Transcript File

Chapter 24
Neutrality Acts
US Neutrality
1. Born out of 1920s
isolationism, &
disillusionment with WWI
2. Supported by die-hard
isolationists in Congress &
American Midwest:
Believed a conspiracy of profitseeking bankers and European
propaganda brought the US into
WWI
Wanted to keep the US neutral no
matter what event
2. Organizations such as
“America First” and the
“Citizens National Keep
America Out of War
Committee” emerged to
oppose efforts to prepare the
US for the eventual conflict
American Isolationism
1. Neutrality Act of 1935
Prohibited the sale of arms and
ammunition to any nation at war
Die-hard isolationists in Congress &
American Midwest
– Believed a conspiracy of profit-seeking
bankers & European propaganda brought the
US into WWI
– Keep US neutral
Neutrality Act 1935
2. Neutrality Act of 1937
Appeasement of Hitler in Europe
Designed to keep US out of war
Cash and Carry of non-war goods (no
loans, pay cash, must come get goods)
After Nazi Germany invaded
Czechoslovakia in late 1938, Roosevelt
lobbied Congress to have the cash and
carry provision renewed but he war
rebuffed
After Hitler invaded Poland September 1, 1939,
Roosevelt publicly complained that the Neutrality
Acts gave passive aid to aggressors
3. Neutrality Act of 1939
Roosevelt began to prevail over
isolationists in Congress
Now cash and carry of war goods (still
same policy but extended to war
goods)
Passed November 4, 1939 (Poland
invaded September 1 and WWII began)
Neutrality of 1939
4. Lend-Lease Act March 11, 1941
Britain (and USSR) desperately needed US
supplies and arms to avoid German victory
Allowed the President to lend and lease war
materials to any country vital to American
security
Franklin D. Roosevelt explained that his plan
was comparable to one neighbor’s lending
another a garden hose to put out a fire in his
home:
Lend-Lease Act continued
"What do I do in
such a crisis? I
don't say...
'Neighbor, my
garden hose cost
me $15; you have to
pay me $15 for it' …I
don't want $15 — I
want my garden
hose back after the
fire is over."
Lend-Lease Act continued
Roosevelt campaigned for US to enter war
UK finally paid back WWII debts to US in
2006…
“Destroyers for Bases”
By May 1940 Britain was alone fighting the Nazis…
September 2, 1940: the US transferred fifty
mothballed 1200-ton destroyers from the US Navy
to the UK in exchange for land rights on British
possessions.
– Since these were “surplus” ships they were not
covered by the Neutrality Act of 1939
US received 99-year rent-free leases on land in:
– Newfoundland, Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia,
Trinidad, Antigua, & British Guiana
– The agreement also granted the US air and naval
base rights in Bermuda and Newfoundland
– Deal was much more advantageous to America
than Britain
Bases for Destroyers (continued)
End of Neutrality:
Lend-Lease Act (March 11, 1941)
Cash & Carry left the Allies (especially
China) short on cash; forced US leaders
to revise the plan
Allies didn't have to pay cash or arrange
transportation any longer
Instead, the U.S. would demand payment at a
later time
– Allowed Roosevelt to lend and lease war
materials to any country deemed “vital to
American security”
– UK finally paid back their US WW II debts in 2006…
Lend-Lease (continued):
FDR’s “Fire-Hose Analogy”
FDR explained that
the Lend-Lease plan
was comparable to
one neighbor's
lending another a
garden hose to put
out a fire in his home:
"What do I do in such a
crisis? I don't say...
'Neighbor, my garden
hose cost me $15; you
have to pay me $15 for
it' …I don't want $15 — I
want my garden hose
back after the fire is
After Lend-Lease
– After repeated attacks by German submarines on
U.S. ships, Roosevelt announced on September 11,
1941 that he had ordered the U.S. Navy to attack
German and Italian war vessels in the "waters which
we deem necessary for our defense".
This order amounted to an undeclared naval war
Lend-Lease Video Clip
Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor
“December 7th 1941, a date which
will live in infamy…”
Pearl Harbor: Surprise attack of
Japanese air force on the US Navy
Base in Hawaii - December 7, 1941
–
Cause: US Oil Embargo on
Japan until they leave China
–
Japanese needed oil; planned
to attack Dutch & French
Asian colonies (then Australia)
–
Knew US would declare war;
decided to strike first
–
All talk of isolation ended with
this attack
–
US declared war on Japan
December 8
Germany
–
Two days later Germany
declared war on US; US
responded, declared war on
Hitler December 11 1941…
FDR
signing the
Declaration
of War on
Japan
December
8, 1941
The Japanese Empire
What Foreign Policy?
Acting in accordance with our
Monroe Doctrine, the US did
not officially participate in
WWII until both Japan and
Germany declared war on the
US, after which we switched
from allied assistance to
active engagement
Pearl harbor Attack-Dec. 7, 1941
Isolation finally ends with US declaration
of war on Japan; two days later Germany
declared war on US
Pearl Harbor Video Clip