Transcript America Moves Toward War

America Moves
Toward War
Revised Neutrality Act 1939
• “Cash and Carry” provision
• Allowed warring nations to buy U.S. arms
as long as they paid cash and transported
them in their own ships.
Axis Powers
• September 27, 1940
• Germany, Italy, and Japan sign Tripartite
Act – became known as Axis Powers.
• Aimed at keeping the U.S. out of the war –
would have to fight a two ocean war.
Election of 1940
• Roosevelt vs. Willkie
• Roosevelt won third term as President
Lend-Lease Plan
• President could lend or lease arms and
other supplies to any country whose
defense was vital to the United States.
• Passed in March of 1941
• When Hitler broke his agreement with
Stalin and attacked Russia, Roosevelt
started lending supplies to the Soviet
Union under this plan.
German Wolf Packs
• Groups of German U-boats that would
attack supply ships
• Up to 40 U-boats would patrol and attack
together at night.
• By 1943, not as dangerous b/c of new
technology – radar
Atlantic Charter
• Agreement by Britain and America
• Both countries pledged the following: collective
security, disarmament, self-determination,
economic cooperation, and freedom of the seas.
• After German submarine fired on a U.S.
destroyer, Roosevelt ordered navy commanders
to shoot German submarines on sight.
Japan
• 1937, launched an attack on China
• Wanted to unite East Asia under Japanese
control
• U.S. reacted by cutting off trade with
Japan
• Japan could not operate without oil from
the United States
Pearl Harbor
• December 7, 1941
• “A date which will live in infamy”
• More than 180 Japanese warplanes attacked
the U.S. Naval Base in Hawaii.
• 2,403 killed, 1,178 injured
• 21 ships sunk or damaged, more than 300
aircraft damaged or destroyed.
• U.S. declared war on Japan; 3 days later
Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.