FDR and the Shadow of War 1933-1941

1. FDR and the Shadow of War1933-1941

2. The London Conference • 1933, 66 nations, organize coordinated intl attack on global depression • stabilize currencies/exchange rates • Showed how much FDR had prioritized domestic econ recovery over foreign policy • withdrew from conf, did not want to sacrifice domestic recovery, resulted in collapse of conf • Would play into dictators schemes

3. America Pulls Back • Great Depression: Am withdraws from Asia • organized labor/Am sugar producers wanted exclusion of low-wage Filipino competitors • freedom re-promised: Tyndings-McDuffie Act--freedom after 12 yrs econ/pols guidance(1934) • abandon army bases, keep navy bases • FDR does recognize ___________, hopes for potential trade outlet • ally against Germany and Japan

4. Good Neighbor Policy • European isolationism, pulling out of Asia, embracing Latin Am--gave impression abandoning world power ambitions • Good Neighbor: regain trust, secure alliances, no more armed intervention • FDR true to word: MX govt seizes Am oil properties 1938, investors demand armed intervention, FDR resists, settlement 1941

6. Good Neighbor Policy • Reciprocal trade policy instated by Hull • pro-low tariffs • tariff barriers constrict foreign trade • trade wars lead to bullet wars • Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act, 1934 • relief and recovery • could lower existing rates by up to 50% • did increase trade • paved way for post-WWII free trade int’l economic system

7. Rumbling Europe • WWI losses, destruction, depression, general chaos led to totalitarianism, “international gangsterism” • Stalin in USSR (Communism), 1924 • Mussolini in Italy (Fascism), 1922 • Hitler in Germany (Nazi), 1933 • seen as savior to disillusioned/desperate Germans, rescue them Treaty’s harsh terms • combined power and impulsiveness • H. and M. allied in 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis

9. Rumbling Europe • Mussolini expanded into Africa for glory/imperialism • 1935, attacked Ethiopia • League of Nations didn’t stop M. for fear of global hostilities

10. Rumbling Asia • Japan also resented Treaty of Versailles • Wanted more land for its people • China had the space, Manchuria invaded in 1931 • Japan’s military strong enough and China’s weak enough to make it happen • 1934, terminated Washington Naval Treaty • Walked out of London Conference, accelerated construction of naval force

12. American Isolationism • Isolationist sentiments bolstered by rumblings • disapproved of dictators, but felt immune/secure b/c of ______________, plus depression distraction • Saw WWI as huge mistake, didn’t want a repeat • Bitter that debtors continued defaulting • 1934, Johnson Debt Default Act, prevented debt-dodgers from continued borrowing • Increasing sentiment for amendment to forbid declaration of war unless invaded or unless populace passed favorable referendum

14. American Neutrality • American entry into WWI sensationalized to shift blame from U-boats to Am banks/manufacturers • naïve citizens believed munitions makers caused war for profit--remove profits from arms remove possibility of future wars • Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936, 1937--together stipulated that when pres proclaimed existence of foreign war, specific restrictions in effect • specifically worded to keep Am out of another WWI • America declared would not distinguish between aggressor and victim • attempt to be so neutral actually fueled dictators fire

15. WWII Dress Rehearsal:Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939 • Spanish rebels revolt, led by Francisco Franco • H. and M. sided with Franco, SU sided with republican govt, US recognized it • initial military coup failed, CW quickly followed • rebels considered themselves nationalists • republicans lost, persecuted by nationalists • Spanish CW seen as: • tyranny vs democracy, fascism vs freedom, communism vs civilization • Ger/Italy, able to test new methods of tank/air warfare • GB/France, saw it as new threat to int’l equilibrium

17. American Neutrality • America watched Spanish democracy die • “Peace-at-any-price”--America determined to stay out of potential conflicts, did not build up army, let navy decline • belief that huge fleets cause huge wars • spare the taxpayer (depression still on) • FDR tried calling for preparedness, public retaliated by calling him a warmonger • Congress faced reality in 1938, allotted $1B for naval construction/buildup...too little too late

18. Appeasement • Japan invades the rest of China in 1937 • FDR refuses to call it a war, rather “the China incident” • Panay bombed and sank by Japanese aviators--Tokyo apologized, provided compensation, Am called it even • FDR gives “Quarantine Speech” in 1937 • use econ embargoes to quarantine aggressors • public fears moral quarantine lead to shooting quar. • 1935-1938 Hitler intro’s compulsory military service, puts Holocaust in motion, occupied demilitarized Rhineland, occupied Austria • Am turns blind eye, GB/Fr hope this will be it • Hitler asks Germans to sacrifice butter for guns

20. Appeasement • Hitler then demands Sudetenland • GB/Fr want to keep Hitler appeased,FDR worried, writes to H and M for peaceful settlement • Munich Conference, 1938 • wstn Europe unprepared for another war, agree to let Hitler take Sudetenland • GB/Fr again hope this is it and peace would follow • Munich=appeasement=surrender • 1939, Hitler takes rest of Czech., allies stunned

22. 1939 • GB/Fr negotiate with Stalin to come to a mutual-defense agreement to combat Hitler • Stalin has other plans--Aug 1939, SU/Ger sign non-aggression pact...WWII now inevitable • Hitler can now make way into Poland, risk war against wstn democracies without SU opposition

24. 1939 • Hitler demands from Poland land lost post-WWI, without waiting for Poland’s response, Hitler invades Poland on Sept 1, 1939 • Stalin moved in for the former Russian parts of Poland • Poland falls within 3 weeks • GB and Fr immediately declared war on Germany • “phony war” downtime b/w Poland and France • FDR immediately declared USA neutral • Am VERY anti-Hitler and anti Nazi, hoped democracies would win, believe “righteousness” would win, but determined to not get sucked into Europe’s fight again • neutrality quickly debated in America

26. Neutrality Without Being Neutral • GB and Fr were unprepared for a large scale war • America could provide the desperately needed planes, arms, and supplies, but the ____________ prohibited such assistance • FDR asks Congress for makeshift law: • Neutrality Act of 1939--European democracies could buy Am war materials, but on a cash-and-carry basis • GB/Fr navies controlled Atlantic so no possibility for Axis powers purchasing Am munitions • Demand for Am war goods relieved recession and eventually brought Am out of depression

28. 1940 • S. attacks Finland, H. takes Denmark/Norway out, followed by Netherlands/Belgium, then finally Fr • attack on Fr would negate residual WWI humiliation • Ger crosses Maginot Line, France surrenders by June • Ger est puppet govt in France--Vichy • GB forces trapped at Dunkirk, Ger attacks from air, British evacuated by boat • technically Allied defeat, but turning point b/c most experienced British troops alive to fight rest of war • One island all that stood b/w Hitler and death of democratic Europe...access to ports=access to Am

31. 1940 • FDR begins air fleet buildup and two-ocean navy (just in case Japan needs to be kept in check) • Conscription law passed • technically peace time draft • trained 1.2 million troops • put 800,000 troops in reserve • Battle of Britain--months of air attacks in preparation for land invasion--Blitzkrieg • RAF tenacity made Hitler postpone land invasion

35. 1940 • Battle of Britain intensified US debates about foreign policy stance • radio brought European war into American homes • sympathy for allies grew, but not enough to join war • FDR’s choices: • leave world be • America First Committee, “the Yanks are not coming” • America should reserve resources to defend own shores • support GB as much as possible without joining war • Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies • “Britain is fighting our fight” • “all methods short of war”

36. 1940 • GB desperately needed destroyers to restock after u-boat attacks • FDR agreed to give GB WWI leftovers in return for 8 defensive base sites (Newfoundland to S Am) • Transfer of battleships from Am to GB clearly violated Neutrality Acts • public opinion supported aid: all aid to GB short of war

37. Political Traditions Challenged • Election of 1940: • Wendell Wilkie--pols novice, magnetic personality, condemned FDR’s dictatorship, “win with Wilkie” • FDR--goes for 3rd term, in crisis he owed his expertise to country, “better a third term than a third-rater” • both made same foreign policy promises • FDR re-elected, seemingly against Hitler, voters wanted experience in office if war came • debate: would he have run if not wartime : would he have won if not wartime

39. Lend-Lease 1941-1945 • GB almost financially exhausted, FDR still doesn’t want to risk debt defaults, but can’t risk GB falling to Hitler • Sol’n: lend or lease Am arms to suffering democracies, when war over materials returned • anti: what good will returned tank do that’s shot up • pro: will help keep Am out of war (send guns not sons) • Am now considered “arsenal of democracy” • limitless arms sent to victimized democracies, they return favor by keeping war on their side of Atlantic • lend-lease essentially economic declaration of war • image of neutrality completely abandoned

41. Lend-Lease 1941-1945 • Inevitable that British boats with lend-lease items would be attacked by Ger u-boats/battleships • To secure items, Am ships would have to escort • navy escorts as far as Iceland, GB on own from there • clashes inevitable, official Germ order was not to engage unless in self-defense • US Greer tailgating, u-boat attacks, FDR orders shoot-on-sight • Still legally neutral, Am people ready to right • 1941, Am vessels legally armed, can travel in war zone

42. Atlantic Charter • A year after invading Fr, H. turns and invades SU • Stalin upset with dominant Ger control in Balkans • H. anticipated crushing SU in few weeks • wanted oil/resources for Ger, extra strength against GB • no worries about getting stabbed in back • FDR chooses lesser of 2 evils, sends aid to SU • Red Army stops Ger at Moscow, then winter does • Atlantic Conference: 1941, Churchill and FDR discuss what if SU falls, Japan’s increasing threat • results in Atlantic Charter: outlined democratic aspirations for post-war world

44. Atlantic Charter • Atlantic Charter: • promised no territorial changes against wishes of inhabitants (self-determination) • reinforced ppl should be able to choose form of govt • called for disarmament • permanent system of general security • Gave hope to people such as Poles that guaranteed independence could be in sight • Naturally condemned by isolationists, didn’t want to commit to potential future conflicts

45. Pearl Harbor • 1940, Japan formally allies with Germany • Tripartite Pact--est Axis Powers: Germany, Japan, Italy • US enacts embargoes Japan-bound goods • 1941, US freezes Japanese assets in Am • US offer: retreat from China in return for limited trade • J decides in favor of war, but Am knows it can’t strike first • Dec 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy” • Japanese bombers attack without warning • aircrafts destroyed, battleship fleet almost completely wiped out, almost 2,500 die • Congress--war has all but been forced on Am • next day Axis declare war on America

50. The Doolittle Raid • April 1942, 80 men in 16 planes, first Am air attack against J., led by Lt Col Jimmy Doolittle • Completely secret, those involved didn’t even know mission or destination until on ship moving towards J. • Proved that Japan was just as vulnerable to air raids as PH had been, cast doubt on abilities of Japanese military leaders • 8 captured by Japanese, 3 executed by firing squad, 4 survived 40 months of prison, one crew crash landed off coast of China, one plane landed safely in SU but imprisoned for a year • Minimal damage to J. military and industrial sites, but huge morale boost for USA