Transcript Why did the USA join WW2?

Why did the USA join WW2?
Task
• Get into pairs
• One person from each pair to stay in the room
and use the text books to help find the
reasons.
• The other group to go to IT3 and make notes
from the remainder of this presentation.
• Back in Hu1 after 20 mins to collate evidence.
• Debate the importance of the causes for last
15 mins.
Japan, China, the United States and
the Road to Pearl Harbor, 1937-41
• Pre 1937 – most US officials were not too
bothered with the fighting between China and
Japan.
• Japan and China went to full scale war in July
1937, this lead to US public opinion
supporting China.
• Japanese Army bombed USS Panay killing
three – US government still want to avoid
conflict.
• 1940-1941 Roosevelt formalises aid to China.
• Allows credit to allow China to buy arms and
begins to restrict Japan’s access to raw
materials such as steel, oil and iron.
• Japan established the Greater East Asia CoProsperity Sphere and announced their
intention to drive the Western imperialist
nations from Asia.
• Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany
and Italy on September 27, 1940 and thereby
linked the conflicts in Europe and Asia.
• In mid-1941, Japan signed a Neutrality Pact
with the Soviet Union, making it clear that
Japan's military would be moving into
Southeast Asia, where the United States had
greater interests.
• An agreement with Vichy France enabled
Japanese forces to move into Indochina and
begin their Southern Advance.
The United States responses to the
growing threat
• Temporarily halted negotiations with Japanese
diplomats.
• Instituted a full embargo on exports to Japan.
• Froze Japanese assets in U.S. banks.
• Sent supplies into China along the Burma
Road.
Japan’s response to US actions
• Faced with serious shortages as a result of the
embargo, unable to retreat, and convinced
that the U.S. officials opposed further
negotiations, Japan's leaders came to the
conclusion that they had to act swiftly.
• This lead to the attack on Pearl Harbor.