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17.4 From Isolationism to War. American Response. 1930’s: U.S. focused on domestic affairs instead of international affairs Followed policy of isolationism – Roosevelt focused on lifting U.S. out of Depression Most Americans disagreed w/the actions of the fascists, Nazis, and Japanese radicals
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American Response • 1930’s: U.S. focused on domestic affairs instead of international affairs • Followed policy of isolationism – Roosevelt focused on lifting U.S. out of Depression • Most Americans disagreed w/the actions of the fascists, Nazis, and Japanese radicals • Sympathized w/victims of aggression
U.S. Chooses Neutrality • Preventing International Involvement: • Neutrality Acts (1935) banned U.S. from providing weapons to nations at war • Neutrality Acts (1936) banned loaning money to other nations • Neutrality Acts (1937): permitted trade w/warring nations as long as they paid in cash and transported the cargo themselves
American Involvement Grows • Unemployment & business failures no longer required the nation’s full attention • Same time – Germany & Japan stepped up their aggression • Combination of the above, softened Americans’ isolationist views • After Germany invaded Poland, Roosevelt looked for ways to send more aid to the Allies
American Role • After Poland invasion, Roosevelt asked Congress to revise the Neutrality Acts • Repealed the arms embargo & provided Britain w/weapons • Amendment allowed American merchant ships to transport goods to Britain • Legislation prevented U.S. from lending money to the Allies
Americans expected Allies to defend themselves effectively against Germany • After invasion of France, Britain stood all alone • Americans supported “all aid short of war” for Britain • September 3,1940: U.S. agreed to send 50 old destroyers in return for permission to build bases in Britain
Lend-Lease Act • November 1940 – Roosevelt re-elected; push for more involvement in Allied cause • Same time: Britain faced financial crisis • Churchill wrote in a personal letter that the country was almost bankrupt • CASH AND CARRY-“The moment approaches, when we shall no longer be able to pay cash for shipping and other supplies”
Lend-Lease Act • Roosevelt proposed providing war supplies to Britain w/o any payment in return • March 1941: Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act • Authorized President to aid any nation whose defense he believed was vital to American security • FDR immediately sends aid to Britain
Lend-Lease Act • After Germany attacked the Soviet Union, the U.S. extended lend-lease aid to the Soviets • By the end of the war, U.S. had spent $49 million to over 40 nations
Manchurian Incident • Japan lacked raw materials • Manchuria had huge raw material source (coal & ore) • September,1931: Japanese occupied Manchuria • Manchurian Incident: Manchurian gov’t. failed to respond • Puppet State: independent state under control by a powerful neighbor
Manchurian Incident • U.S. and G.B. protested but, took no action to stop Japan • Violated Kellogg-Briand Pact and United Nations **Remember they Signed Kellogg-Briand Pact with U.S.– condemned war and pledged to handle disagreements peacefully
War Against China • Occupied Beijing and Tianjin; threatened Northern China • Chinese Nationalist army, led by Jiang Jieshi, resisted invasion • Japan’s advantage: superior weapons and warplanes
Rape of Nanjing • Japanese soldiers brutalized or killed at least 300,000 people • President Roosevelt spoke out against international aggression • Soviet Union aided China w/arms, warplanes and military
Reasons for Japanese Anger Towards the U.S. • July 1940: Roosevelt began limiting what Japan could buy from the U.S. • September: Ended sales of scrap iron and steel • Hoped that this would stop Japan’s expansion • Japan took control of French Indochina • Roosevelt’s Response: froze Japanese financial assets, cut off all oil supplements • Problem: Japan desperately needs raw materials
Last Weeks of Peace • Japanese & American diplomats tried to negotiate an agreement • Same time: Radical army officer took power in Japan • Tojo Hideki: supported war w/U.S. and became prime minister in Oct. 1941
Pearl Harbor • 1940: U.S. cracked top-secret Japanese code which allowed them to read intercepted diplomatic messages • November 27,1941: U.S. knew Japanese aircraft carriers were moving in the Pacific • Expected an attack, just didn’t know when • 6 aircraft carriers and 20 other ships were on the move • Target: Pearl Harbor, naval base in Hawaii, home of U.S. Pacific Fleet
“A date which will live in infamy forever” • 7:00am Dec. 7, 1941 • Radar operator picked up blip on screen and reported planes were headed toward the island • Operator said, “Don’t worry about it,” thought they were American planes • 8:00am • 180 Japanese planes attacked using bombs and machine-gun fire • 9:45 attack was over • 2,400 are killed, 1,200 wounded, 200 warplanes destroyed, 18 warships sunk, Japan lost only 29 planes
U.S. Declares War • December 8,1941: Congress passed war resolution • Only one member voted no – Jeannette Rankin of Montana • December 11,1941: Germany and Italy declare war on U.S.
Backlash to Pearl Harbor • 1941: Japanese American population – 127,000 (0.1% of pop.) • Mostly on the west coast • Strong racial prejudice • 2/3 of the pop. were native born • Hostility grew into hatred and hysteria after Pearl Harbor • Press just added fuel to the fire
Japanese Internment • Feb.19, 1942: FDR signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing a set up of military zones on the west coast • War Relocation Authority: had the authority to move out everyone of Japanese ancestry – about 110,000, both citizens & non-citizens • They were interned (confined) in camps in remote areas
Japanese Internment • Many lost their businesses, farms, homes, and other valuable assets • Families lived in wooden barracks w/cots, blankets, and a light bulb • Communal toilets, showers and dining facilities • Barbed wire surrounded the camps • Armed guards patrolled the grounds
Taking Responsibility • 1945: government allowed Japanese Americans to leave the camps • Most lost everything • 1988: Congress passed a law awarding each surviving Japanese American internee a tax-free payment of $20,000 and an official apology
Japanese Americans in the Military • U.S. military would not accept JA into the military until 1943 • 17,000 fought in the U.S. armed services • Nisei: citizens born in the U.S. to Japanese immigrant parents