Transcript End of the Recession 1939_1941

END OF THE
RECESSION 1939-1941
NEUTRALITY ACT OF 1939
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November 4, 1939
Affirmed US neutrality
Last of 4 neutrality acts
Put all trade with belligerent nations under the terms of “cashand-carry”
Lifted the arms embargo
Kept the ban on loans
American ships couldn’t transport the goods to belligerent ports
US ships and citizens were also banned from traveling through
"combat zones," designated by presidential discretion
Represented compromise between the US Government and the
isolationist sentiment of the American people
HATCH ACT
• Forbade civil servants from participating in political
campaigns
• Public office holders could not use federal funds for
campaigns
• People who received federal assistance could not
donate funds to politicians
• Passed by congress
• Meant to get rid of New Dealers who relied on the
poor's support
• Weakened Roosevelt's executive power
RAISING THE DEFENSE
BUDGET
• January 12, 1939- Roosevelt recommends a 2 year
defense budget of $535 million in a special message to
Congress
• January, 1940- President Franklin Roosevelt asks
Congress for $1,800,000,000 for defense
• March 1940- Air Defense Command is established to
plan air defense of US against possible attack.
• May 1940- President Roosevelt asks Congress for
$1,300,000,000 in supplemental funds for military and
naval development.
1940
• US declined to renew commercial trade treaty with Japan
• Roosevelt asked Congress for $1,800,000,000 for defense
budget
• Social Security payments started
• Roosevelt asked Congress for $1,300,000,000
• Congress raised the national debt ceiling to $49,000,000,000
• Election of 1940
• US provides Britain with 50 destroyers in return for 99 year
leases of bases in 7 British territories
• Peacetime draft enacted
SOCIAL SECURITY
• Under 1935 Congressional law-
• Monthly Social Security benefits were to start in
1942, in the form of a single, lump-sum payment
• However, payments of monthly benefits began in
January 1940 and not in 1942
• 1939 amendment
• old-age benefits were extended to dependents of
workers
• Test of retirement- earning less than $15 a month
• Wife eligible for 50% benefit if over 65
• Aged widows and those with dependent children
were eligible for 75%
• Dependent children received 50% benefit
• Concerns about the overall economy in 1939
(which had slipped back into recession) made
policymakers reluctant to limit domestic
spending
• Other changes made later created a situation
where Social Security was a very good deal for
participants in the start-up phase of the program
but not so much for future retirees
AID FOR DEPENDENT
CHILDREN
• Aid to dependent Children
• Welfare program
• Created in 1935 under the social
security act
• To prevent poor families from placing
their children in orphanages in return for
cash
• Renamed in 1962
• Single-parent families especially
unmarried mothers and their children
• A family had to include a child 18 years
or younger unless they had a 19 year
old attending high school
• Needed US citizenship and a lack of
financial support
ISOLATIONISTS
• Formed due to a combination of the Great
Depression and World War I
• Ideology
• Advocated non-involvement in European or Asian
conflicts and avoiding international politics
• Marginal US interests in conflicts did not justify the
number of US casualties
• Stimson Doctrine
• Created after the Japanese invasion of Manchuria
• US would not recognize territory gained by
aggression and in violation of international
agreements
• Expressed concern without committing to direct
involvement
• Strong isolationist sentiment in Congress
• Neutrality acts were to stop American involvement
in international conflict
ELECTION OF 1940
• FDR ran for 3rd term, breaking 2 term precedent
• Did not actively seek nomination
• Believed America would need an experienced
leader as WWII was developing
• Promised to keep America out of “foreign wars”
WENDELL WILLKIE
Born February 18, 1892
Corporate lawyer
Member of democratic party until 1939
Dark horse- One who achieves unexpected
support and success as a political
candidate, typically during a party's
convention
• Had never run for public office
• Wrote speeches and articles
attacking the New Deal
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• Died October 8, 1944
WILLKIE’S CAMPAIGN
TACTICS
Inefficacy and corruption of the New Deal
Unprecedented 3rd term
Governments lack of military preparedness
Relied on radio broadcasts
Later criticized FDR's lack of preparedness in military matters
Claimed FDR was planning got take the US in to war against
Germany
• Attracted isolationists
• Had letters from FDR’s running mate that contained exotic
religious beliefs
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• Believed it would alienate many voters
• Democrats threatened to release info about Willkie's
rumored affair
• Electoral vote
• 449 vs 82
• 54.7% of popular vote vs 44.8%
• Unified government
• FDR took 3rd term as president
OUTCOME
PEACETIME DRAFT
• October 16, 1940
• The Selective Service and Training Act
• First Peacetime draft
• All men ages 21-35 were required to register
• Lottery system decided who would go into
military service
• Established the Selective Service System as
an independent federal agency
LEND-LEASE
• Enacted March 11, 1941
• Provided extension of credit, weapons, and supplies to Britain
• Allowed due to fall of France which left Britain fighting Hitler
alone
• While Britain could no longer pay cash for supplies due to the
Neutrality act
• Law allowed President to grant aid to any country who defense
was deemed vital to US security
• Clearly allied US with Britain
• Granted more then $50 billion in aid to many countries during
the War
• Isolationists opposed the bill
• Payment would eventually take place but needn't be in the
form of cash
ATLANTIC CHARTER
August 14 ,1941
Joint declaration by FDR and Winston Churchill
The two meet in Newfoundland aboard the USS Augusta
Broad statement of US and British war aims and an outline of the
post-war world
• Not a binding treaty
• One of first key steps to the establishment of the United Nations
• Included 8 common principles
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Both countries agreed not to seek territorial expansion
To seek the liberalization of international trade
To establish freedom of the seas,
International labor, economic, and welfare standards
Supporting the restoration of self-governments for all countries that
had been occupied during the war
• Allowing all peoples to choose their own form of government
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January 1, 1942 – 26 other governments pledged their support for
the Charter’s principles
PEARL HARBOR
• December 7, 1941, just before 8 AM
• Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the
American naval base near Honolulu, HI
• 20 American Naval vessels crippled or destroyed
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8 battleships
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200+ airplanes
• 2,000+ soldiers and sailors died
• 1,000+ were wounded
• Declaring war
• 1 dissenting vote
Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives:
Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately
attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government
and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese
Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American
message. And, while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no
threat or hint of war or of armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many
days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the
United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to
tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the
high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today
speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the
implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our
whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will
win through to absolute victory.
I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the
uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph.
So help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a
state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt - December 8, 1941
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PRIMARY SOURCE
• December 8, 1941
• FDR’s speech to Congress asking to declare war on
Japan
• Purpose
• Response to the attack on Pearl Harbor
• Ask to declare war
• Value
• Showed how many Americans felt after the attack
• United Americans in a common cause
• Took America to war with japan
• Limitations
• Didn’t have all the facts yet
• Emphasized American interests
• Was meant to persuade isolationists
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• "1939 Timeline." America in the 1930's. University of Virginia. Web. 4 Feb
2014. <http://xroads.virginia.edu/~1930s2/time/1939/1939fr.html>.
• "1940 Timeline." America in the 1930. University of Virginia. Web. 4 Feb
2014. <http://xroads.virginia.edu/~1930s2/time/1940/1940fr.html>.
• "Election map 1940." Map. The American Presidency Project. American
History. ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
• "Election of 1940." Image. AP/Wide World Photos. American
History. ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
• "Election of 1940." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
• "Isolationism in World War II." American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2014.
Web. 4 Feb. 2014.
• "The Atlantic Charter." History of the United Nations. United Nations.
Web. 4 Feb 2014.
<https://www.un.org/en/aboutun/history/atlantic_charter.shtml>.
• “Wendell Willkie." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABCCLIO, 2014. Web. 4 Feb. 2014.