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The U.S. Enters WWII
Because of WWI and the Red Scare, many Americans
had isolationist attitudes about America.
Define “isolationist”
Isolationists were not necessarily pacifists, but wanted
to stay out of European affairs and preserve American
autonomy
FDR was NOT an isolationist. He defeated the
isolationist Hoover, not on the issue of foreign policy,
but on the domestic issues of the Great Depression
The Neutrality At of 1935 made it illegal to ship arms
to the port of any warring state.
Why would the Neutrality Act only hurt Italy in Italy’s
invasion of Ethiopia?
Ethiopia could not afford to buy arms, and Italy
could.
FDR urged businesses to voluntarily stop shipments of
oil to Italy. Few listened. Why?
America, in it’s isolationist viewpoint regarded Italy
and other European and African countries as far away,
and not able to affect America.
How did remaining neutral favor the Fascists in the
Spanish Civil War?
The Fascists were armed by Italy and Germany.
FDR was not an isolationist and did
not want to be neutral. He was
alarmed at the spread of totalitarian
governments and viewed
them…Germany and Italy…as a threat
to democracy everywhere
After the Japanese invasion of
Manchuria (China), FDR gave his
“Quarantine Speech”, in which he
called on the free nations of the world
to quarantine the aggressor countries
and stop the spread of war
Many isolationist politicians viewed FDR’s Quarantine
Speech as dangerous and advocating setting up
America to police the world
1938 - Seeing war in America’s future, FDR obtained
approval from Congress to build more war ships.
FDR established the “Cash and Carry” policy, to allow
some countries to buy arms if they shipped them
themselves…why?
Cash and Carry allowed the US to sell arms to
England and France without endangering US shipping
and personnel
German victories in 1940 convinced FDR to start a “all
aid short of war” policy to aid Britain. Isolationists
opposed this, but were too weak to stop it
The U.S. traded 50 aging war ships for bases in
England. Why was this a win-win for England?
•In the election of 1940, FDR decided to run, in spite of a
tradition of no president serving more than two terms…it
was not law (Emerson was off on this one!) This
tradition went back to George Washington choosing to
serve only two terms.
FDR’s opponent was Wendell
Willkie, whose foreign policy
views were much like FDR’s.
The voters stuck with FDR
In late 1940 the U.S. congress
approved Lend-Lease, which
allowed the U.S. to send arms
to England
1941 - FDR and Winston Churchill meet in secret to sign
the Atlantic Charter, agreeing the it is in the best interests
of both countries to oppose Hitler. (duh)
Charles Lindbergh and his America First Committee were
leading opponents of the president’s policy.
What was America First?
As Lend-Lease took effect, German U-boats began to sink
increasing numbers of US ships. The USS Rueben James
and the USS Kearny, and American destroyer were attacked
and over two hundred Americans were killed.
Still, Americans did not want war
So..what changed America’s
attitudes and view of war?
What led up to the attack:
Japan’s militaristic society had become increasingly
aggressive, invading China and committing atrocities in
Manchuria.
The U.S. and other countries had moved to cut off and
limit Japans supply of resources, including oil.
The Japanese felt they had to act to preserve their way of
life
On December 7, 1941 the Japanese, in a surprise attack
and without a declaration of war attacked the American
Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu in
Hawaii
FDR, furious with the Japanese, asked Congress to
declare war.
Americans were outraged and fearful. Civilians strung
barbed wire on beaches on the west coast, and soon the
U.S. government began the internment of JapaneseAmerican citizens.
The nation was at war.