Desire for Isolationism

• After WWI, Americans wanted to return to “Normal”– Let Europe deal with

Europe

• Refused to support Wilson & the League of Nations

Sen. Henry Cabot LodgeSen. Henry Cabot Lodge

A Weak League of Nations• Strength undercut when the U.S.

refused to join– No control of major

conflicts– No progress in disarmament– No effective military force

Washington Disarmament Conference• U.S., Britain, & Japan had all continued

building up their navies • Goal: naval disarmamentnaval disarmament • All major naval powers invited• Met in Washington from 1921-1922

Five Power Treaty (1922)• A battleship ratio was achieved:

US Britain Japan France ItalyUS Britain Japan France Italy 5 5 3 1.67 1.67 5 5 3 1.67 1.67

• U.S. and Britain would stop fortifying their Far East territories (including the Philippines)

• Loophole: no restrictions on smaller ships

Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)• 15 nations agreed to outlaw

aggression and war as tools of foreign policy

• 62 nations eventually signed• Problems no means of actual

enforcement • Gave Americans a

false sense of security during the 1930’s

The Great Depression• World wide effects• Countries look for solutions• Some turn toward FASCISM

– glorified the state and sought to expand– Italy (Mussolini), Japan, & Germany (Hitler)

all turn to Fascism

Japan Invades Manchuria (1931)

• Japanese military assumed control of the government

• Invaded Manchuria for resources

• League of Nations condemned the action

• Japan leaves the League

Japan Invades Manchuria (1931)

Stimson Doctrine• Issued in 1932Issued in 1932• US would not US would not

recognize any recognize any territorial acquisitions territorial acquisitions that were achieved that were achieved by forceby force

• Japan was infuriated, Japan was infuriated, but there was no real but there was no real U.S. threatU.S. threat Sec of State

Harry Stimson

The Good Neighbor Policy• Groundwork

created by Hoover– Removed U.S.

troops from Latin America

• FDR fully develops program– a policy of non-

intervention and cooperation

• Renounces the Roosevelt CorollaryThe good neighbor

respects himself and the rights of others.

Nye Committee Hearings (1934-36)• Munitions manufacturers

blamed as “Merchants of Death” for WWI

• Senate investigative hearings begin

• Committee blames banks & munitions manufactures for the war

• Led to passage of several Neutrality Acts

Senator Gerald P. Senator Gerald P. NyeNye

Neutrality Acts (1935, 1936, & 1937) • Passed to keep the U.S.

out of new wars• When the president

proclaimed a foreign war Americans couldn’t :– sail on belligerent nations’

ships – Sell or transport munitions

to belligerents– Make loans to a belligerent

• The U.S. refused to build up the armed forces

Growing Fascist Aggression• 1935: Italy invades Ethiopia

Hitler begins to re-arm Germany

• 1936: Hitler re-militarizes the Rhineland

• 1937: Japan invades ChinaRape of Nanking

Panay Incident (1937)• American ship Panay bombed and

sunk by Japanese• Japan apologized, paid US an Japan apologized, paid US an

indemnity, and promised no further indemnity, and promised no further attacksattacks

• ResultsResults Japanese interpreted US Japanese interpreted US tone as a license for further tone as a license for further aggression against US interestsaggression against US interests

• 1938: German Anschluss with AustriaRome-Berlin Axis FormedGermany demands the

Sudetenland

Munich Agreement• Sept 1938 meeting

between Hitler, Italy, Britain, & France

• Britain & France appease Hitler by giving him the Sudetenland

Now we have “peace in our time!” Herr

Hitler is a man we can do

business with.

Now we have “peace in our time!” Herr

Hitler is a man we can do

business with.

• 1939: Hitler invades the rest of CzechoslovakiaNazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact signed

The Invasion of Poland• September 1, 1939

Hitler invades Poland using new strategy of Blitzkrieg

• September 3 France & Britain declare war on Germany

Neutrality Act of 1939• FDR persuades Congress to aid FDR persuades Congress to aid

European democracies in a limited European democracies in a limited way:way:– The US could sell weapons to the The US could sell weapons to the

European democracies on a “cash-and-European democracies on a “cash-and-carry” basiscarry” basis

– Proclaimed danger zones which US Proclaimed danger zones which US ships and citizens could not enterships and citizens could not enter

Beginnings of War

• Phony War – 1st 7 months of fighting

• June 1940: Hitler invades France

France Surrenders• June 22, 1940• Divided into 2

Battle of Britain• Operation Sea Lion• July 1940 – May 1941• Hitler tries to invade

Great Britain• Known as “The Blitz”• German Luftwaffe

bombs Britain to soften resistance

Now Britain Is All Alone!

Now Britain Is All Alone!

The London “Tube”:Air Raid Shelters during the

Blitz

The London “Tube”:Air Raid Shelters during the

Blitz

Tripartite Pact (Sept 1940)

• Also known as the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis

Destroyers for Bases (1940)

• Sept 1940, Britain close to surrender

• Needs ships to fight Battle of Atlantic against U-Boats

• U.S. trades 50 WWI destroyers for land bases

America First Committee• Formed in September 1940• Purpose was to pressure the

government to stay OUT of war

Lend-Lease Act (1941)• The U.S. will lend The U.S. will lend

supplies to Allies in supplies to Allies in return for leases on return for leases on land after the warland after the war

• America becomes the America becomes the “Arsenal of “Arsenal of Democracy”Democracy”

Great Britain.........................$31 Great Britain.........................$31 billionbillionSoviet Union...........................$11 Soviet Union...........................$11 billionbillionFrance......................................$ 3 France......................................$ 3 billionbillionChina.......................................$1.5 China.......................................$1.5 billionbillionOther European.................$500 Other European.................$500 millionmillionSouth America...................$400 South America...................$400 millionmillionThe amount totaled: The amount totaled: $48,601,365,000$48,601,365,000

What do I do in such a crisis? I don't say... 'Neighbor, my garden hose cost me $15; you have to pay me $15 for it' …I don't want $15 — I want my garden hose back after the fire is over."

Operation Barbarossa• Hitler invades the Soviet Union in June

1941• Soviet Union becomes an unlikely Allied

Power

The Atlantic Charter• Roosevelt and Churchill

sign treaty outlining war goals

• Solidifies alliance• Fashioned after Wilson’s

14 Points• Called for collective

security, disarmament, self-determination, economic cooperation, freedom of the seas, & a new peace-keeping organization