Entry of War.

And the Neutrality

Acts.

James Scott

Why America entered WW1.There were a couple of reasons why America entered the war but the main reason Was the sinking of the Lusitania, a British cruise/transport ship, bound for Britain from New York.

Why American entered WWI

cont…

• The German U-boat ring sought to sink all supply ships headed for Britain in order to starve the island. It sank the Lusitania as part of its efforts. 1195 people died, including 128 Americans. The Lusitania's sinking was the biggest influence on the American decision to enter the war.

Why American entered

WWI cont…

• German submarine warfare (the Lusitania is included in this) sunk many ships over several years.

• Had it not been for the Lusitania, the US would have stayed out of the War.

Why America entered WW2The reason for entering World War II In March 1940: the Lend-Lease act was passed stating Roosevelt could direct aid to whomever he wanted.

Why America entered WW2 cont…

• This meant that the US was no longer neutral. The US ended up contributing 42 billion dollars to the war effort by 1945. With Hitler taking over Europe, FDR saw fit to aid the British and French troops with arms, etc.

Why America entered WW2 cont…

• The same US navy, which was conveniently, yet threateningly positioned nearly half way between the US and Japan. Japan also didn't have very good control over its military leaders, as General Tojo took his own action by attacking at Pearl Harbor.

Why America entered WW2 cont…

• It is a popular misconception among Americans that the US voluntarily entered WW2, at least against the Germans. In fact, the US didn't. The US entered the general war as a result of the attack on Pearl Harbor. But the US entered against Japan and did not, declare war on Germany. However, a few days after Pearl Harbor, Hitler declared war on the US, thereby putting an end to the US dilemma.

How they compare?

• In both WW1 and WW2 American was not interested in getting involved in the wars, But American citizens were harmed in both the sinking of the Lusitania and the attack on Pearl Harbor.

How they compare cont…

• Basically we didn’t want to get involved in a fight but they threw a punch and we had no choice but to react.

Political Cartoons.

WW1

Political Cartoons.

WW2

Neutrality Acts.

• the Neutrality Acts were laws that were passed by the U.S. Congress in the 1930s, in response to the growing turmoil in Europe and Asia that eventually led to World War II.

Neutrality Acts cont…

• they were spurred by the growth in isolationism and non-interventionism in the U.S. following its costly involvement in World War I, and sought to ensure that the U.S. would not become entangled again in foreign conflicts.

Neutrality Acts cont…

• the legacy of the Neutrality Acts in the 1930s was widely regarded as having been generally negative: they made no distinction between aggressor and victim, treating both equally as "belligerents"; and they limited the government's ability to aid Britain against Germany.

Neutrality Acts cont…

• the acts were largely repealed in 1941, in the face of German submarine attacks on U.S. vessels and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.