1. Global War and Confrontation

2. Recommendations

3. Overview America and the World in the 1930s War at Home War Abroad Emerging Cold War

4. Isolationism and Neutrality Public opinion - General disillusionment with Europe and European politics Administration: muted criticism of Anti-Jewish laws in Germany diplomatic recognition of Soviet Union (1933) no interest in reorganizing global economy “good neighbour policy” towards Latin America Promise to effect Philippine independence within the next decade Construction of warships

5. Congress: Neutrality Acts (1935-1937) No weapons and munitions deliveries to aggressors and victims No loans to belligerent countries No weapons and munitions deliveries to countries suffering from civil war (Spain 1936-39) Americans should not travel on ships owned by companies from belligerent countries, Purchase of military hardware and munitions only on a ‘cash and carry’ basis.

6. Turn-Around Fascist aggression in Europe Japanese aggression in China FDR: America can no longer be indifferent towards “international lawlessness”

7. FDR: Deceiver and Preparer Aim: to prevent Hitler from dominating Europe New conception of national security Steps: Declaration of Panama (1939) establishes „Security Zone“ in the Americas Loosening of Neutrality Acts June 1940: FDR declares „state of nonbelligerency“ Sept. 1940: Destroyer-for-bases deal with Britain Ogdensburg Agreement with Canada Introduction of the draft in peace time Promises to turn the US into „the arsenal of democracy“

8. The Four Freedoms (January 1941) freedom of opinion and speech freedom of religion freedom from want freedom from fear

9. Preparations for War Lend-Lease Agreement Manhattan Project

10. The Atlantic Charter (August 1941) No territorial aggrandizements Self-determination (US: also for colonies; GB: designed for Europe) “Open Door” and international economic cooperation Just peace Disarmament Freedom of the seas

11. Japanese Expansion Raw materials Expansion in China Expansion in Southeast Asia (Indochina) Embargo against Japan by Netherlands, Britain and US after July 1941 Pearl Harbor December 1941 Japanese invasion of Southeast Asia (fall of Singapore February 1942)

12. The Home Front Overwhelming support for the war Internment of Japanese- Americans Strong commitment to all partners

13. Mobilization and Propaganda

14. Economic Mobilization War financing Increase in wages, net income (135%), consumption and production Mobilization of labor (esp. women) Character of economy: corporate liberalism

15. Aircraft and Armaments Production (left graph: aircraft – right graph: total armaments)

16. Politics and Strategy Germany-first strategy Conference at Teheran 1943: grand coalition agrees not to make separate peace treaties. Unconditional surrender

17. Military Strategy Early creation of a western front (therefore: landing in North Africa in November of 1942, landing on Sicily in the summer of 1943) Decision to invade France in 1944 Successes were evident at first against Japan (naval battle at Midway, June 1942) Battle in the Atlantic: high point in 1943

18. Legacy of FDR Believed wrongly that cooperation with Stalin would be possible Death of FDR on 12 April 1945 Successor: Harry S. Truman

19. The Decision to Drop the Bomb Japanese cities already heavily destroyed American scientists suggest a demonstration detonation Tokyo signals willingness to end the war but under “honourable conditions” Secretary of War Stimson warns of “race war” in the event of U.S. landing on Japanese territory Truman: wanted to save American lives A very expensive project had to be successfully concluded Helps to bring about world peace in the future Warning to the Soviets (developing cold war)

20. Global War and Confrontation

22. Results of the War (U.S. Perspective) Lowest number of casualties produced highest degree of success 300.000 dead and 670.000 wounded Only country which emerged economically strengthened from the war Only country which had weapons of mass destruction Isolationism in the US was dead Strengthening of the office of the Presidency (executive leadership) Bureaucratization of politics (from 1.1 million to 3.4 million federal officials) More government interference in private and public life

23. Results of the War: Promises and Challenges Victory seemed to confirm the superiority of liberal capitalism and American-style democracy Charta of the U.N. seemed to promise world peace System of Bretton Woods established dollar as leading currency and reserve currency of the world economy Growing problems with the Soviet Union over Eastern Europe, Germany Growing problems in China and in South- and Southeast Asia War solved many problems of the international system but created new ones

24. The Onset of the Cold War Growing distrist in Soviet policies Increasing problems in Germany Truman Doctrine Containment policy Marshall Plan Problem of Eastern Europe Founding of NATO Civil war in China Korean war