America Moves Toward War

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America Moves Toward War

• The U.S. Response to WWII and its eventual
  involvement

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When war broke out in Europe, what was the US
response?

• FDR stated neutrality, but at the same time he
  knew action would eventually have to be taken.

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Timeline of Events leading to US entrance into
WWII

• September 8, 1939
• FDR calls Congress into a special session to
  revise the Neutrality Acts.
• The Neutrality Acts had been passed in 1935 which
  outlawed sales of arms or loans to nations in war
  or in civil war.
• At this time, FDR asked to allow American arms to
  be sold to warring nations if they paid cash and
  shipped them in their own ships.
• After six weeks, Congress passed FDRs request.

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Was the Nation staying neutral?

• I do not believe that we can become an arsenal
  for one belligerent without becoming a target for
  another.
• -Senator Arthur Vandenberg
• What steps would the US take in the next few
  months to make it less neutral?

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Timeline of events leading to US entering WWII

• Spring to Summer 1940
• Even with cash and carry in effect, allied forces
  continual to fall in Europe.
• September 1940
• Japan, Germany, and Italy signed a mutual defense
  treaty, known as the Tripartite Pact, and are
  referred to as the Axis Powers.
• This pact was similar to the alliances of WWI.

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Why was this a good strategy for the Germans to
adopt?

• This meant that if the US decided to enter WWII,
  it would have to fight on two fronts, not just
  one.

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Timeline of events leading to US entering WWII

• September 1940
• FDR steps up his aid of military equipment to
  Britain.
• Under this program, the US gave Britain ships to
  borrow in exchange for leases on their bases in
  other parts of the world.
• At the same time, FDR asks congress to increase
  defense spending, which they approve in addition
  to instituting a draft.

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Timeline of events leading to US entering WWII

• November 1940
• FDR re-elected to a third term with 55 of the
  vote.
• Shortly afterward, the President begins to
  prepare the nation for war, stating that we would
  need to be the great arsenal of democracy.

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Should we have been involved in WWII?

• Didnt we learn our lesson from WWI?
• What made it different this time?

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Timeline of events leading to US entering WWII

• Winter 1940
• Britain runs out of money to purchase arms from
  the United States.
• FDR proposes a new program, known as lend-lease.
• Under this provision, the US would lend or lease
  arms and other supplies to any country whose
  defense was vital to the United States.

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Timeline of events leading to US entering WWII

• Spring 1941
• Although isolationists fought lend-lease,
  Congress passes the provision with an initial
  appropriation of 7 billion, eventually spending
  50 billion.
• June 22, 1941
• Hitler ignores peace treaty with Soviet Union and
  invades with 3 million troops. Lend-lease is
  eventually extended to the Soviet Union as well
  due to their scorched earth policy of warfare.

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Timeline of events leading to US entering WWII

• Spring 1941
• To stop shipment of arms, the Germans once again
  deploy U-Boats into the Atlantic Ocean, usually
  in groups of 15-20 known as Wolf Packs.
• In five weeks alone in 1941, the Germans
  successfully sank 1.2 million tons of British
  shipping.
• June 1941
• FDR orders the US navy to protect lend-lease
  shipments as far as Iceland and to attack U-Boats
  in necessary for self-defense.

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Timeline of events leading to US entering WWII

• August 1941
• Congress authorized the draft for another 18
  months, with high isolationist opposition.
• FDR and Churchill meet secretly off of
  Newfoundland and agree to the Atlantic Charter.
• The document spelled out what the goals of
  Britain and the US would be after the end of WWII.

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Atlantic Charter Provisions

• No territorial expansion
• No territorial changes without consent of
  inhabitants
• People should be allowed to choose their form of
  government
• Free trade among nations
• Encourage international cooperation
• A secure peace based on freedom from want or fear
• Disarmament of aggressors
• A permanent system of general security

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Thus, had FDR and Churchill learned from WWI?

• How was this similar to Wilsons 14 points?

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Timeline of events leading to US entering WWII

• September 4, 1941
• German U-boats fire on the USS Greer, and FDR
  responds by commanding that US shoot German ships
  on sight.
• This move essentially started the naval war
  between the US and Germany
• Fall 1941
• 26 nations sign the Atlantic Charter, now known
  as the Declaration by the United Nations.
  These 26 nations become known as the Allies,
  counterpart to the Axis.

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Timeline of events leading to US entering WWII

• Fall 1941
• As shipping incidents increase, the US senate
  repeals the ban against arming merchant ships,
  making us one step closer to war.

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What was happening on the other side of the ocean?

• While the US seem preoccupied with Germany, Japan
  was increasing to build up its war machine.
• By July of 1941, Japan had invaded Manchuria,
  China, Indochina, and many of the outlying
  islands except for those occupied by the United
  States.
• By now, tensions were mounting between these two
  nations.

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Timeline of events leading to US entering WWII

• July 1941
• As the Japanese entered Indochina, the US
  responded by cutting off trade with Japan,
  imposing an embargo.
• At the heart of this embargo was oil, which Japan
  needed for its war machine.
• October 1941
• Japanese general Hideki Tojo becomes prime
  minister of Japan, promising to attempt peace
  with the Americans, but to go to war if they
  failed.

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Timeline of events leading to US entering WWII

• November 5, 1941
• Japan sends a peace envoy to Washington, but at
  the same time orders the Japanese navy to prepare
  for an attack on the US.
• Late November, 1941
• US intelligence breaks Japanese code, discovering
  that an attack was likely on the United States by
  Japan, but it was unknown when or where this
  would occur.
• FDR issues a war warning to forces in Hawaii,
  Guam, and the Philippines while peace talks
  continued.

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Timeline of events leading to US entering WWII

• December 6, 1941
• US intelligence intercepts another Japanese
  message that instructed the peace envoy to reject
  all American peace proposals.
• FDR fears war is likely
• December 7, 1941
• Japanese air forces attack Pearl Harbor.
• After about two hours, Japan lost 29 planes while
  the US lost 18 ships, 350 planes, and about 2400
  soldiers.

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Timeline of events leading to US entering WWII

• December 8, 1941
• FDR addressed a joint session of Congress, asking
  for a resolution of war against Japan.

From www.starmont.k12.ia.us/ HS-SS