeguard "the rights of all peoples
to choose the form of government under which they will live"

18. Tensions with Germany – Sept & Oct 1941 USS Greer, and other US ships
come under German Attack while escorting
Lend-Lease Convoys to UK

19. Meanwhile…Relations with Japan are deteriorating rapidly
U.S. Demands
that Japan get out
of China
U.S. Bans Scrap
Iron, Steel, and
Oil Exports
to Japan
Japan loses 90%
of its oil supply,
crippling
its economy

20. Japanese Response = Attack on U.S. Fleet
at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th, 1941
U.S. Formally Declares War the Next Day
Little Hitler recap—1 min.