Download Slide 1 - Duluth US History

In the wars before
the outbreak of WWII,
Americans were
afraid that the rise
of dictators would
cause another war
Congress passed a series of
Neutrality Acts (1935-1937)
that, in case of a war,
made it illegal for companies
to sell weapons or transport
goods to any nation at war
President Franklin Roosevelt wanted a more active
response to stop dictators, but failed to convince world
leaders to “quarantine” aggressor nations in 1937
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland
and World War II began between the Axis and Allies
When the war started, Congress amended the
Neutrality Acts and allowed U.S. companies to
sell weapons to the Allies on a “cash and carry” basis
Allied nations could
buy U.S.-made war
goods but had to pay
in cash and had to
transport goods on
their own ships
The cash-and-carry
policy allowed the USA
to aid the Allies while
remaining neutral and
avoid the causes of
American entry into
the first world war
Remember Germany’s
unrestricted submarine warfare?
In 1940, Franklin Roosevelt was elected to an
unprecedented third term as president
He campaigned on a
FDR prepared for possible
platform of neutrality entry into the war by calling
but with “preparedness” for the first peacetime draft
The fall of France in 1940
worried Americans that
the Axis Powers might
win World War II
German Luftwaffe attacks
on Britain meant that
England needed U.S. aid
more than ever
The USA responded with the Lend-Lease Act in 1941
The Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act was
allowed the USA to send
used throughout WWII,
war supplies to Allied
transformed the USA into
nations and transport
an “arsenal of democracy,”
war-related goods to
and helped end the
Europe on armed ships
depression in America
By 1941, the USA was entangled in a dangerous war:
German submarines patrolled the Atlantic,
Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, and Japan
attacked Pacific islands with little opposition
The success of the Axis Powers in Europe brought
the USA closer to an undeclared war on Germany
FDR gave the navy and merchant ships
authority to attack German u-boats
Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill
secretly drafted the Atlantic Charter which
planned a war strategy if the USA entered
the war and a post-war United Nations
The USA tried to stop Japanese aggression in Asia
To protect American
territories and allies
in the Pacific, FDR
ordered an embargo
on all iron and oil
sales to Japan
Hideki Tojo sent an envoy to negotiate a resolution,
but secretly plotted to attack the United States
On December 7, 1941 the Japanese
military led a surprise attack on the
U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
On December 7, 1941 the Japanese
military led a surprise attack on the
U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
After the Japanese
In addition to Hawaii, the
attacks, Congress
Japanese attacked U.S. naval
bases at Guam and Wake Island declared war on Japan
When America entered Despite the attack by Japan,
World War II, the U.S.
FDR viewed Germany as
had to fight a two-front
the immediate threat and
war in Europe and Asia…
began preparing for war
Comparing Days of Infamy
Using the provided documents, compare American
reactions to the attack on Pearl Harbor to those of
September 11, 2001.
Pearl Harbor
September 11, 2001
Some say the Japanese is hard fighters
But any dummy ought to know
Some said the Japanese is hard fighters
But any dummy ought to know
Even a rattlesnake won't bite you in your back
He will warn you before he strikes his blow
The Japanese is so ungrateful
Just like a stray dog on the street
Yes, the Japanese is ungrateful
Like a stray dog on the street
Well, he'll bite the hand that feeds him
Soon as he get enough to eat
December the seven
Nineteen hundred and forty-one
On December the seven
Nineteen hundred and forty-one
The Japanese flew over Pearl Harbor
Droppin' bombs by the ton
“Pearl Harbor Blues”
Written by Doctor Clayton (1942)
We even sold the Japanese
Brass an scrap iron
An it makes my blood boil in the vein
We even sold the Japanese
Brass an scrap iron
An it makes my blood boil in the vein
'Cause they made bombs and shells
Out of it
And they dropped them on Pearl Harbor
Just like rain.
I turned on my radio
And I heard Mr. Roosevelt say
I turned on my radio
And I heard Mr. Roosevelt say
We wanted to stay out of Europe an Asia
But now, we all got a debt to pay
(Continued)
Chorus x4
It was dark, too dark to see, you held me in the light you gave
You lay your hand on me
Then walked into the darkness of your smoky grave
Somewhere up the stairs into the fire
Somewhere up the stairs into the fire
I need your kiss, but love and duty called you someplace higher
Somewhere up the stairs into the fire
Chorus x3
You gave your love to see in fields of red and autumn brown
You gave your love to me and lay your young body down
Up the stairs, into the fire
Up the stairs, into the fire
I need you near but love and duty called you someplace higher
Somewhere up the stairs into the fire
Chorus: x2
May your strength give us strength
May your faith give us faith
May your hope give us hope
May your love give us love
The sky was falling and streaked with blood
I heard you calling me then you disappeared into the dust
Up the stairs, into the fire
Up the stairs, into the fire
I need your kiss, but love and duty called you someplace higher
Somewhere up the stairs into the fire
“Into the Fire”
By Bruce Springsteen (2002)