FROM NEUTRALITY TO WAR 1939-1941
Outbreak of War in Europe Hitler breaks Munich agreement,
occupies Czechoslovakia Britain and France draw line at Poland Stalin (USSR) and Hitler sign
nonaggression pact, secretly divide Poland
Outbreak of War in Europe Invasion of Poland
September 1, 1939 Britain and France
declare war Blitzkrieg strategy
Air Power Fast tanks
Control of Scandinavia, France by spring of 1940
Changing U.S. policy Most opposed Hitler Roosevelt believed British survival was
necessary Chipped away at neutrality laws Massive aid to Britain was controversial
Cash and Carry Less restrictive Neutrality Act Arms if carried on their ships and paid cash Strongly favored Britain
Changing U.S. Policy Selective Service Act (1940)
Compulsory military service/draft All men 21-35 1.2 million troops First draft during peacetime
Smaller proportion of resistors than WWI 3x as many (6,000)
Destroyers-for-bases deal Britain under constant attack Couldn’t sell destroyers
50 ships for right to build bases on Brit islands
The Election of 1940 3 Term president? Campaign
“Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars.”
Wendell Willkie GOP nominee New Deal critic Similar in view on war Focused on 2-term limit
Result 54% for Roosevelt
Arsenal of Democracy Four Freedoms
Proposed lending money to GB to buy war materiel
In defense of 4 freedoms Speech, religion, from want,
from fear Lend-Lease Act
End cash and carry Sell arms on credit America-First vehemently
opposed
Arsenal of Democracy Atlantic Charter
Secret meeting between Roosevelt and Churchill
Affirmed peace objectives Self-determination for all No territorial expansion Free trade
Shoot-on-sight U.S. escorts for British ships carrying lend-
lease sales American ship attacked by German American ships to attack Germans on sight
Disputes with Japan Japan had expanded into Allied colonies U.S. economic action
No steel or iron to any country except GB Oil embargo
Negotiations Needed oil for navy and AF Japan would have to take resources Invasion of China violation of Open Door Unsuccessful, hope for delayed
confrontation
Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 2,400 deaths 1,200 wounded 20 warships 150 airplanes
Pearl Harbor Partial surprise
High gov. officials aware of immanency of attack Code broken
No exact target and date Philippines, Dutch East Indies, Malaya
Declaration of War Nearly Unanimous
Jeanette Rankin First female Congressperson ONLY congressperson to vote against both WWI
and WWII