US Moves Toward War

1. US Moves Toward War

4. When war began in Europe, most Americans favored a foreign policy of Isolation. They believed the U.S. should not become involved in the aggression in Europe Why does Uncle Sam turn his back on Europe?

5. Reasons For Isolation • Disillusioned with the results of WWI • 2. The Great Depression caused economic problems at home • 3. Nye Committee documented the large profits that banks and manufacturers made during WWI

6. U.S. REMAINS NEUTRAL . . . FOR NOW Some critics believed banks and manufacturers were pushing for war solely for their own profit • Critics called them “merchants of death” Some critics felt the U.S. might get involved solely to make a profit

7. America First Committee,founded in September 1940, was the most powerful isolationist group in America before the US entered World War II. It had over 800,000 members, who wanted to keep America neutral. It tried to influence public opinion through publications and speeches. America First was dissolved four days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Charles Lindbergh speaking at an American First Rally

8. ANTI-LINDBERGH/ AMERICA FIRST COMMITTEE POLITICAL CARTOONS

9. COMMITTEE TO DEFEND AMERICA BY AIDING THE ALLIES America First disagreed with another powerful group, the Committee toDefend Americaby Aiding the Allies. Committee to Defend America argued that the best way to remain neutral was to aid Britain.

10. FDR: WE ARE NEUTRAL AND FRIENDLY • FDR’s polices in the early to mid 1930s reflected a desire to remain out of the growing conflict in Europe • He recognized the USSR diplomatically in 1933 (exchanged ambassadors) • He lowered tariffs • He withdrew armed forces from Latin America FDR and his secretary of State Cordell Hull study European political affairs very carefully

11. US Issues A Proclamation of Neutrality

12. CONGRESS STAYS NEUTRAL • Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts in the 1930s • The first two acts outlawed arms sales or loans to nations at war • The third act outlawed arms sales or loans to nations fighting civil wars

13. CONGRESS STAYS NEUTRAL WAR Europe USA

14. U.S. NEUTRALITY IS TESTED FDR speech in Chicago, 10/05/1937 • After Japan renewed attacks China in 1937, FDR sent arms and supplies to China • He got around the Neutrality Acts because Japan had not actually declared war on China • FDR promised in a speech in Chicago to “take a stand against aggression”

15. DR. SEUSS CARTOONS AGAINST THE U.S. STAYING NEUTRAL

17. AMERICA MOVES TOWARD WAR • In September of 1939 (invasion of Poland), Roosevelt persuaded Congress to pass a “cash & carry” provision that allowed nations to buy U.S. arms and transport them in their own ships America sold weapons to Allied nations for cash

18. THE AXIS THREAT RISES, BRITAIN GETS OUR SUPPORT • Axis powers were making great progress across Europe – France fell to Germany in 1940 • The Axis powers were formidable – Germany, Italy and Japan • Hoping to avoid a two-ocean war, FDR scrambled to support Britain • He provided 500,000 rifles and 80,000 machine guns and numerous ships

19. Destroyer Base Deal, 1940 FDR traded 50 old destroyers to Britain in exchange for military bases in the Caribbean

20. Selective Service Act,1940 Act required all young men between ages 21-36 to register for military service. * Age later changed to 18-45.

21. U.S. BUILDS DEFENSE • Meanwhile, Roosevelt got Congress to increase spending for national defenses and reinstitute the draft FDR pushed for huge defense spending

22. DEFENSE SPENDING INCREASED AS THE U.S. REALIZED IT MUST PREPARE FOR EVENTUAL WAR AGAINST THE AGGRESSORS

23. FDR ran for and won an unprecedented third term in 1940 The majority of voters were unwilling to switch presidents during such a volatile time in history Franklin Delano Roosevelt Defeated Wendell Willkie in the 1940 Presidential Election

24. THE GREAT ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY • America was becoming the “Great Arsenal of Democracy” supplying weapons to fighting democracies

25. Lend Lease Act, 1941 To support Britain, FDR established a “Lend Lease Plan” which meant the U.S. would lend or lease arms to nations whose defense was vital to America

26. U.S. SUPPORTS STALIN • In June of 1941, Hitler broke the agreement he made with Stalin in 1939 ( Nazis Soviet Non Aggression pact) • FDR began sending lend-lease supplies to the USSR • German U-boats traveled in “wolf packs” at night torpedoing weapon shipments headed for the Britain and the USSR • FDR OK’ed U.S. warships to attack German U-boats in self-defense

27. USCONVOYS INCREASED THE MERCHANT SHIPS CHANCES OF SURVIVING THE OCEAN VOYAGE

28. THE ROBIN MOOR WAS CLEARLY MARKED AS MERCHANT VESSEL FROM THE USA ROBIN MOOR: UNARMED US MERCHANT SHIP THAT WAS SUNK BY GERMAN U-BOATS IN MAY OF 1941. HITLER CONSIDERED THE LEND LEASE ACT AS A DECLARATION THAT THE US WAS SIDING WITH THE UK IN THE WAR.

29. USS RUEBEN JAMES RUEBEN JAMES: U.S. DESTROYER THAT WAS SUNK BY A GERMAN U-BOAT WHILE CONVOYING MERCHANT SHIPS IN NOV OF 1941.

30. THE ATLANTIC CHARTER • Late in 1941, FDR and Churchill met secretly and agreed on a series of goals for the war • Among their goals were collective security, disarmament, self-determination, economic cooperation and freedom of the seas FDR, left, and Churchill met aboard the battleship U.S.S. Augusta in Newfoundland waters

31. FDR Orders “Shoot on Site in the Atlantic The "Greer Incident" occurred 4 September. The ship was signaled by a British plane that a Nazi submarine had crash-dived some 10 miles ahead and Greer began to trail the submarine. The plane, running low on fuel, dropped four depth charges before returning to base, while Greer continued to dog the U-boat. Two hours later the German ship fired a torpedo that passed 100 yards astern Greer charged in to attack with depth charges. When news of the attack against an American ship on the high seas reached the United States, President Roosevelt seized this occasionto authorize first strike by American ships and planes "in the waters which we deem necessary for our defense." The period of "undeclared war" in the Atlantic had begun.

32. JAPAN CHOOSES WAR

34. When Japan invaded Indo China, the US ended trade relations with Japan, by placing an oil embargo on Japan and freezing all Japanese assets in the US. Since Japan could not survive without oil, Japan’s either had to do what the US wanted or capture oil fields in the Dutch East Indies Japan choose war

35. Tojo supports war with the US. Japan’s goals in Asia could not be achieved with American naval fleet in Hawaii On November 5, 1941, orders Japanese navy to prepare for an attack on the US Hideki Tojo, formerly Chief of Staff of Japan’s army becomes Prime Minister.

36. Meetings in Washington Nomura, Japanese ambassador to US and Kurusu, special ambassador, had a meeting scheduled with Secretary of State, Cordell Hull at the same time Pearl Harbor was attacked

37. JAPAN ATTACKS THE UNITED STATES • While tensions with Germany mounted, Japan launched an attack on an American naval base • Japan had been expanding in Asia since the late 1930s • Early on the morning of December 7, 1941, Japan bombed the largest American naval base – Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

41. ATTACK KILLS 2,403 AND WOUNDS 1,178; U.S. DECLARES WAR • The surprise raid on Pearl Harbor by 180 Japanese planes sank or damaged 21 ships and 300 planes • The losses constituted more than the U.S. Navy had suffered in all of WWI • The next day, FDR addressed Congress, “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, (is) a date which will live in infamy” • The United States declared war on Japan and three days later Germany and Italy

42. FDR’s War message to Congress

43. The end of isolation

45. ANTI WAR PROPAGANDA PRO WAR PROGAGANDA