Transcript FDR and the Shadow of War

FDR and the Shadow of War
1933-1945
The Versailles Treaty
Germany
•Blamed for war
•Lost colonies
•New countries
formed out theirs
•Paid (war debts)
reparations
A Weak League of Nations
Japan Invades Manchuria
1931
•1931 into
Manchuria
•1937 into
China and
starts WWII in
Asia
•1937, U.S.
refuses trade
with Japan
until they
withdraw from
China…..
•1940 invades
Indochina
•US froze
Japanese
assets,
refused to
trade oil,
gasoline and
steel.
American Isolationism
Causes: The Great Depression & Disillusionment after
WWI- Treaty of Versailles (Germany’s humiliation)
Examples:
1.
London Economic Conference (1933)- a hoped for
global attack on the global depression.
Stabilization of world currencies- a goal
FDR had begun his gold buy back & inflationary policies
FDR withdrew the US from the Conference
* Plunged world into deeper economic crisis= global trend to
nationalism= solidified grip of dictators?
2. Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934)- provided independence for
Philippines (in 1946); US ends army bases there- allowed
to possibly have naval bases in future.
US abandons a major Pacific possession = resolve of
Japanese militarists strengthened?
3. 1933--US Formal Recognition of the USSR- Hoped for a
buffer & counterweight to Germany & Japan.
America’s “Good Neighbor” Policy
Orchestrated by Sec. of State Cordell Hull & FDR
Great Depression –cooled US enthusiasm for economic
aggressiveness in Latin America
FDR hoped to get Latin America to help defend the Western
Hemisphere- if needed
1933- US adopted non-intervention policy- renounced armed
intervention & Roosevelt Corollary.
1934- US Marines left Haiti- most of Platt Amendment ended in
Cuba (US retained naval base there)
1934- Philippines have independence- not part of Latin America
1936- US relaxed grip on Panama
1938- Mexican government seized US oil businesses= US
reached a peaceful settlement in 1941 (oil co. lost most)
Reciprocal Trade Agreements 1934
Went hand in hand with the “Good Neighbor" Policy
orchestrated by Sec. of State Cordell Hull & FDR
encouraged lowering of trade barriers= encourage
trade= globalization.
negated most of Hawley-Smoot & gave Pres. Power
to lower more
21 nations signed on by 1939
Significance- improved relations between US & Latin
America= reversed high protective tariff policies,
paved way for free trade system to emerge after
WWII. = FREE TRADE & GLOBALIZATION
Dictators Rise to Power
Causes: Chaos after WWI, Great Depression=
totalitarianism (state over self).
fascism- aggressive nationalism
1.
Joseph Stalin (USSR-1926)- takes over after
Lenin’s death (1924)
8-10 million people died during Stalin’s rule.
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2. Benito Mussolini (Italy-1922)Former school master- became a sort of role model for Adolph
Hitler
Attacked Ethiopia in 1935- League of Nations did nothing
After Italy surrenders- Mussolini & wife are executed by Italians
3. Adolph Hitler
Adolph Hitler (Germany 1933 by election)- gained
popularity by using humiliation of Versailles Treaty &
Depression.
• 1933- Withdrew Germany from League of Nations
• Rearmed Germany
• 1936- Hitler & Mussolini became allies= Rome-
Berlin Axis
Militarists Arise in Japan
Emperor Hideki Tojo (Japan- 1930)
assassinated; Emperor Hirohito (1926-1989).
demanded additional living space (because
Japan is an island nation)
1934 terminated Washington Naval Treaty
Increased naval build up
1935- quit the League of Nations
1940- joined Germany & Italy as allies=
Tripartite Pact= (Axis
Powers)
American Neutrality !! Why??
Felt a sense of distance from the happenings in
Europe & Asia
Anger at debt defaults after WWI
** The Nye Committee Report (1934)
headed by Sen. Gerald Nye (ND) to investigate
“blood business” of WWI.
placed primary blame of US entry into WWI on
munitions makers & bankers.
Remember- munitions makers & bankers were
making money BEFORE U.S. entry!!
** Significance- American ISOLATIONNISM ; AND a
series of Neutrality Acts were passed.
**The Neutrality Acts
all stipulated that WHEN the President proclaimed the
existence of a foreign war…
1.
Neutrality Act (1935)- general embargo on selling arms to
nations at war & warned US citizens not to travel on ships
of nations at war.
* passed after Italy invaded Ethiopia
2. Neutrality Act (1936)- forbade loans to nations at war
(excluded the Spanish Civil War)
3. Neutrality Act (1937)- extended provisions of the previous
neutrality acts & forbade US ships from transporting
belligerents or articles of belligerents & forbade US
citizens from traveling on ships of belligerents.
Consequences of Neutrality ?
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)- Gen.
Francisco Franco (aided by Germany & Italy)
defeated the elected government (aided by
USSR)= 1ST Fascist Dictatorship.
The elected government of Spain = no help from
US
2. Ethiopia (1935)- Mussolini takes control of African
nation (NO AID FROM US TO ETHIOPIA)
3. Asia- (1937) Japan’s further invasion of ChinaFDR refused to call it a war = Japanese continued
to buy oil, scrap metal, & other supplies.
1.
**FDR’s “Quarantine Speech”- 1937
Speech given in Chicago the UNOFFICIAL
“isolationist capital” of US
proposed economic “quarantine” of aggressive
nations.
UPSET & alarmed isolationists (fear a “moral
quarantine” would lead to a “shooting quarantine”)
** Dec. 1937- The Panay Incident- Japanese planes
sank a US gunboat in Chinese waters (2 killed-30
wounded).
* Japan apologized & paid indemnity.
Hitler’s European Grab
1935- Hitler announced mandatory military service
1937- marched into the Rhineland
1938- “Anschluss” – reunification with Austria
1938- Hitler announced claims on the Sudetenland
(area of Czechoslovakia).
* 1938- **Munich Conference- British Prime Minster
Neville Chamberlain & other western democratic
leaders met with Hitler- gave in to his demand
(APPEASEMENT) for the Sudetenland (Hitler
promised that was all he wanted).
March 1939- Hitler’s war machine invaded all of
Czechoslovakia.
September 1939- Hitler invaded Poland
*The Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939
Agreement between Hitler & Stalin
Hitler’s goal- take the USSR out of the war as a
threat- then focus all his efforts on defeating France
& Britain.
the agreement contained a secret deal- Hitler
would invade Poland & the country would be
divided by USSR & Germany.
Hitler now demanded Poland
September 1, 1939- German military launched
“blitzkrieg” into Poland= Britain & France declare
war on Germany= WWII is on in Europe!
WORLD WAR II STARTS IN EUROPE--US stated
neutrality- most Americans hoped democracy in
Europe would win!
**The Neutrality Act 1939
KNOWN AS “CASH & CARRY”
A change in neutrality for the US
Britain & France –ill-prepared for war (needed US planes etc.)
Previous neutrality acts prevented US help to Britain & France
FDR calls joint session of Congress (6 week debate)
**The Neutrality Act 1939
US could sell goods on a “cash & carry” basis
favored European democracies (allowed Britain & French to
patrol Atlantic)
Hurt China (Japanese blockade)
Increased US trade= economic upswing in US= helps solve
unemployment PROBLEM= LEADS TO END OF GREAT
DEPRESSION IN THE US.
FDR given power to declare “danger zones” into which US ships
could not go
“The Phony War”
Oct. 1939—to—April 1940
Britain & France waited as Hitler sent
troops from Poland to attack France
USSR invaded Finland
April 1940- Hitler invaded Denmark &
Norway
May 1940- Netherlands & Belgium
NEXT- FRANCE
The Fall of France
June 1940- France surrenders to Germany
** SHOCKS THE US INTO ACTION…
The Miracle at Dunkirk
British & French troops were cornered in Dunkirk
(part of Belgium)
Hitler surrounded them- could have finished them off
but… he PAUSED!
OVER 300,000 British, French, Belgian, Canadian
troops evacuated by @ 850 boats launched from
Britain.
* Launches Winston Churchill as Prime Minister of
Britain
America Awakens
If Hitler conquered Britain= he would have
shops, shipyards, & slave labor in western
Europe to fuel his war machine.
US Congress Acted:
1. Billion Defense Bill: $37 Billion (5 times
larger than any New Deal annual budget.)
2. Sept. 6, 1940- Conscription (Draft) Act
1st peace time draft in US history!
3. Havana Conference (1940) US & Latin
American nations agree to use Monroe
Doctrine to keep Hitler away from
Caribbean.
The Battle of Britain
August 1940- Hitler launched “Operation Sea Lion”
Nightly air attacks on Britain to prepare for a ground
invasion.
RAF defended Britain from German Luftwaffe using
radar
Effect: Many Americans were sympathetic to Britain
“Fortress America” or Aid to Britain???
Committee to Defend America by Aiding the
Allies: advocated aid to all democracies short of war
America First Committee: (isolationists) Charles
Lindberg greatest orator.
FDR & Destroyers for Bases
By Sept. 1940- Britain was low on
destroyers= threat of starvation by Germany.
Destroyer for Bases Deal (Sept. 1940)FDR transfers to Britain 50 old US destroyers
& Britain gave the US 8 defensive base sites
from Newfoundland to South America.
FDR bypassed Congress (presidential
agreement used)
Criticized by America First isolationists &
some Republicans
Election of 1940
Republicans nominated Wendell Willkie
Former democrat, novice in politics, honest
Republican Platform: condemned FDR’s
dictatorship, costly New Deal
FDR announced a break with the 2 term
tradition= ran for a 3rd Term!
Democrats met in Chicago & nominated FDR
* both promised to stay out of the war &
strengthen US defenses.
FDR reelected to a 3rd term
**The Lend Lease Act
Late 1940- Britain was running out of money.
Bill #1776—The Lend Lease Act
US could lend or lease US arms to allies (taken
over in allied ships) & when the war ended any
unused materials would be returned to the US.
Like a neighbor who loans a water hose to a
neighbor… according to FDR.
Passed by both houses of Congress
$50 Billion worth of equipment & arms sent by
1945 by the US= economic declaration of war by
the US.
Ended any pretense of neutrality by US
• US war factories began to really go to work!
Germany sank the Robin Moor (US merchant ship in
May 21, 1941)
Germany breaks the Nazi-Soviet Pact
June 1941- one year after the fall of France
1939 Soviet-Nazi Pact- UNEASY- Soviets
disagreed with Germany control of Balkans
Hitler decided to invade USSR & take oil
supplies then focus on destruction of
Britain.
Good news for democracy- let them
(fascists & communists) kill each other.
FDR gave military supplies to USSR,
extended $1 Billion in lend-lease ($11
Billion total)
*The Atlantic Charter (1941)
Secret meeting of FDR & Churchill off coast
of Newfoundland
The Atlantic Charter
Called for a “14 Points like” post-war world
Opposed annexations, promoted- Self
determination, disarmament.
* called for a new league of nations (later
the UN)
Stalin agreed one year later also
The US convoy system
July 1941- FDR used commander in chief powers
to have navy escort lend-lease supplies as far as
Iceland.
Sept. 1941- US Greer attacked without damage
FDR declared “shoot on sight” policy
Oct. 7- US Kearney attacked & lost 11 men
Oct – US Reuben James torpedoed & sunk off SW
Iceland (100 officers & enlisted dead)
Nov. 1941- US Merchant ship could be armed &
enter combat zones with supplies for Britain.
Japan
Sept. 1940- Japan and Germany were formal military
allies.
Japan still at war with China (stalemate)
Japan dependent on resources (oil, steel, scrap iron,
aviation gas) from the U.S.
Late 1940- U.S. imposed an embargo on supplies bound for
Japan.
FDR froze Japanese assets $$ in the US, gas shipments, &
other supplies of war.
Nov. & early Dec. 1941- U.S. & Japanese officials
negotiated= US message to Japan…“GET OUT OF
CHINA” & limited trade will resume then.
U.S. Code breakers knew the Japanese decision was for
war– U.S. cannot shoot first
FDR expected a blow at British Malaya or Philippines
The attack on Pearl Harbor
**Dec. 7 1941- Japan conducts a pre-planned,
surprise attack on the US Fleet stationed at
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
3,000 U.S. casualties- 8 U.S. SHIPS DESTROYED or
immobilized, MANY U.S. Planes destroyed- 3 U.S.
aircraft carriers outside Pearl saved.
Dec. 8- Congress declared war on Japan
U. Dec. 11- Germany, Japan, Italy declared war on the
US
Significance- U.S. Pacific fleet destroyed or
immobilized, U.S. citizens angered
American isolationists silenced
AMERICA IS AT WAR!!