U.S. ENTRY INTO WWII

STANDARDS:

▪ US.48 Explain the reasons for American entry into World War II, including the attack on Pearl Harbor. ▪ US.49 Identify the roles and the significant actions

of the following individuals in World War II: • Winston Churchill • Benito Mussolini • Dwight D. Eisenhower • President Franklin D. Roosevelt • Adolf Hitler • Joseph Stalin • Douglas MacArthur • Hideki Tojo • George C. Marshall • President Harry S. Truman

U.S. ISOLATIONIST POLICY

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U.S. decided not to join League of Nations after WWIThe U.S. was focused on domestic concerns Signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact in 1928

Influence of the Nye Committee findings

NEUTRALITY ACTS▪ Neutrality Act of 1935 forbade sale of

arms to militarily aggressive nations and warned Americans against traveling on ships of countries at war▪ Neutrality Act of 1936 extended

Neutrality Act of 1935 and disallowed loans to countries at war▪ Neutrality Act of 1937 applied no sale

of arms to countries involved in civil wars, and prohibited Americans from traveling on ships of countries involved in a war

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QUARANTINE SPEECH• FDR increasingly worried about aggression in Europe and

Asia

• Makes speech in Chicago prompting U.S. action

• Very unpopular

“The epidemic of world lawlessness is spreading. When an epidemic of physical disease starts to spread, the community approves and joins in a quarantine of the patients in order to protect the health of the community against the spread of disease… There must be positive endeavors to preserve peace. America hates war. America hopes for peace. Therefore, America actively engages in the search for peace.” – FDR, 1937

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NEUTRALITY DEBATE▪ Germany invades the rest of

Czechoslovakia and then Poland, WWII officially begins▪ America First Committee

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CASH AND CARRY 1939▪ FDR argued the fall of Great Britain and

France will endanger the United States▪ Congress pass cash and carry policy

▪ U.S. may help Britain and France if they purchase arms in cash and transport the arms themselves

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SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT 1940

WHY and HOW did the U.S. become involved with World War II?

TURN AND TALK:

FOUR FREEDOMS SPEECH

LEND-LEASE▪ France had fallen to Germany▪ FDR proposes Lend-Lease, or the lending and

transferring of military equipment to nations whose defense was vital to the U.S.▪ German submarines attacked U.S. destroyers

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ATLANTIC CHARTER

▪ Aug 1941 Churchill and FDR met on a warship

▪ Drew up a statement of war aims▪ Promise to seek no gains in

territory, and support the rights of people to choose their own form of gov’t

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“LEND-LEASE” ACT

(1941)

▪Great Britain.........................$31 billionSoviet Union...........................$11 billionFrance......................................$ 3 billionChina.......................................$1.5 billionOther European.................$500 millionSouth America...................$400 millionThe amount totaled: $48,601,365,000

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STRAINED RELATIONS W/ JAPAN▪ Japan continued aggressive expansion in Asia ▪ U.S. stopped exporting scrap metal and oil▪ Japan sent representatives to negotiate in D.C. - U.S.

resumes trade, Japan will remove troops▪ Decision to attack U.S. already underway

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JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

▪ Strike was expected, location was not▪ November 1941 Japanese fleet sailed in secrecy

towards Pearl Harbor under General Tojo’s command

▪ Attacked w/ 6 aircraft carriers and 350 airplanes▪ Japanese devastate the military base

▪ 8 battleships damaged ▪ 188 airplanes destroyed▪ 2400 Am. Killed▪ Missed opportunities? 15

UNITED STATES DECLARES WAR

▪ FDR asks Congress to declare war on Japan – “Infamy Speech”▪ Italy and Germany declare war on the

U.S.

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