“the peace, the freedom, and the security of ninety percent of the population of the world is...

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World War II Erupts The United States Enters the War The peace, the freedom, and the security of ninety percent of the population of the world is being jeopardized by the remaining ten percent who are threatening a breakdown of all international order and law.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt, October 5, 1937

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World War II Erupts

The United States Enters the War

“The peace, the freedom, and the security of ninety percent of the population of the world is being jeopardized by the remaining ten percent

who are threatening a breakdown of all international order and law.”

- Franklin D. Roosevelt, October 5, 1937

Focus Your Thoughts . . .

Hitler has successfully taken over nearly all of Europe at this point in the war, yet the United

States continues to maintain their neutral stance on the war . . .

Why might this be?

What ideas/mentalities/domestic issues might be contributing to this?

What event will eventually lead to U.S. involvement in World War II?

American Isolationism

Many Americans were still questioning what the Allies’ costly victory in WWI had actually achieved

Both liberals and conservatives supported isolationism; this is why we did not join the League of Nations

Isolations are not necessarily pacifists!

What’s a Pacifist?

Pacifists are people who do not believe in the use of military force

Most Americans remained ready to defend their country and its interests, we simply wanted to choose the time and place for such action

FDR and Isolationism

FDR was NOT an isolationist; in fact, he had supported the League of Nations after WWI, but his primary focus was the Great Depression › Foreign affairs had to take a back seat

After the Great Depression

Congress remained isolationist, and passed measures to prevent involvement in foreign affairs› The Neutrality Act

Passed in 1935, this law was meant to prevent the nation from being drawn into war Among other things, this legislation outlawed

making loans or exporting tools of war to any warring nations or their ports

Balancing Isolation and Intervention

Circumstances overseas had started to take an alarming turn, and it was difficult not to take notice

When Mussolini invaded Ethiopia, Roosevelt was deeply concerned, and cut off arms sales with Italy

During the Spanish Civil War, strict neutrality meant not supplying either side with arms› This gave a decisive advantage to the Fascists, who

were being heavily supplied by the Italians and Germans

Balancing Isolation and Intervention

When Japan invaded China in 1937, FDR decided it was time, at the very least, to speak out

FDR compared the spread of war to the spread of a contagious disease; urged United States to work with “peace-loving” countries to quarantine aggressive nations› Quarantine Speech

Preparing for War

Many Americans were upset with the Quarantine Speech; they felt it encouraged war

Accused FDR of calling upon the U.S. to “police a world that chooses to follow insane leaders”

Cash and Carry Laws› Passed after Hitler invaded Poland› Allowed countries at war to purchase American goods

again, so long as they used cash› Congress hoped this would slow Hitler’s advance

It did not . . . we then resorted to providing “all aid short of war”

More Developments

FDR runs for an unprecedented third term

The Lend-Lease Act is passed› The U.S. began supplying G.B. with weapons

whether they could pay for them or not

The Atlantic Charter› Winston Churchill and FDR meet in secret› Agree that the shared goal of the U.S. & G.B.

is to oppose Hitler and his allies

The American Reaction

Americans were becoming increasingly alarmed with FDR’s actions

The U.S. is looking more and more like a nation at war

Germany is taking notice as well and begins attacking American destroyers attempting to deliver supplies under the LLA› USS Kearny (eleven Americans died)› USS Reuben (100 + Americans died)

Japan v the United States

By 1941, war with Japan is looking very likely

Not only are we still at odds over the Indochina dispute; but Japan has joined the Axis Powers, and their new prime minister, Hideki Tojo, was openly hostile towards the U.S.

It’s no longer a question of if . . . but when . . . and where

American officials believed that Japan might attack bases in the Philippines or British bases in Southeast Asia

We continued to attempt negotiations with Japan, but were fairly sure an attack was on the horizon

The Attack on Pearl Harbor

For months, Japan had been planning a surprise attack on the U.S.› Pearl Harbor

Home to the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet

Called for Japanese aircraft carriers to approach the island of Oahu; Japanese war planes would lift off from the carriers and destroy as many ships and planes as possible

At the time, Pearl Harbor was not under the control of a specific commander and was inadequately prepared to defend an attack› Japan was able to approach Pearl Harbor undetected

December 7, 1941

The attack began as the sun rose on Sunday morning; complete surprise

Most American fighter planes didn’t even make it off the ground; they were destroyed before they ever moved, along with the warships anchored in the harbor

The Japanese attack lasted barely two hours; by the time it was over, the Pacific Fleet was destroyed

Pearl Harbor

The Aftermath

Four of eight battleships were sunk; the remaining four were severely damaged

Almost 200 aircraft were destroyed; many more were damaged

2,400 + Americans were dead

This was a complete defeat for the U.S.› Japan lost fewer than thirty

aircraft and only a handful of submarines

The American Reaction

Americans responded with fear and outrage

Rumors began to spread that Japan was going to invade the west coast; barbed wire was strung down the beaches of California

Xenophobia permeated America; people began to fear Japanese Americans would secretly assist in an invasion

On December 8, 1941, a furious FDR asked Congress for a declaration of war, since Japan couldn’t be bothered to issue one prior to their surprise attack

Three days later, Italy and Germany declared war on the United States› The United States is now officially a member of the Allied Powers