America at War

1
America at War

• Japan Awakens a Sleeping Giant

2
1941 Lend Lease Act
The Senate passed the 5.98 billion supplemental
Lend-Lease bill on October 23, 1941, bringing the
United States one step closer to direct
involvement in World War II. Gave Roosevelt
unlimited authority to give ammunition, tanks,
airplanes, trucks, and food to the war effort in
Europe. Intended for Great Britain, but soon
expanded to include China and the Soviet Union.
By the end of the war, United States gave
49,100,000,000 in in aid to over 40
nations. Creation of Axis alliance with threat
of fascism and interference with American
shipping brings US close to war.
3
German Sea Attacks
5/21/1941 Wed. United States freighter ROBIN
MOOR, en route to South Africa, is sunk in South
Atlantic by German submarine. 5/27/1941 German
battleship BISMARCK is sunk by British Navy in
North Atlantic. 09/071941 United States merchant
ship STEEL SEAFARER is sunk by German air attack
in Gulf of Suez. In retaliation for German Sea
attacks, FDR ord3ers merchant ships to be armed
shoot at German subs.
4
Iceland/Greenland
1940 Agreement to help protect Iceland gives
US ports and airstrips which provides better
convoy support. US freezes and German and
Italian assets in US to prevent there
liquidation. US has full embargo with Japan.
5
War Expands
June 1941 Hitler launches his attack of Russia
in violation of the 1939 Non-aggression Pact
Hitler want Russian grain and access to Middle
East oil reserves. http//upload.wikimedia.org/wi
kipedia/commons/9/95/WorldWarII-DeathsByCountry-Ba
rchart.png The total estimated human loss of
life caused by World War II was roughly 72
million people.
6
THE FOUR FREEDOMSFDR, January 6, 1941
At a time when Western Europe lay under Nazi
domination, Roosevelt presented a vision in which
the American ideals of individual liberties were
extended throughout the world. Alerting
Congress and the nation to the necessity of war,
Roosevelt articulated the ideological aims of the
conflict. Eloquently, he appealed to Americans
most profound beliefs about freedom. Freedom of
Speech Freedom of Religion Freedom from
Want Freedom from Fear
7
US Continues to Avoid War
Lend Lease Act now applies to Soviet Union as
well Churchill and FDR find Nazism a greater
threat than communism Atlantic Charter Meeting
Aug. 1941--US GB create a secret alliance, but
FDR does not have political support to join
war. Agreement signifies Anglo/American
solidarity Churchill wants US to join the
war, FDR-not unless invaded.
8
FDR Churchill Outline Basic Rights

• The self-determination of all people
• GB US will not seek territorial gains
• Disarmament of aggressors - even today Germany
  not allowed to militarize.
• 4. Free trade for all nations and a world free
  from fear. GB will loose all imperialism which
  FDR and Churchill believed was a major cause of
  war.

9
US at War
US freezes Japan assets after invasion of
Manchuria in 1932. Japan continually attempts
to negotiate trade with US, last meeting 1 pm
Dec. 7th, 1941 Dec. 7th, 1941 Attack on Pearl
Harbor Dec. 8th, 1941 declare war on Japan
Dec. 11th, 1941 Germany and Italy declare war US
as part of alliance Today 40 of our budget
goes to defense can we afford this?