Transcript WHPP Unit 6 Section 2 Early Course of the War and American

Unit 6 Section 2
Early Course of the War and American Involvement
TYWL: Global interaction may be caused by conflict. / Forces of
imperialism, nationalism, militarism and geo-political alliances,
taken to the extreme, can lead to international conflicts. /
Nationalism and the quest for power are often underlying causes for
war. / Conflict occurs when compromise over land, national identity
and colonial possessions is no longer an option between those in
authority and those they serve. /
American Neutrality
• Following WWI, America tried to return to
isolationism
• Bitterness towards “Merchants of Death” – blamed
for US involvement in WWI
• 1935, Neutrality Acts passed to keep US from selling
weapons to warring nations
• Good Neighbor Policy in Latin America – removed US
troops
• 1937, Quarantine Speech by FDR – speaks out
against dictators seizing territory
Blitzkrieg in Europe
• Germany invades Poland, September 1st, 1939
• World War 2 begins – France and Britain
declare war on Germany
• Germans use “Lightning warfare” – blitzkrieg,
rapidly conquer Poland
• “Phony War” begins as France and Germany
sit on respective lines, “Maginot Line”, and
“Siegfried Line”
Soviet Expansion / Fall of France
• The Soviet Union under Stalin takes Eastern
Poland, invades Finland
• Hitler invades the Netherlands and Belgium
• France falls, June, 1940
• General Charles de Gaulle flees; sets up “Free
French” government in exile
• British army narrowly escapes at Dunkirk
Battle of Britain
• After the surrender of France in summer of 1940,
Britain stands alone against the Nazis.
• German air force attacks in the Battle of Britain from
July – October, 1940
• Because of the heroic actions of the RAF pilots and
stubborn will of the British, Hitler gives up plan to
invade England.
• Winston Churchill*, Prime Minister, holds country
together – first time Nazis had been stopped
*click for a short speech by Churchill
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The Mediterranean and the East
Giving up Britain, Hitler
turns to other targets:
• The Mediterranean:
Italians and British
battle in Egypt for
control of the Suez
Canal
• British win early but
Hitler sends in his Afrika
Corps led by "The
Desert Fox", Erwin
Rommel
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The Mediterranean and the East
• The fighting in the
desert goes back and
forth with Rommel in
control by June of 1942
Germany turns East
• June 22, 1941 Germany
attacks the Soviet Union
• Fatal mistake, Russian
winter halts advance;
war now on two fronts
America Prepares
Roosevelt knows that if Allies lose, the US will
probably have to deal with Hitler...begins to aid the
Allies.
2 Policies:
• 1939 - "Cash and Carry"- The Allies can buy US
weapons. They must pay cash and carry the
weapons to England on their own boats.
• 1941 - "Lend Lease"- The president can lend or
lease arms to any country vital to US security.
“Arsenal of Democracy”
America Prepares
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Japan joins the Axis powers
Selective Service Act – Begins draft process
Roosevelt elected for 3rd Term in 1940
State of the Union, 1941, explains “Four
Freedoms”
• US signs Atlantic Charter with Britain – alliance in
principle between nations
• US navy and German U-boats fighting undeclared
war in Atlantic
America and Japan
• 1930’s Japan invades China – fierce resistance
backed by US and horrible atrocities
• US cuts off oil sales to Japan
• Japanese see US Navy as main threat to
dominating Pacific – decide on pre-emptive
attack
• December 7th, 1941, Japanese surprise attack
on US naval base – Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Aftermath and Japanese Victories
• Japan sunk or damaged 19 ships and killed more
than 2300 Americans.
• Enraged, Congress declares war on the Japanese...
US Navy struggles to recover
• Early on, Japan rolled across the Pacific -Take Bataan
in the Philippines, April of '42
• American General MacArthur is forced to flee - vows "I Shall
Return.“
• Japanese Capture over 70,000 Americans and Filipino troops
• Force them on a brutal march where over 10,000 are
killed including hundreds of Americans– “Bataan
Death March.”
War Looks Bleak for the Allies
1942 –
• Russia has been invaded,
• the US Navy has been crippled,
• the British are bogged down in North Africa,
• and the Nazi flag flies over the Eiffel Tower.
• In the spring of '42, the war seemed very
losable!
1. From http://forum.netweather.tv
2. From http://www.huffpost.com