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Chapter 33

FranklinD.RooseveltandtheShadowofWar,1933–1941

Presented by:

Mr. Anderson, M.Ed., J.D.

I.TheLondonConference

• London Economic Conference 1933:– Roosevelt'searlyforeignpolicysubordinatedtohisstrategyfordomesticeconomicrecovery:• Delegateshopedtocoordinateinternationalattackonglobaldepression

– Bystabilizing values ofcurrencies and rateofexchange– Exchange-ratestabilization essential to revivalofworldtrade

I.TheLondonConference(cont.)

– Rooseveltandconference:• Firstthoughtofsendingadelegation,includingSecretaryofStateCordellHullbutthenhadconcernsaboutconference'sagenda

– Wanted topursue inflationary policies athometostimulateAmerican recovery

– International agreement tomaintain value ofdollar mighttiehis hands

• FDRunwillingtosacrificepossibilityofdomesticrecoveryforsakeofinternationalcooperation

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• FDRscoldedconferenceforattemptingtostabilizecurrency

– Essentially declared America's withdrawal fromnegotiations

• Delegatesadjournedempty-handed,amidcriesofAmericanbadfaith

• Roosevelt'sattitudeofevery-man-for-himselfplungedplanetevendeeperintoeconomiccrisis


• Conferencecollapsestrengthenedglobaltrendtowardextremenationalism

• Madeinternationalcooperationevenmoredifficult• ReflectedpowerfulpersistenceofAmericanisolationism

• Playedintohandsofdictatorsdeterminedtoshatterworldpeace

• Americawouldpayhighpricefortryingtogoitaloneinmodernworld

II.Freedomfor(from?)theFilipinosandRecognitionfortheRussians– RooseveltmatchedisolationfromEuropewithwithdrawal fromAsia• GreatDepressionburstMcKinley'simperialisticdreaminFarEast

• AmericanstaxpayerseagertorejectexpensiveliabilityofPhilippineIslands

• Organizedlabordemandedexclusionoflow-wageFilipinoworkers

• AmericansugarproducersclamoredforeliminationofPhilippinecompetition

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II.Freedomfor(from?)theFilipinosandRecognitionfortheRussians

– CongresspassedTydings-McDuffieAct1934:• ProvidedforindependenceofPhilippinesafter12-yearperiodofeconomicandpoliticaltutelage(1946)

• UnitedStatesagreedtorelinquisharmybases• Navalbasesreservedforfuturediscussion—andretention

• AmericansnotsomuchgivingfreedomtoPhilippinesasfreeingthemselvesfrom them

• AmericansproposedtoleaveFilipinostotheirownfate• WhileimposinguponFilipinoseconomictermssoungenerousastothreatentheirfutureeconomy

II.Freedomfor(from?)theFilipinosandRecognitionfortheRussians

• OnceagainAmericanisolationistsrejoiced• Rooseveltmadeoneinternationalistgesturewhen:

– He formally recognized SovietUnion in1933– Heextendeddiplomatic recognition despite:

» Noisy protests ofanti-communist conservatives» Roman Catholics offended byKremlin's antireligiouspolicies

– FDRmotivated bytrade with SovietRussia– And hoped tobolster Soviet Russia ascounterweight toGermany inEurope and Japan inAsia

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III.BecomingaGoodNeighbor• Roosevelt inaugurated refreshing newerainrelations withLatin America:– Proclaimedininauguraladdress“policyoftheGoodNeighbor”• SuggestedU.S.A.givingupambitiontobeworldpower• Wouldcontentitselfwithbeingregionalpower• InterestsandactivitiesconfinedtoWesternHemisphere

• FDReagertolineupLatinAmericanstohelpdefendWesternHemisphere

III.BecomingaGoodNeighbor(cont.)

– FDRrenouncedarmedintervention—especiallyRooseveltCorollarytoMonroeDoctrine

– In1933,at7th Pan-AmericanConference,U.S.delegationformallyendorsednonintervention

– MarinesleftHaitiin1934– AfterFulgencioBatistacametopowerinCuba,CubansreleasedfromPlattAmendment—

– Under which Americahad been free to intervene– U.S.A.retained Guantanamo navalbase (seeChap. 27)


– Panamareceivedsimilarupliftin1936:• WhenU.S.A.relaxedgriponisthmusnation

– GoodNeighborpolicy:• Accentonconsultationandnonintervention• ReceivedacidtestinMexico:

– Mexicangovernment seized Yankeeoilproperties in1934– American investors demanded armed intervention torepossess confiscated businesses

– Roosevelt resisted badgering andsettlement made in 1941

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• SuccessofRoosevelt's Good Neighbor policy:– PaiddividendsingoodwillamongLatinAmericans– NootherU.S.citizenhasbeenheldinsuchhighregardasFDRinLatinAmerica

– ColossusofNorthnowseemedlessavultureandmoreaneagle

IV.SecretaryHull'sReciprocalTradeAgreements

– ChiefarchitectSecretaryofStateHullbelieved:• Tradeatwo-waystreet• A nationcanonlysellabroadasitbuysabroad• Tariffbarrierschokeoffforeigntrade• Tradewarsbegetshootingwars

– ReciprocalTradeAgreementAct1934:• DesignedtoliftU.S.exporttradehurtbydepression• Aimedatbothreliefandrecovery• Activatedlow-tariffpoliciesofNewDealers(seetariffchartinAppendix)

IV.SecretaryHull'sReciprocalTradeAgreements(cont.)

– Avoideddangersofwholesaletariffrevision:• WhittleddownmostobjectionableschedulesofHawley-Smootlawbyamendingthem:

– Empowered president to lower existing ratebyasmuchas50% in agreements with other countries willing to respondwith similar reductions

– Agreements effectivewithout formalapproval ofSenate– Ensured speedier action andsidestepped twin evils ofhigh-stakes logrolling andhigh-pressure lobbying inCongress

• Hullsuccessfullynegotiatedpactswith21countriesbyendof1939

• U.S.foreigntradeincreasedappreciably

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IV.SecretaryHull'sReciprocalTradeAgreements(cont.)

– Tradeagreements improved economic andpolitical relationswith LatinAmerica

– Proved tobe influence forpeace inwar-bent world

– ReciprocalTradeAgreementsAct:• Landmarkpieceoflegislation• Reversedhigh-protective-tariffpolicythathadexistedunbrokensinceCivilWar

– Hadsodamaged American and international economiesfollowing World War I

• PavedwayforAmerican-ledfree-tradeinternationaleconomicsystemthattookshapeafterWWII

V.Storm-Cellar Isolationism

• Spreadoftotalitarianism:– Individualisnothing;stateiseverything– CommunistUSSRledway:

• RuthlessJosephStalinemergedasdictator• In1936hebegantopurgeUSSRofallsuspecteddissidents:

– Executedhundreds of thousands– Banished millions to remoteSiberian forced-labor camps

– BenitoMussolini,aFascist,seizedpowerinItalyin1922

V.Storm-Cellar Isolationism(cont.)

– AdolfHitler,afanaticwhoplottedandharanguedhiswaytocontrolofGermanyin1933• Mostdangerousdictatorbecausehecombinedtremendouspowerwithimpulsiveness

• SecuredcontrolofNazipartybymakingpoliticalcapitalofTreatyofVersaillesandGermany'sdepression-spawnedunemployment

• WithdrewGermanyfromLeagueofNationsin1933• Beganclandestinely(andillegally)rearming• 1936:HitlerandMussolinialliedthemselvesinRome-BerlinAxis

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• InternationalgangsterismalsospreadinFarEast:– Imperial Japan, likeGermanyand Italy

» Aso-called have-notpower» Resented ungenerous TreatyofVersailles» Demanded additional space for its teeming millions,cooped-up in crowded island nation

– Japanese navalists not tobedenied:» Gavenotice in1934 of termination of12-year-oldWashington NavalTreaty

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– In1935inLondon,Japantorpedoedallhopeofeffectivenavaldisarmament• Whendeniedcompleteparity,theywalkedoutofmultipowerconference

• Andacceleratedconstructionofgiantbattleships• 1935:JapanquitLeagueofNations• FiveyearslaterjoinedarmswithGermanyandItalyinTripartitePact


– MussolinibrutallyattackedEthiopiain1935• Bravedefendersspeedilycrushed• LeaguecouldhavecrushedMussoliniwithoilembargobutrefusedtodoso

– IsolationisminAmericaboostedbyalarmsfromabroad:• Americabelievedencirclingseagaveherimmunity• ContinuedtosufferdisillusionmentfromparticipationinWWI

• Nursedbittermemoriesaboutdebtors


• Congress passedJohnson Debt Default Act(1934):– Preventeddebt-dodgingnationsfromborrowingfurtherinUnitedStates• Ifattacked,delinquentscould“stewintheirownjuices”

• Mireddown byGreat Depression, Americanshadnorealappreciation ofrevolutionaryforcesbeing harnessed bydictators

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• Have-notpowersouttobecome“have”powers• Americansfearedbeingdrawnintototalitarianaggression

• CalledforconstitutionamendmenttoforbiddeclarationofwarbyCongress—exceptincaseofinvasion—unlesstherewasfavorablepopularreferendum

• PrincetonUniversitystudentsagitatedin1936forbonustobepaidtoVeteransofFutureWars(VFW)whileprospectivefrontlinersstillalive

VI.Congress LegislatesNeutrality

– SenatorGeraldNyeofNorthDakotaappointedin1934toinvestigate“bloodbusiness”• SenatorialproberstendedtoshiftblameawayfromGermansubmarinesontoAmericanbankersandarmsmanufactures

– Because theymademoney, illogical conclusion was thattheyhadcaused war tomakemoney

– Congressmadehastetolegislatenationoutofwar:

VI.Congress LegislatesNeutrality(cont.)

• Neutrality Acts of1935,1936,and1937:– Stipulatedthatwhenthepresidentproclaimedexistenceofforeignwar• Certainrestrictionsautomaticallygointoeffect• NoAmericancouldlegallysailonabelligerentship• Sellortransportmunitionstoabelligerent• Ormakeloanstoabelligerent

– Legislationabandonedtraditionalpolicyoffreedomofseas

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• SpecificallytailoredtokeepUnitedStatesoutofconflictlikeWorldWarI

• Storm-cellarneutralityprovedtobetragicallyshortsighted:

– Falsely assumed decision forpeaceorwar lay inU.S.hands– Prisoners ofits own fears,U.S.A.failed to recognize itmighthaveused itsenormous power toshape international events

– Instead, it remained atmercyofevents controlled bydictators

• Statutoryneutralityofdubiousmorality– America would makenodistinctions between brutal aggressorsor innocent victims


– Americaactuallyhelpedencourageaggressorsalongtheirblood-spatteredpathofconquest• Bydecliningtouseindustrialstrengthto

– Aid democratic friends– And defeat totalitarian foes

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VII.AmericaDooms LoyalistSpain

• SpanishCivil Warof1936-1939– Painfullessoninfollyofneutrality-by-legislation– GeneralFranciscoFranco:

• FascistaidedbyfellowconspiratorsHitlerandMussolini

• FrancosoughttotopplerepublicanLoyalistregime• LoyalistsgotsomeassistancefromSovietUnion• AmericanRomanCatholicsopposedLoyalistregime

VII.AmericaDooms LoyalistSpain(cont.)

• AbrahamLincoln Brigade:– 3,000headedtoSpaintofightasvolunteers– WashingtoncontinuedofficialrelationswithLoyalistgovernment

– Existingneutralitylegislationchangedtoapplyarmsembargo tobothLoyalistsandrebels

– RooseveltdidnothingwhileFrancoabundantlysuppliedbyfellowdictators


– Democraciessodeterminedtostayoutofwartheyhelpedcondemnfellowdemocracytodeath• Insodoing,theyencourageddictatorstowardfurtheraggression

• Suchpeace-at-any-price-ismcursedwithillogic• Americadeclinedtobuildarmedforcestowhereitcoulddeteraggressors

• Allowednavytodeclineinrelativestrength• WhenRooseveltrepeatedlycalledforpreparedness,hewasbrandedawarmonger

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• Not till 1938would Congress passbillion-dollar navalconstruction act– Calamitousstoryrepeated:toolittle,toolate

VIII.AppeasingJapanandGermany

• 1937Japanesemilitarists touched offexplosion thatledto all-out invasionofChina

• RooseveltdeclinedtoinvokeneutralitylawsbyrefusingtocallChinaincidentanofficiallydeclaredwar

– Didnotwant tocutoff trickle ofmunitions onwhichChinese depended

– While Japanese couldcontinue tobuywarsupplies inUnited States

VIII.AppeasingJapanandGermany(cont.)

• Quarantine Speech byRoosevelt inChicago,autumn of1937:– Calledfor“positiveendeavors” to“quarantine”aggressors—presumablybyeconomicembargoes

– Isolationistsfearedamoralquarantinewouldleadtoashootingquarantine

– Rooseveltretreatedandsoughtlessdirectmeanstocurbdictators

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• America's isolationist mood intensified:– December1937JapanesebombedandsankAmericangunboatPanay:• Twokilledandthirtywounded• Tokyomadenecessaryapologiesandpaidproperindemnity—Americansbreathedsighofrelief

– Hitlergrew louderandbolderinEurope:• OpenlyfloutedTreatyofVersaillesbyintroducingcompulsorymilitaryserviceinGermany

• 1935hesenttroopsintodemilitarizedGermanRhineland


• March1938,HitlerbloodlesslyoccupiedGerman-speakingAustria

• ThendemandedGerman-inhabitedSudetenlandofneighboringCzechoslovakia

• Roosevelt'smessagestobothHitlerandMussoliniurgedpeacefulsettlement

• ConferenceheldinMunich,Germany(Sept.1938)– Western European democracies, badlyunprepared forwar,betrayed Czechoslovakia toGermanybyshearing off Sudetenland


• Appeasement ofdictators:– SymbolizedbyuglywordMunich– Surrenderoninstallmentplan– InMarch1939,scarcelysixmonthslater:

• HitlererasedrestofCzechoslovakiafrommap• Contrarytohissolemnvows

– Democraticworldstunned

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IX.Hitler'sBelligerencyandU.S.Neutrality

• Stalin, sphinx ofKremlin, keytopeacepuzzle:– OnAugust23,1939,astoundedworldbysigningnonaggressiontreatywithGermandictator

– NotoriousHitler-Stalinpact:• GaveHitlergreenlighttomakewarwithPolandandWesterndemocracies

• StalinplottedtoturnGermanaccompliceagainstWesterndemocracies

IX.Hitler'sBelligerencyandU.S.Neutrality(cont.)

• Withsigningofpact,WorldWarIIonlyhoursaway• HitlerdemandedPolandreturnlandshegainedfromGermanyafterWWI

– Hitler attackedPoland onSept.1,1939

• BritainandFrance,honoringcommitmentstoPoland,declaredwar

– At long last theyperceived folly ofcontinued appeasementbut theywere powerless toaid Poland

• WorldWarIInowfullylaunched,andlongtruceof1919-1939atend

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• Rooseveltissuedroutineproclamationofneutrality• Americansoverwhelminglyanti-Naziandanti-Hitler

– Fervently hoped democracies would win– Fondly believed forcesof righteousness would triumph, asin1918

– Determined tostayout;not going tobe“suckers” again– Neutrality promptly becameheated issue inU.S.– Britain andFranceurgently needed American planes andweapons

– Neutrality Actof1937 raised forbidding hand


• Neutrality Actof 1939:– EuropeandemocraciesmightbuyU.S.warmaterialsbutonlyon“cash-and-carrybasis”• Wouldhavetotransportmunitionsintheirownships,afterpayingforthemincash

• Americawouldavoidloans,wardebts,andtorpedoingofAmericanarms-carriers

• RooseveltauthorizedtoproclaimdangerzonesintowhichU.S.merchantshipsforbiddentoenter


– UnneutralneutralitylawhurtChina,whichwaseffectivelyblockadedbyImperialJapaneseNavy

– Clearly favoredEuropeandemocraciesagainstdictators• UnitedStatesnotonlyimproveditsmoralpositionbutalsohelpeditseconomicposition

• Overseasdemandforwargoodsbroughtsharpupswingfromrecessionof1937-1938

• Ultimatelysolveddecade-longunemploymentcrisis(seeFigure32.4)

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X.TheFallofFrance• “Phonywar”—period following collapse ofPoland

• SilencefellonEurope• HitlershifteddivisionsfromPolandforknockoutblowatFrance

• SovietspreparedtoattackFinland• Finlandgranted$30millionbyisolationistCongressfornonmilitarysupplies

• FinlandflattenedbySovietsteamroller• Abruptendto“phonywar” inApril1940whenHitleroverranDenmarkandNorway

X.TheFallofFrance(cont.)

• HitlerthantookNetherlandsandBelgium,followedbyparalyzingblowatFrance

• BylateJune,Franceforcedtosurrender• CrisisbroughtforthinspiredleaderinPrimeMinisterWinstonChurchill

– Nervedhis people tofight offfearful airbombings of theircities

• France'ssuddencollapseshockedAmericansoutofdaydreams

• PossibledeathofBritain,aconstitutionalgovernment,steeledAmericanpeopletotremendouseffort

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• Roosevelt's moves:– Calleduponalreadydebt-burdenednationtobuildhugeairfleetsandtwo-oceannavy,whichcouldcheckJapan

– Congressappropriated$37billion:• FiguremorethantotalcostofWorldWarI• AboutfivetimeslargerthananyNewDealannualbudget

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• CongresspassedconscriptionlawonSept.6,1940– America's firstpeacetime draft:

» Provided for training eachyear1.2million troops and800,000 reserves

– Act lateradapted to requirements ofglobal war

• HavanaConferenceof1940:– United Statesagreed tosharewith twenty NewWorldneighbors responsibility ofupholding Monroe Doctrine

– Nowmultilateral, it would tobewielded by twenty-onepairs ofhands—at least in theory

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XI.RefugeesfromtheHolocaust• Jewish communities inEasternEurope:

• Frequentvictimsofpogroms,mobattacksapprovedorcondonedbylocalauthorities

• November9,1938,instigatedbyspeechfromNaziJosephGoebbels:

– Mobs ransacked more thanseven thousand Jewish shopsandalmost all synagogues in Germany

– Ninety-one Jews killed– About 30,000 sent toconcentration camps inwakeofKristallnacht, “night ofbrokenglass”

– St.Louis leftGermany in1939 with 937passengers, almostall Jewish refugees, went toCuba, Miami, Canada

» Had to return toEurope, where manykilled byNazis

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XI.RefugeesfromtheHolocaust(cont.)

• WarRefugeeBoard:– CreatedbyRooseveltin1942– SavedthousandsofHungarianJewsfromdeportationtodeathcampatAuschwitz

– Only150,000Jews,mostlyGermansandAustrians,foundrefugeinUnitedStates

– Byendofwar,6millionJewshadbeenmurderedinHolocaust

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XII.BolsteringBritain• Britain inwar:

– August1940,HitlerlaunchedairattacksonBritain,toprepareforSeptember invasion

– BattleofBritainragedformonthsinair– RoyalAirForce'stenaciousdefenseeventuallyledHitlertopostponeplannedinvasionindefinitely

• Debateintensified inUnited Statesoverwhatforeign policytoembrace

XII.BolsteringBritain(cont.)

• RadiobuiltsympathyforBritish,butnotenoughtopushUnitedStatesintowar

• Rooseveltfacedhistoricdecision:– Hunkerdown in Western Hemisphere, assume “FortressAmerica” defensive posture

» Letrest ofworld go italone– Orbolster beleaguered Britain byallmeans short ofwar itself– Both positions hadadvocates

• SupportersofaidtoBritainformedpropagandagroups:– Most potent one—Committee toDefendAmerica byAidingtheAllies

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• Argumentdouble-barreled:– To interventionists—appeale d fordirect succor toBritish bysuchslogans as“Britain IsFighting OurFight”

– To isolationists—appealed forassistance todemocracies by“All Methods Short ofWar,” soconflict would bekept tofarawayEurope

• Isolationists,bothnumerousandsincere,veryvocal– Organized AmericaFirst Committee– Contended Americans should concentratestrength todefend their ownshores

– Basic philosophy: “The YanksAre NotComing”– Most effectivespeechmaker wasCharles A. Lindbergh


– Britain:• IncriticalneedofdestroyersbecauseofGermansubs• OnSeptember2,1940,RooseveltagreedtotransfertoGreatBritainfiftyWWIdestroyers

• Inreturn,BritishhandedovertoU.S.A.eightvaluablebasesites,stretchingfromNetherlandtoSouthAmerica

– Toremain under StarsandStripes for99years

• Agreementlegallyquestionablesinceitwasapresidentialagreement,notpassedbyCongress

• Anun-neutralact,butpublic-opinionpollsdemonstratedmajoritysupported“allaidshortofwar” toEngland

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XIII.ShatteringtheTwo-TermTradition

• Distracting presidential election• Republicans:

– SenatorRobertA.TaftofOhio– LawyerThomasE.DeweyofNewYork– Latecomer:WendellL.WillkieofIndiana– AtPhiladelphiaconvention,Willkiechosen– PlatformcondemnedFDR'sallegeddictatorshipandcostlyandconfusingzigzagsofNewDeal

XIII.ShatteringtheTwo-TermTradition(cont.)

• Democrats:– DemocratsinChicagodecidedthird-termerbetterthan“Third-Rater”

– WillkieagreedwithFDRonnecessitytobolsterbeleaguereddemocracies

– Inforeignpolicy:• Bothpromisedtostayoutofwar• Bothpromisedtostrengthennation'sdefenses• WillkiehithardatRooseveltian“dictatorship” andthirdterm

XIII.ShatteringtheTwo-termTradition(cont.)

– Roosevelt,busyinWhiteHouse,madefewspeeches• Promisednomenwouldbe“sentintoforeignwars;”thislatercamebacktoplaguehim

– HeandsupportersdefendedNewDealandall-outpreparationsfordefenseofAmericaandaidtoAllies

• Thecount:– Roosevelttriumphed,althoughWillkieranstrongrace

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XIII.ShatteringtheTwo-termTradition(cont.)

– Populartotal27,307,819to22,321,018andelectoral count449to82(seeMap33.1)

– Contestlessawalkawaythanin1932and1936– DemocraticmajoritiesinCongressremainedaboutsame

– Democratshailedtriumphasmandatetoabolishtwo-termtradition• Votersfeltthatshouldwarcome,experiencedleaderneededathelm

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XIV.ALandmarkLend-Lease Law

• Lending andleasingpolicy:– SchemeofRoosevelttoprovidearmstodemocraciesrunningoutofmoney

– Lend-LeaseBill,patrioticallynumbered1776,entitled“AnActFurthertoPromotetheDefenseoftheUnitedStates”:• Praisedbyadministrationasdevicethatwouldkeepnationoutofwarratherthandragitin

• Underlyingconceptwas“Sendguns,notsons”or“Billions,notbodies”

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XIV.ALandmarkLend-Lease Law(cont.)

• America,Rooseveltpromised,wouldbe“arsenalofdemocracy”

• Sendlimitlesssupplyofarmstovictimsofaggression:– Who in turn would finish job– And keepwaron their side ofAtlantic– Accounts settled byreturning used weapons orequivalentstoUnited Stateswhen warended

• DebatedinCongress,withoppositioncomingfromisolationistsandanti-RooseveltRepublicans:

– Schemeassailed as“blank-check bill”– Nevertheless bill approved inMarch1941 bysweepingmajorities inbothhouses ofCongress

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• Lend-lease oneofmostmomentous lawsevertopassCongress:

• ChallengehurleddirectlyatAxisdictators• AmericapledgedtobolsternationsindirectlydefendingU.S.A.byfightingaggression

• By1945,Americanshadsentabout$50billionworthofarmsandequipmenttonationsfightingaggressors(seeMap33.2)

• Passingoflend-lease,aneconomicdeclarationofwar• Ashootingdeclarationcouldnotbeveryfararoundcorner

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• Abandonedanypretenseofneutrality• NodestroyerdealarrangedprivatelybyRoosevelt• Billuniversallydebated• MostAmericanspreparedtotakechanceratherthanseeBritaincollapseandthenfacedictatorsalone

– Resultsoflend-lease:• GearedU.S.factoriesforall-outwarproduction• EnormouslyincreasedcapacitythatsavedAmericawhenshootingwarstarted


• Hitler recognized lend-lease asunofficialdeclaration ofwar– Untilthen,GermanyavoidedattackingU.S.ships– Afterlend-lease, littlepointintryingtocurryfavorwithUnitedStates

– OnMay21,1941,RobinMoor,unarmedAmericanmerchantman,torpedoedanddestroyedbyGermansubmarine

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XV.ChartingaNewWorld

• Twoglobal eventsmarkedcourse ofWorldWarII:– FallofFranceinJune1940– Hitler'sinvasionofSovietUnion,June1941

• StalinbalkedatGermancontrolofBalkans• Hitlerdecidedtocrushcoconspirator,seizeoilandotherresourcesofSovietUnion

• OnJune22,HitlerlauncheddevastatingattackonSovietneighbor

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XV.ChartingaNewWorld(cont.)

– SoundAmericanstrategydictatedspeedyaidtoMoscow

– Rooseveltmadesomemilitary suppliesavailable– Extended$1billioninlend-leasetoSovietUnion—firstinstallmentonultimatetotalof$11billion• RussianvalorandRussianwinterhaltedHitler'sinvasion

• Atlantic Conference (August1941):– MeetingofChurchillandRooseveltonwarshipoffcoastofNewfoundland

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– History-makingconferencetodiscusscommonproblems,includingmenaceofJapan

– AtlanticCharter;eightpointcharter:• FormerlyacceptedbyChurchillandRoosevelt,laterbySovietUnion

• Outlinedaspirationsforbetterworldatwar'send• Arguedforrightsofindividualsratherthannations• Laidgroundworkforlateradvocacyonbehalfofuniversalhumanrights


• Opposedimperialisticannexations:– Noterritorial changes contrary towishes of thepeople (self-determination)

• Affirmedrightofpeopletochoosetheirownformofgovernment:

– Inparticular, to regain governments abolished bydictators

• Charterdeclaredfordisarmament• Andapeaceofsecurity:

– Pending “permanent systemofgeneral security,” newLeagueofNations


• World views:– LiberalstookheartfromAtlanticCharter:

• AstheyhadtakenheartfromWilson'sFourteenPoints• Especiallygratifyingtosubjectpopulations:

– LikePoles under ironheel ofaconqueror

• CondemnedinUnitedStatesbyisolationistsandothershostiletoRoosevelt

– What righthad“neutral” America toconferwith belligerentBritish oncommon policies?

– Suchcritics missed point: U.S.A.no longer neutral

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XVI.U.S.DestroyersandHitler'sU-boatsClash

• Lend-lease shipments ofarmstoBritain:– Freightersneeded tobeescortedbyU.S.warships

• Britaindidnothaveenoughdestroyers• RooseveltmadefatefuldecisioninJuly1941

– As commander inchief, issued orders tonavy toescort lend-lease shipments as faras Iceland

– British would thenshepherd themrest ofthe way– September 1941, U.S.destroyer GreerattackedbyGermansub ithadbeen trailing, without damage toeither

– Roosevelt proclaimed shoot-on-sight policy

XVI.U.S.DestroyersandHitler'sU-boatsClash(cont.)

• October17escortingdestroyerKearny– Engaged in battlewith U-boats– Lost11when itwascrippled, butnot sunk

• TwoweekslaterdestroyerReubenJames:– Torpedoed and sunkoff southwestern Iceland– Lossofmore thanahundred officers andenlisted men

• Neutralitystillonbooks,butnotinAmericanhearts:– Congress voted inmid-November 1941 topull teeth fromnow-useless Neutrality Actof1939 byallowing armingofmerchant ships

– Americans braced themselves forwholesale attacksbyHitler's submarines

XVII.SurpriseAssaultonPearlHarbor

– Japan,sinceSeptember1940,hadbeenformalmilitaryallyofNaziGermany:

– America's shooting foe inNorth Atlantic– Japanmired down incostly andexhausting “China incident”

• JapanandAmericanrelations:– Japan fatally dependent on immense shipments of steel,scrap iron, oil, andaviation gasoline fromU.S.A.

– Suchassistance to Japanese aggressor highly unpopular inAmerica

– Washington, late in1940, imposed first embargoon Japan-bound supplies

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XVII.SurpriseAssault onPearlHarbor(cont.)

– Mid-1941, United States froze Japan's assets inUnited States– Imposed cessation ofall shipments ofgasoline andothersinews ofwar

– As oilgaugedropped, squeeze on Japangrew steadily morenerve-racking

• Japan'sleadersfacedtwoalternatives:– Either knuckleunder toAmerica– Orbreakoutofembargo ringbydesperate attackonoilsupplies andother riches ofSoutheast Asia

• TensenegotiationswithJapantookplaceinWashingtonduringNovemberandearlyDecember1941


– StateDepartment insisted Japan leaveChina» Offered Japan newtrade relations on limited basis

– Japan's imperialists unwilling tolose facebywithdrawal

– Facedwith capitulation orcontinued conquest, theychosesword

– Washington had crackedcodeand learned Tokyo's decisionforwar

– Noone in highauthority inWashington believed Japanese either strong enough or foolhardy enough tostrike Hawaii

• StruckPearlHarbor whileTokyodeliberatelyprolongednegotiationsinWashington


• December7,1941,“BlackSunday,” JapanesebombersattackedPearlHarborwithoutwarning

• Adate“whichwillliveininfamy,”RoosevelttoldCongress• About3,000casualtiesinflictedonAmericanpersonnel• Manyaircraftdestroyed• Battleshipfleetvirtuallywipedoutwheneightweresunk• Numeroussmallvesselsdamagedordestroyed• FortunatelyforAmerica,threeaircraftcarriersnotinharbor

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XVI.SurpriseAssaultonPearlHarbor(cont.)

– AngeredCongressnextdayofficiallyrecognizedwarhadbeen“thrust” onU.S.A.• SenateandHouserollcallonevoteshortofunanimity• GermanyandItaly,alliesofJapan,sparedCongressfurtherdebatebydeclaringwaronDec.11,1941

• ChallengeformallyacceptedbyunanimousvoteofbothSenateandHouseonsameday

• Unofficialwar,alreadyofmanymonths' duration,nowofficial

XVIII.America'sTransformationfromBystandertoBelligerent

• Japan'shara-kiri gambleinHawaii paidoffonlyinshort run:– Toverydayofattack,strongmajorityofAmericanswantedtokeepoutofwar• BombsonPearlHarborblastedisolationistsintosilence

– PearlHarbornotfullanswertoquestionwhyUnitedStateswenttowar:• Attacklastexplosioninlongchainreaction

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XVIII.America'sTransformationfromBystandertoBelligerent– FollowingfallofFrance

• Americansconfrontedwithdilemma:– Desired aboveall to stayoutof conflict,– Yet, theydid notwantBritain tobeknockedout

• TheywishedtohaltJapan'sconquestsinFarEast:– Conquests menacednotonly American tradeand securitybut international peaceaswell

• TokeepBritainfromcollapsing:– Roosevelt felt compelled toextend unneutral aid thatinvited attacks fromGermansubmarines

XVIII.America'sTransformationfromBystandertoBelligerent

• TokeepJapanfromexpanding:– Washington undertook tocutoffvital Japanese supplieswith embargoes that invited possible retaliation

– Rather than letdemocracydie anddictatorship rulesupreme, mostcitizens evidently determined tosupport apolicy thatmight lead towar

– Itdid

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chapter 33 lecture - oakparkusd.org · –congress passed tydings-mcduffie act 1934: • provided...

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