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Explore how Americans reacted to events in Europe and Asia in the early years of WWII, from their opposition to intervention to the eventual declaration of war.
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From Isolation to Involvement: The US Entry into WWII FOCUS QUESTION: How did Americans react to events in Europe and Asia in the early years of WWII?
Review • What caused WWII? • Which countries had totalitarian governments and what types of things were they doing? • When did the War officially start? • Which countries made up the two alliances? • Allies vs. Axis
Scenario • Roosevelt was very sympathetic to the crisis facing Europe and particularly Great Britain (Winston Churchill) • Many Americans opposed US intervention (why do you think they were against getting involved?)
American Neutrality • 1935 ~ Congress began passing Neutrality Acts to: (What does “neutral” mean?) 1. Outlaw sales of weapons to nations at war 2. Outlaw loans to nations at war 3. Extend the ban to include nations involved in civil wars (response to Spanish Civil War in 1936)
Cash and Carry (1939) • 1939 ~ Congress passed a law allowing warring nations to buy U.S. military arms as long as they paid cash and transported (carried) them in their own ships • The British controlled the seas, so it benefitted the Allies Why would some Americans believe FDR’s policies violate American neutrality?
Selective Service Act (1940) • 1940 ~ Congress passed the first peacetime military draft which registered 16 million men between ages 21 and 35 Japan Joins Axis Powers (1940) • September 27, 1940 ~ Germany, Italy, Japan signed a mutual defense treaty called the Tripartite Pact
Lend Lease Act (1941) • 1941 ~ US agreed to lend weapons and arms to countries whose defense was vital to the US; this was mainly aimed at helping Great Britain
Atlantic Charter (1941) • 1941 ~ Churchill and FDR met secretly to discuss goals for fighting WWII – signals deepening alliance of US and GB
German Wolf Packs (1941) • Hitler organized German U-Boats into groups of 40+ submarines to stop the Lend-Lease ships • FDR gives the US Navy permission to attack U-Boats in self-defense
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 • Mission: surprise attack the US Pacific Naval Base in Pearl Harbor, HI • Purpose: prevent Americans from resisting Japanese expansion • Results: 2,500 killed, many ships & planes damaged
US Declares War • December 8, 1941 FDR asks Congress to declare war on Japan • They vote 388-1 in favor of war!
Video Clip • Pearl Harbor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2kSnlS4xX8
FDR’s Speech • A Date That Will Live in Infamy