America Moves Towards War

1. America Moves Towards War

2. Nye Committee • Argument: US had been dragged into WWI by greedy bankers and arms dealers. Led to public outrage. • Wilson provoked Germany by sailing into warring nations water. • Senator Gerald Nye headed a congressional committee to hear the charges. Outcome: • Bankers wanted war to protect loans and arms manufactures to make money. • Americans became determined to avoid another war.

3. Neutrality in WWII Neutrality Act 1935 : no arms could be sold or transported on American ships to nations involved in wars. No travel on ships of warring nations. Neutrality Act 1936: no loans could be made to warring nations. Neutrality Act 1939: congress added a cash and carry policy. Allows US to sell supplies on a cash and carry basis. Results: • Aggressors could not send ships to buy supplies • US economy improved as European demands for war goods brought the US out of the Depression • America becomes the “Arsenal of Democracy” Neutrality Act 1940: congress added the Lend-Lease Act enabling FDR to sell and lend arms and supplies to nations whose defense was vital to the US.

4. Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” Speech • Given by FDR 11 months prior to pearl Harbor. • Declared US desire to promote 4 essential freedoms. • Freedom from fear, want, Freedom of speech and religion.

6. Tripartite Pact What ? • Alliance between Italy, Germany, and Japan. Purpose? • Aimed at keeping the United States out of the war. • If the US declared war on anyone of the Axis powers it would face a two ocean war.

7. Identifying the causes of WWII • Militarism • Alliance System • Imperialism • Nationalism How would the United States React to this War?

8. Preparing for War Roosevelt ask congress to increase spending for national defense. • Congress passed the first peacetime draft. • The Selective Training and Service Act: 16 million men ages 21 to 35 were registered.

9. Election 1940 Candidates: Franklin Roosevelt and Wendall Willkie • Both promised to keep US out of the war. • Little difference between the two. • FDR elected for a third term with 55% of the votes.

11. US and the Soviet Union • In June of 1941 Hitler broke his agreement with Stalin not to invade the Soviet Union. • Roosevelt began to send lend-lease supplies to the Soviet Union

12. German U-Boots Attack • Greer: German submarines fired on the US destroyer in the Atlantic on Sept. 4, 1941. FDR orders the navy to shoot German submarines on sight. • Pink Star: An American merchant ship was sunk in Greenland by German u-boats. • Kearny: US destroyer torpedoed by U-Boats killing 11. • Reuben James: German u-boats sank the US destroyer killing 100 sailors

13. In the meantime……out in the Pacific • Japan is mired in China. US is pressuring them to get out, • Japan is heavily dependent on US steel, oil, gasoline and other war supplies. If US cuts them off, Japan is toast. • FDR reluctant to impose sanctions. Why? • Late 1940 US does impose sanctions. • 1941 freeze Japanese assets and ends all oil shipments. • Japan’s choices • US has broken code and knows that Japan plans to attack somewhere. • Warnings from US to Pearl Harbor are late in arriving.

14. Pearl Harbor • Dec. 7, 1941 Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor. • Dec. 8, 1941: FDR asked congress to declare war on Japan stating “ Yesterday December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy. ”… “ [the Japanese launched] an unprovoked and dastardly attack” • Congress declared war on Japan. • Jeannette Rankin: the only no vote for war after the Pearl Harbor attack.

15. Pearl Harbor

16. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

17. Pearl Harbor from the Cockpit of a Japanese Plane

18. Pearl Harbor – Dec. 7, 1941 A date which will live in infamy!

19. FDR Signs the War Declaration

20. USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor

21. Pearl Harbor Memorial 2,887 Americans Dead!