1. p. 758-763 continued America & the War

2. Read “Past and Present” on page 760 and write your answer on the lines under the two pictures on your handout.

3. The US sympathized with the Allies, but wanted to avoid war. Isolationists formed the America First Committee. This group was led by Charles Lindbergh & Henry Ford.

4. Roosevelt vowed to remain neutral, but was realistic. He did the following: Strengthened the Navy Asked Congress to pass the Neutrality Act- could sell weapons to countries. Signed the Selective Service Act (the 1st peacetime draft). This applied to American men between the ages of 21-35.

5. Roosevelt ran for a 3 RD term in 1940 against Wendell Willkie. Roosevelt promised not to go to war.

6. Roosevelt had Congress to approve the Lend-Lease Act in March 1941. The Lend-Lease Act allowed the US to sell, lend, or lease arms to countries considered “vital to the defense of the US.” Britain took advantage of this. (FYI: the US also extended aid to the Soviet Union under the LLA.)

7. The Battle of the Atlantic The US began escorting British merchant ships. Germans fired & Roosevelt issued a “shoot on sight” order.

8. Roosevelt & Churchill wrote the Atlantic Charter- a plan for the world AFTER the destruction of the Nazis & urged disarmament.

9. Lend-Lease Act Opinions (How did other countries probably feel about the U.S. plan?)