Transcript File

From Isolationism to WWII:
The Tug o’ War
“The real story of history is about regular people
trying to take care of their families and not die.”
— John Green (Crash Course - American History Episode 4)
Crash Course WWII
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Objoad6rG
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Beginning to 5:31
U.S./World Response to German
Remilitarizing: 1933
The League of Nations lodged a
formal protest against these actions
but refused to consider sanctions
against Germany.
 The League of Nations was
weakened by the U.S. not joining it.
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U.S./World Response to Italian
Invasion of Ethiopia: 1935
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Ethiopia appealed to the League for help.
The League voted to impose economic
sanctions, including an oil embargo.
FDR refused.
Congress passed the Neutrality Act of
1935 to keep us out of the conflict
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(President can prohibit all arms shipments to
belligerents and forbid U.S. citizens to
travel on those ships).
U.S. Response Spanish Civil War:
1936
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Although some volunteers including 3,000
Americans, fought against Nationalists,
only the Soviet Union officially helped.
The US Congress passed the Neutrality
Acts in 1936 and 1937 which kept us out
of the conflict.
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(forbade the extension of loans and credits to
belligerents and forbade the shipment of
arms to the opposing sides in the Spanish
civil war)
U.S. Response to Japan invading
China: 1937
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Roosevelt states in the Quarantine
speech that he believes democratic
nations should should act together
against aggressors; American public
rejects the idea.
U.S./World Response to German
Anschluss:1938
Britain and France use the policy of
Appeasement (giving into a hostile
nation to avoid conflict)
 U.S. adopts “Preparedness”
(Neutrality+Security) = FDR requests
increase 2/3 increase in military and
naval budget
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U.S./World response to Munich
Agreement: 1938
 Britain
and France agree to allow
Hitler to annex the Sudentenland
with promise not to invade again.
 Seen as high point of
appeasement.
U.S./World Response to German
invasion of Czechoslovakia: 1939
Britain and France furious over
Hitler’s breaking of the Munich Pact;
threaten that future attacks could
start a war; however, they do NOT
come to Czechoslovakia’s aid.
 U.S. isolationism
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U.S. Response to Germany’s
invasion of Poland: 1939
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Britain and France declare war on
Germany.
FDR convinces Congress to change the
nation’s neutrality laws: U.S. Cash and
Carry
Belligerents can purchase U.S. arms if
they paid for in cash and picked up in
their own ships.
U.S. Response to France falls to
Germany; Britain alone! 1940-41
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U.S. passes the Selective Training and
Service Act: men ages 21-35 can register;
1.2 million troops were trained
U.S. Response to Germany attacks
Britain: 1940
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FDR gives Four Freedoms address to
Congress Jan 1941, Congress, trying to
promote why America needs to be
vigilant against nations who are denying
freedom.
Congress also passes the Lend-Lease
Act: that allows America to give Britain
US arms on credit.
U.S. Response to Axis Powers
created: 1940
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FDR gives the “Arsenal for
Democracy” fireside chat to rally the
American people to support the
Allies. Also, the US begins a Trade
embargo to prohibit the export of
scrap iron and steel to all nations
except Britain and the Western
Hemisphere.
U.S. Response to Hitler’s invasion
of U.S.S.R.: 1941
 Stalin
turns to the Allies for
support and asks the US to
extend Lend-Lease to the
Soviets.
U.S. Response to Wolf Pack
Attacks on the U.S.
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FDR authorizes the navy to “shoot
on sight” any German submarines.
FDR and English Prime Minister
Churchill secretly meet and sign the
Atlantic Charter and to set common
goals.
U.S. Response to Japanese Seizing
Indochina: 1940-41
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In reaction to Japanese aggression,
U.S. freezes Japanese assets in the
U.S. and enacts an oil embargo on
Japan. U.S. and Japan engage in
failed peace talks in an attempt to
negotiate a settlement regarding the
pacific.
U.S. Response to Japanese
bombing of Pearl Harbor:
Dec. 8, 1941
 Immediately following the attack on
Pearl Harbor, Congress declares
war on Japan and the US officially
becomes a member of the Allies