Transcript Document
Chapter 24, Section 2 The United States at War Moving Toward War • Lend-Lease Act – Roosevelt wanted to help allies, but didn’t want to violate Neutrality Act – Lend-Lease allowed US to sell supplies to Britain/other countries, but they had to pay cash for all goods Moving Toward War • Military Buildup – Congress approved greater Army/Navy spending – September 1940: Peacetime Draft – Ordered Army Air Corps to organize an AfricanAmerican unit (Tuskegee Airmen) in 1940 • Atlantic Charter – Roosevelt/Churchill agreed that their countries wouldn’t seek land from war, and emphasized rights of people to choose own government The US Enters the War • Events in Asia drew the US into war (not Europe) • In response, Roosevelt banned American exports of iron/steel/oil to Japan • Because of this, Japanese leaders decided on war and to attack the US The US Enters the War • Pearl Harbor – Japanese bombers bombed Pearl Harbor on 12/7/41 – 2,400 airmen killed; “a day which will live in infamy” – Later that day, Congress declared war on Japan The US Enters the War • A Global Conflict – Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan – Allies: Britain, France, Soviet Union, US, China – WWII was a total war • Total war: conflict involving entire nations, not just armies Europe and North Africa • The Soviets Resist – In December 1941, Soviet troops halted German advance outside Moscow – In mid-1942, Soviets defeated Germans in battles at Stalingrad – From then on, Soviets sent Germans back westward Europe and North Africa • The Tide Turns in North Africa – General Rommel (German) won many victories here – British troops defeated Germans in October 1942 – US troops landed in November and occupied Morocco and Algeria under leadership of General Dwight D. Eisenhower Japan Sweeps Through the Pacific • Philippines Fall – Japanese bombed Philippines hours after Pearl Harbor – Two weeks later, invaded island of Luzon – General Douglas MacArthur commanded a Filipino-American force to retaliate – Forced to retreat to Bataan peninsula and vowed to return Japan Sweeps Through the Pacific • Bataan Death March – Nearly 70,000 soldiers forced to march 65 miles to a prison camp, where many died • Coral Sea and Midway – Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942 new form of warfare where planes attacked ships miles away – A month later, Japanese tried to take Midway Island, but were attacked by Americans