Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Shadow of

War 1933-1941

• The London Conferenceo What was the purpose of the London Conference?o Why did FDR decide not to send a delegate to the London Conference?o How did the collapse of the London Conference impact the rest of the

world?

• Freedom for (from?) the Filipinos and Recognition for the Russianso How did isolationism impact America’s holdings in the Asia?o Describe the Tydings-McDuffie Act.o How did the Tydings-McDuffie Act impact the Philippines, the US, and Japan?o Why did FDR choose to recognize the Soviet Union and who was opposed to

this?

• Becoming a Good Neighboro What did the US’s isolationism and new relationship with Latin America

suggest?o How did the Great Depression affect imperialism?o Why was FDR eager to line up Latin American countries?o What did the 7th Pan-American conference endorse?o What happened in Haiti and Cuba during this time period?o What incident occurred in Mexico that test the US policy of non-

intervention?o How did the people of Latin America respond to FDR’s Good Neighbor

policy?

• Secretary Hull’s Reciprocal Trade Agreementso What did Hull believe in relation to trade?o What was the purpose of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934?o In what ways did the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act differ from tariff

revisions?o How did foreign trade fair under Hull?o In what ways was the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act a landmark

legislation?

• Storm-Collar Isolationismo Who were the major leaders of totalitarian governments?o Describe Adolf Hitler and what he did in 1933.o What was happening in Japan during this time period?o What did Japan do in regards to it’s Navy during this time period?o What nation did Mussolini attack and how did the League of Nations

respond?o How did the Johnson Debt Default Act reflect America’s isolationist

tendencies?o Describe the extent of America’s isolationism during this time period.

• Congress Legislates Neutralityo What did Senator Nye investigate and how did many citizens respond to his

findings?o Describe the Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936, and 1937o How did the Neutrality Acts mark and abandonment of traditional policy?o Why were these policies short sighted?o In what ways were these policies questionable?

• America Dooms Loyalist Spaino Who was General Francisco Franco and what did he do?o What did the US Congress do in relation to the war in Spain?o How did America’s actions impact dictators around the world?o What other illogical actions did the US make during this time period?

• Appeasing Japan and Germanyo What act could be considered the “curtain-raiser” of WWII?o Why did FDR decline to invoke the neutrality legislation?o Describe the “Quarantine Speech”.o What did the critics of the Quarantine Speech say and how did FDR respond

to this?o In 1935 and 1936 what did Hitler do?o In 1938 what country did Hitler invade?o What other demands did Hitler make and how did France and Britain

respond?o What happened at the conference held in Munich in Sept 1938?o What did appeasement actually mean?

• Hitler’s Belligerency and U.S. Neutralityo How did the Soviet Union surprise the world and why was this move

considered surprising?o What did the pact mean for Western democracies?o What was Stalin’s ultimate plan?o What did Hitler demand from Poland and what was his response when he

didn’t get it?o What launched WWII?o How did America respond to the war in Europe?o What did Britain and France need from American and why couldn’t America

provide them with it?o Describe the Neutrality Act of 1939.o Who did the Neutrality Act of 1939 help and hurt?o How did the Neutrality Act of 1939 impact America?

• The Fall of Franceo What happened during the time known as the “phony war”?o What happened that ended the “phony war”?o How did France fair during Germany’s invasion?o Who emerged as a strong British leader during this time?o Why did France’s collapse shock Americans out of isolationism?o What did FDR and congress do following the collapse of France?o Describe the conscription law.o What was decided at the Havana Conference in 1940?

• Bolstering Britain with the Destroyer Deal (1940)o Why did the wisdom of neutrality seem questionable?o How did radio impact US citizens during this time period?o What was the platform of the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the

Allies?o What was the platform of the America First Committee and who was it’s

spokesperson?o What agreement did FDR make on Sept 2, 1940 and what were the

provisions of the agreement?o What kind of method did FDR use to make the above agreement and why?o What did the American citizens want at this time period?

• FDR Shatters the Two-Term Tradition (1940)o Describe the Republican candidate Wendell L Willkie.o What was the Republican platform for the election of 1940?o Why did FDR decide to run for president for a third term?o Describe Willkie’s campaign.o How were Willkie and FDR’s beliefs similar and different?o Describe FDR’s campaign.o Who won the election?o Why did FDR win?

• Congress Passes the Landmark Lend-Lease Lawo What scheme did FDR develop in late 1940?o Describe the provisions of the Lend-Lease Bill.o Who opposed the bill and what was their argument?o In what ways was the Lend-Lease Bill momentous?o How did the Lend-Lease Bill impact neutrality and how did US citizens feel

about it?o How did the Lend-Lease Bill impact factories?o How did Hitler view the Lend-Lease Bill and what did he do about it?

• Hitler’s Assault on the Soviet Union Spawns the Atlantic Chartero What were the two events that marked the course of WWII?o Why did Hitler attack the Soviet Union?o Why was Hitler’s attack of the Soviet Union good for the democracies?o How did the Americans react to the invasion of the Soviet Union?o Describe the Atlantic Conference.o Describe the Atlantic Charter.o Who supported and opposed the charter and what were their arguments?

• U.S. Destroyers and Hitler’s U-boats Clasho What was one of the main problems with the Lend-Lease program?o What did FDR decide to do about the issue of escorting ships?o Describe what happened to the Greer, Kearny, and Reuben James and how

they changed US policy.o What could merchant ships now do and how did this impact neutrality?

• Surprise Assault on Pearl Harboro Why shouldn’t the “explosion” in the Pacific surprised anyone?o Why did FDR choose to not place an embargo against Japan?o Describe how the first embargo impacted Japan.o What issues were discussed between the US and Japan in late 1941?o What did US officials know and what wrong assumptions did they make?o Describe the Pearl Harbor attack.o Who declared war in 1941?

• America’s Transformation from Bystander to Belligerento Why was Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor only successful in the short run?o Why did the US actually decide to go to war?