Transcript Chapter 16-4

AMERICA MOVES TOWARD WAR
 Q#1Neutrality Act: outlawed arms sales or loans to nations at
war OR engaged in civil war. The were passed in 1935 when there
was strong commitment to the US remaining neutral in world
affairs. FDR’s “cash & carry” provision in 1939 allowed warring
nations to buy US arms as long as they paid cash & transported
them in their own ships. Isolationists disapproved; others
thought it was too little too late.
 By 1940 Dictators had risen to power around the world
& major Civil Wars Continued. WW2 officially began
after Hitler invaded Poland.
 Axis Powers: Germany, Italy & Japan agreed to come
to the defense of each other in the event of an attack.
(Q# 2 - For the US it meant a two-ocean war loomed –
in both the Atlantic & Pacific).
 In spite of US isolationism the Nazi victories in
1941 led Congress to increase our national defense
spending. Congress also passed our first
peacetime military draft & 16 million American
men registered.
 FDR broke tradition & defeated Wendell Willkie
to retain the US Presidency.
 Q#3 - Under the Lend-Lease Act we agreed to “lend
or lease arms & other supplies to any country
whose defense was vital to the US.”
 The Lend Lease Act allowed us to aid cash strapped Britain;
 The Soviet Union (Stalin) also benefitted when, after Hitler
invaded the SU, we began to aid them as well… “the enemy
of my enemy is my friend.” To pull this off a clear supply
line in the Atlantic was necessary. German “Wolf Packs”
attacked supply ships & made this difficult.
 Meanwhile with Britain occupied in the Atlantic Japan was
becoming more “expansionist” in the Pacific with only the
US standing in their was as they build up their attacks.
 Q#4 -When they took over Indochina (now Vietnam,
Cambodia & Laos) the US cut off trade with Japan (who
vowed to “strike a blow” rather than be without much
needed imported oil to keep their expansionist efforts
going).
 Q#5 – The Atlantic Charter – the US & GB pledged
collective security, disarmament, selfdetermination, economic cooperation & freedom
of the seas. FDR told Churchill he would ask for a
declaration of war against Germany but it would
not be forced.
 Q#6 – the Allies were nations fighting against the
Axis powers. There were 26 countries in all. The
US, Britain, France & the Soviet Union were the
major powers on the Allied side.
 Under the leadership of chief military general Hideki Tojo,
Japan invaded China, Indochina & began threatening the
US both overtly & covertly.
 By breaking secret Japanese communication codes the US
knew Japan was planning to attack us, but didn’t want to do
anything until Japan committed an “overt” act.
 Q#7 -That came on December 7, 1941 with the attack on
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, that killed 2403 Americans &
wounded 1178 more. It sunk or damaged 21 ships –
including 8 battleships – nearly all of the US Pacific fleet.
(more than all losses from WW1 combined!)
 The following day the US declares war against Japan; Q# 8within days Germany & Italy declare war on the US as part
of their Alliance with Japan (all 3 were “Axis”).
 US isolationism was officially over & America would
soon be involved in an all-out war effort (Chapter 17…).