Download WWII America Neutral- Revised

The Road to War
The United States and its
journey from neutrality to
entry into World War II
Reasons for Neutrality



Post WWI European
countries default on war
debt
Don’t want to be in a
War!
Nye Report- arms profits
pushed us into war
Senator Gerald Nye
Neutrality Acts of 1935 and
1937



Neutrality Act of 1935 - Prohibits
the selling of weapons to any
country at war.
Neutrality Act of 1937 – waring
countries only buy supplies with
“cash and carry.”
“Cash and carry” - Goods must
be paid for in cash and the
buyer must send its own ships
Roosevelt and Neutrality

Internationalism:
– the belief that trade
creates prosperity and
helps to prevent war


Neutrality Acts “might
drag us into war instead
of keeping us out” but he
does not veto them.
US should not stand by
as an “epidemic of
lawlessness” sweeps the
world and that “there is
no escape through mere
isolation or neutrality… “
Neutrality softens…

Neutrality Act of 1939 revises the ‘35 Neutrality
 allowing arms to be sold
to warring countries on
“cash and carry.”

Destroyers for Bases:
Britain had lost nearly half
of its destroyers
 needed to protect British
shipping
 sent 50 old American
destroyers
 In exchange: American
bases in the Caribbean,
Bermuda, and
Newfoundland.
Varying Opinions about Neutrality



Fight for Freedom Committee - repeal of neutrality
laws and armed intervention
Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies increase American aid to allies but not armed
intervention
America First Committee - Staunchly isolationist group
that opposed any aid to the allies. Members included
Gerald Nye and Charles Lindbergh.
The Election of 1940

Franklin Roosevelt vs. Wendell Willkie

Both promise to assist the allies but stay out of
the war

Roosevelt wins by a wide margin (public
opinion?)
Why was it a big deal that he was elected for a
third (and later 4th) term?
Why did some people think this was a bad idea?
Do you think he should have stepped down?
Lend-Lease Act





Lend or lease arms to any country considered
“vital to the defense of the United States.” (At
first this applies only to Great Britain)
United States: “the great arsenal of democracy.”
Hitler broke Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact and
invaded USSR (Sept ’41)
The enemy of our enemy is our friend- even
though we hate communism…
USSR also gets lend-lease aid after being
invaded by Germany.
Increasing Tensions with
Germany


German submarines were sinking British ships rapidly.
Roosevelt protects British shipping with a Hemispheric
Defense Zone –
– U.S. navy patrols the western Atlantic and reveals the location
of German submarines to the British.


Atlantic Charter - 1941 - Roosevelt and Churchill meet on
warships and commit to a postwar world of democracy,
nonaggression, free trade, and freedom of the seas.
German submarines and US destroyers begin to exchange
fire. “Shoot on sight”
Increasing Tensions
with Japan



Roosevelt’s primary goal: help Britain defeat Germany
To accomplish this the United States must discourage the
Japanese from attacking British holdings in Pacific
United States restricts the sale of strategic material: scrap
iron, steel, and oil

Lend-lease aid to China

Freeze Japanese assets in United States

Build up defenses in Philippines
Pearl Harbor

Surprise attack on
Hawaiian naval base
by Japanese on
December 7, 1941
– 21 Ships sink
– 2,403 Americans killed,
1,178 injured
– Roosevelt’s “Date
which will live in
Infamy” speech
The Aftermath
 Senate
and House declare war on
Japan on December 8th, 1941.
 Germany
and Italy declare war on
the United States on December 11th
 The
United States is largely
unprepared for the massive task of
mobilization that lies ahead…