The Road to WarThe Road to War

The United States and its The United States and its journey from neutrality to journey from neutrality to

entry into World War IIentry into World War II

Reasons for NeutralityReasons for Neutrality European countries European countries

default on war debtdefault on war debt Don’t want to be in a Don’t want to be in a

War!War! Nye Report- arms Nye Report- arms

profits pushed us profits pushed us into warinto war

Senator Gerald Nye

Neutrality Acts of 1935 and Neutrality Acts of 1935 and 19371937

Neutrality Act of 1935 - Prohibits Neutrality Act of 1935 - Prohibits the selling of weapons to any the selling of weapons to any country at war.country at war.

Neutrality Act of 1937 – waring Neutrality Act of 1937 – waring countries only buy supplies with countries only buy supplies with “cash and carry.” “cash and carry.”

““Cash and carry” - Goods must Cash and carry” - Goods must be paid for in cash and the be paid for in cash and the buyer must send its own ships buyer must send its own ships

Roosevelt and NeutralityRoosevelt and Neutrality Internationalism: Internationalism:

– the belief that trade the belief that trade creates prosperity and creates prosperity and helps to prevent warhelps to prevent war

Neutrality Acts “might drag Neutrality Acts “might drag

us into war instead of us into war instead of keeping us out” but he does keeping us out” but he does not veto them.not veto them.

US should not stand by as an US should not stand by as an “epidemic of lawlessness” “epidemic of lawlessness” sweeps the world and that sweeps the world and that “there is no escape through “there is no escape through mere isolation or neutrality… mere isolation or neutrality… “ “

Neutrality softens…Neutrality softens…

Neutrality Act of 1939 - Neutrality Act of 1939 - revises the ‘35 Neutrality revises the ‘35 Neutrality allowing allowing armsarms to be sold to be sold

to warring countries on to warring countries on “cash and carry.”“cash and carry.”

Destroyers for Bases: Destroyers for Bases: Britain had lost nearly Britain had lost nearly half of its destroyers half of its destroyers needed to protect British needed to protect British

shippingshipping sent 50 old American sent 50 old American

destroyers destroyers In exchange: American In exchange: American

bases in the Caribbean, bases in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Bermuda, and Newfoundland.Newfoundland.

Varying Opinions about NeutralityVarying Opinions about Neutrality

Fight for Freedom Committee - repeal of neutrality Fight for Freedom Committee - repeal of neutrality laws and armed interventionlaws and armed intervention

Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies - Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies - increase American aid to allies but not armed increase American aid to allies but not armed interventionintervention

America First Committee - Staunchly isolationist group America First Committee - Staunchly isolationist group that opposed any aid to the allies. Members included that opposed any aid to the allies. Members included Gerald Nye and Charles Lindbergh.Gerald Nye and Charles Lindbergh.

The Election of 1940The Election of 1940 Franklin Roosevelt vs. Wendell WillkieFranklin Roosevelt vs. Wendell Willkie

Both promise to assist the allies but stay out of Both promise to assist the allies but stay out of the warthe war

Roosevelt wins by a wide margin (public Roosevelt wins by a wide margin (public opinion?)opinion?)

Why was it a big deal that he was elected for a third Why was it a big deal that he was elected for a third (and later 4(and later 4thth) term? ) term?

Why did some people think this was a bad idea? Why did some people think this was a bad idea? Do you think he should have stepped down?Do you think he should have stepped down?

Lend-Lease ActLend-Lease Act Lend or lease arms to any country considered “vital to the Lend or lease arms to any country considered “vital to the

defense of the United States.” (At first this applies only to defense of the United States.” (At first this applies only to Great Britain)Great Britain)

United States: “the great arsenal of democracy.”United States: “the great arsenal of democracy.”

Hitler broke Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact and invaded Hitler broke Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact and invaded USSR (Sept ’41)USSR (Sept ’41)

The enemy of our enemy is our friend- even though we hate The enemy of our enemy is our friend- even though we hate communism…communism…

USSR also gets lend-lease aid after being invaded by USSR also gets lend-lease aid after being invaded by Germany.Germany.

Increasing Tensions with Increasing Tensions with GermanyGermany

German submarines were sinking British ships rapidly.German submarines were sinking British ships rapidly.

Roosevelt protects British shipping with a Hemispheric Roosevelt protects British shipping with a Hemispheric Defense Zone – Defense Zone – – U.S. navy patrols the western Atlantic and reveals the location U.S. navy patrols the western Atlantic and reveals the location

of German submarines to the British.of German submarines to the British.

Atlantic Charter - 1941 - Roosevelt and Churchill meet on Atlantic Charter - 1941 - Roosevelt and Churchill meet on warships and commit to a postwar world of democracy, warships and commit to a postwar world of democracy, nonaggression, free trade, and freedom of the seas.nonaggression, free trade, and freedom of the seas.

German submarines and US destroyers begin to exchange German submarines and US destroyers begin to exchange fire. “Shoot on sight”fire. “Shoot on sight”

Increasing Tensions Increasing Tensions with Japanwith Japan

Roosevelt’s primary goal: help Britain defeat GermanyRoosevelt’s primary goal: help Britain defeat Germany

To accomplish this the United States must discourage the To accomplish this the United States must discourage the Japanese from attacking British holdings in PacificJapanese from attacking British holdings in Pacific

United States restricts the sale of strategic material: scrap United States restricts the sale of strategic material: scrap iron, steel, and oiliron, steel, and oil

Lend-lease aid to ChinaLend-lease aid to China

Freeze Japanese assets in United StatesFreeze Japanese assets in United States

Build up defenses in PhilippinesBuild up defenses in Philippines

Pearl HarborPearl Harbor Surprise attack on Surprise attack on

Hawaiian naval base Hawaiian naval base by Japanese on by Japanese on December 7, 1941December 7, 1941

– 21 Ships sink21 Ships sink– 2,403 Americans killed, 2,403 Americans killed,

1,178 injured1,178 injured– Roosevelt’s “Roosevelt’s “

Date which will live in InDate which will live in Infamyfamy” speech” speech

The AftermathThe Aftermath

Senate and House declare war on Senate and House declare war on Japan on December 8th.Japan on December 8th.

Germany and Italy declare war on Germany and Italy declare war on the United States on December 11the United States on December 11thth

The United States is largely The United States is largely unprepared for the massive task of unprepared for the massive task of mobilization that lies ahead…mobilization that lies ahead…