Transcript World War II: America joins the war

World War II:
America joins the war
The World at War
World War II was fought in 2 different areas
of the world:
Europe and Asia/Pacific Islands.
Known as Theaters
The war began after Germany invades Poland
in 1939.
The Axis powers began with Germany and
Italy. Eventually, Japan joins.
Axis vs. Allies
Axis Powers:
In Sept 1940 Germany, Italy, and Japan signed a
mutual defense treaty called the Tripartite Pact.
The Pact was created in an effort to keep the
U.S. out of the war.
If the U.S. joined the allies, the country
would face a war in the Pacific and the
Atlantic (two front war).
Axis vs. Allies
The Allied powers were led by England,
France, the Soviet Union.
Eventually, the United States will join.
By 1941 almost all of Europe and North Africa
were under Axis control.
U.S. Isolationism
America watched as their allies fell.
Hitler threatened to take over all of
Europe.
Most Americans still did not support
involvement in the war.
Finally, America passes the Neutrality
Act of 1939.
“Cash and Carry” for American allies.
U.S. Isolationism
FDR did everything he could to help the
British and the French win the war in
order to prevent a two front war for the
U.S.
The U.S. traded 50 old destroyers for
leases on British military bases.
FDR Runs for a 3rd Term
1940 FDR breaks tradition and runs for
a third consecutive term.
Wendell Wilkie ran against FDR.
Basically the same views as FDR- stay out
of the war, improve the economy, and aid
Great Britain.
America chose the candidate they knew
and FDR won with 55% of the popular
vote.
The Lend-Lease Act
Spring of 1941
Congress allows for
the lend-lease or
transfer of military
equipment to nations
whose defense was
vital to the US.
The Lend-Lease Act
ends American
neutrality.
Building our Defenses*
The Selective
Training and Service
Act (1941):
16 million men
became eligible for
the draft.
Over 1 million men
drafted into service.
The Atlantic Charter
FDR (US) and Churchill (GB) met secretly at a
summit aboard the battleship USS Augusta
With the signing of the Atlantic Charter (Aug. 1941)
both countries agrees to the following:
US and GB would forego territorial expansion (stop
expanding for now)
Respect the right of every nation to choose its own form of
govt.
Freedom of international trade ($$) and equal access to
raw materials for all countries.
Japan Attacks!
FDR sent a “war warning” to U.S. military
commanders stationed on bases throughout
the world stating if war can’t be avoided,
“the U.S. desires that Japan commit the
first overt act.”
Conspiracy theorists look at FDR’s statement
as proof that the gov’t allowed the Pearl
Harbor attack to occur.
THE SURPRISE
The attack on Pearl Harbor took place on the
United States naval base on Pearl Harbor,
Oahu, Hawaii.
It was launched on a Sunday morning,
December 7, 1941.
The US had deciphered (broke a Japanese
code) a message that said the Japanese would
attack the US in the Pacific.
But US did not react.
HAWAII
THE ATTACK
The attack lasted two (2)
hours.
In those two hours the
US lost:
18 warships
188 airplanes
2,403 Americans dead
(military personnel)
1,178 wounded
Response to Pearl Harbor
Dec 8, 1941 FDR asked Congress for a
declaration of war against Japan (three
days later Germany and Italy declared
war against the U.S.).
Isolationist senator Burton Wheeler
proclaimed, “The only thing now to do is to
lick the hell out of them.”
JAPAN ON A ROLL
After Pearl Harbor- Japan takes the Pacific by storm.
They invaded and conquered most of the South Pacific
with the US out of commission.
US FIGHTS BACK
Doolittle’s Raid- US response to PH.
April 18, 1942-The US sent 16 B-25 Bombers
to bomb Tokyo.
Bombs did little damage, except to tell Japan
that THEY can also be attacked.
Doolittle’s attack raised American spirits and
shook Japanese confidence.
• It was the only operation in which US Army bombers
were launched from a US Navy Aircraft carrier.
Pearl Harbor Memorial