america and the world, 1921-1945 america: past and present chapter 27
TRANSCRIPT
Retreat, Reversal, and Rivalry
1920s--American diplomacy permeated by a sense of disillusionment
U.S. refuses to be bound by any agreement to preserve international peace
Retreat in Europe
U.S. quarrels with former allies over repayment of $10 billion in wartime loans
U.S. never joined the League of NationsU.S. refuses recognition of Soviet Union
Cooperation in Latin America
Coolidge, Hoover, FDR substitute cooperation for military coercion
FDR’s "Good Neighbor" policy renounces past imperialism
U.S. continues political, economic domination of Latin America
Rivalry in Asia
1920--Japanese occupy Korea, parts of Manchuria
U.S. Open Door policy blocks Japanese dominance of China
Rivalry in Asia:Washington Conference of 1921
England agrees to U.S. naval equality Japan accepted as third largest naval
powerAll nations agree to limit naval constructionNine-Power Treaty--Open Door Policy
reaffirmedFour-Power Treaty--establishes alliance
among U.S., Great Britain, Japan, France
Isolationism
Depression shifts focus to domestic affairs
Rise of militaristic regimes threatens war– Germany– Italy– Japan
The Lure of Pacifism and Neutrality
Most Americans resolved against another meaningless war
1935--Senator Gerald Nye leads passage of neutrality legislation – U.S. trade with nations at war prohibited– U.S. loans to nations at war prohibited
1937--Japan invades ChinaFDR permits sale of arms to China
War in Europe
FDR approves appeasement of Hitler1938--Hitler seizes CzechoslovakiaFDR attempts to revise the neutrality
acts, to give edge to England, FranceJuly, 1939--FDR attacks neutrality actsSeptember 1939--W.W.II begins,
Roosevelt declares the acts in force
The Road to War
U.S. remains at peace 1939-1941Popular sympathy for Allies, distaste for
Germany and JapanRoosevelt openly expresses favor for
Allies, moves cautiously to avoid isolationist outcry
From Neutrality to Undeclared War
1939-41--FDR seeks help for England without actually entering the war
November, 1939--belligerents may buy U.S. goods on "cash and carry" basis
1940--German occupation of France
From Neutrality to Undeclared War: Increased Aid to England
U.S. gives or loans war supplies U.S. ships transport war suppliesEventual consensus that a Nazi victory
in Europe would threaten western civilization
Showdown in the Pacific
1937--Japanese occupation of coastal China
U.S. limits exports to Japan of strategic materials
1940--Japan allies with Germany, Italy Japanese invasion of Indochina
prompts U.S. to end all trade
Showdown in the Pacific:Pearl Harbor
1941--U.S.-Japanese negotiations Japan’s demands
– free hand in China – restoration of normal trade relations
U.S. demands Japanese troops out of China
December 7, 1941--Pearl Harbor attackedDecember 8--War declared
Turning the Tide Against the Axis
December, 1941--Axis on the offensive 1942-43--U.S., England, Russia fight to
seize the initiative1944-45--offensive to crush Axis
Wartime Partnerships
U.S.-English alliance cemented by personal friendship between FDR and Churchill
Soviet Union unsatisfied with allianceSoviet Union often feels alone in conflictWartime tensions persist after victory
Halting the German Blitz
November 1942--U.S. invades North Africa
May 1943--U.S., England invade Italy– Mussolini falls from power– slow advance up the Italian peninsula
Summer, 1943--Battle of Stalingrad – Russia defeats Germans– begins advance into eastern Europe
Checking Japan in the Pacific
Two-pronged drive against Japan– Douglas MacArthur leads drive through
New Guinea to the Philippines– Chester Nimitz leads navy westward from
Pearl Harbor to the Philippines
June, 1942--victory at Midway launches advance into Japanese-held territories
The Home Front
War ends depression Economy geared for military outputAutomobile factories converted to tank
and airplane productionWomen moved into the workplaceDemographic shifts
The Arsenal of Democracy
Scarce goods rationed Income of lowest-paid laborers
increases faster than the rich High savings rate lays basis for postwar
prosperity
A Nation on the Move
Wartime migration South and WestEarly marriages, increased birth ratesFamily-related social problems
– housing shortages– more divorces– neglected children
A Nation on the Move: Improving Conditions
Women’s income increases 50%African Americans
– equal opportunities in war-related industry– surging migration from the rural South
Mexican-Americans take urban factory jobs
A Nation on the Move: Japanese Internment
120,000 Japanese moved from the West Coast to detention camps
1944--Supreme Court rejects appeal for release
1988--Congress votes indemnity of $1.2 billion for survivors
Win-the-War Politics
1942--Republican-Southern Democrat coalition controls Congress
November, 1944--Truman attracts moderates, FDR wins fourth term
Victory
June 6, 1944--Normandy InvasionApril 25, 1945--U.S., Russian forces
meet at TorgauMay 7, 1945--unconditional German
surrender
War Aims and Wartime Diplomacy
Russia claims eastern Europe as prize for conquest of Germany
U.S. seeks collective security arrangement including the United Nations
Yalta, Potsdam conferences clarify U.S., Soviet differences
April 12, 1945--FDR dies
Triumph and Tragedy in the Pacific
June 21, 1945--U.S. capture Okinawa, complete control of Pacific
May-August--intense air attacks on JapanAugust 6--atom bomb destroys HiroshimaAugust 9--atom bomb destroys NagasakiAugust 14--Japan surrenders