FDR’s Policies and Major Military Actions

America Enters World War II

Before America Entered the War…FDR initiated a build-up of defenses and the

military in 1939 and 1940, Congress also passed the first draft during peace time

In late 1940, FDR started up the Lend-Lease Plan which let other countries fighting against the Axis Powers “borrow” military supplies and arms.

In response to this, Hitler sent out “wolf packs” of German U-Boats (submarines, the “u” is for “unter” or under)

FDR signed the Atlantic Charter with Churchill, laying out the principles for why WWII was being fought: for civil rights, free trade, international cooperation and disarmament

A German U-boat

War on the Home FrontAfter Pearl Harbor, many young men enlisted in

the military, while some others were drafted by the Selective Service

Women were encouraged to join the WAAC, the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps, although they were not paid or treated as well as their male counterparts

Industrial factories were switched to war production factories

6 million women entered the workforce and took over jobs that men had before the war (but only earned 60 to a man’s dollar)

Women’s Army Corps Poster

The Government and the EconomyNational War Labor Board: limited wage

increased, allowed benefits, kept unions stable

War production Board: Rationed fuel, rubber, plastics and oil

Dept of the Treasury: issued war bonds Smith-Connally Act: limited the right for

workers to strike in industries crucial to the war effort

Major Military MovementsThe fight for the Atlantic: FDR minimized the

loss of Allied ships to U-boats by organizing them into convoys escorted by destroyers

The Battle of Stalingrad: Hitler’s army took over the Soviet city of Stalingrad in 1943, and after months of occupation, the Soviets pushed back and won am impressive victory but lost over a million people

The North African Front: Allied troops under Eisenhower defeated German forces in North Africa in 1942

A Torpedoed Japanese Destroyer

Major Military Movements (Cont’d)The Battle of Midway: American forces won a

very important victory, defeating a Japanese attack in 1942, often known as the most important battle on the Pacific front

Germany continues to use “blitzkrieg” war against Britain, and Britain is continually bombed throughout the early years of the war

The Battle of the Bulge: A huge German offensive was defeated by Allied forces in the Ardennes (a section of hilly forests in Belgium/Luxembourg), German forces were significantly depleted- the bloodies U.S. engagement of the war

American Troops Taking Guam

People to KnowFDR: U.S. President during the warWinston Churchill: British Prime Minister, took

over for ChamberlainHirohito: Japanese EmperorHideki Tojo: Japanese War GeneralDwight D. Eisenhower: U.S. War General in North

AfricaGeorge Patton: U.S. War General at D-DayStalin: Soviet PremierHitler: German Fuhrer George Marshall: U.S. Army Chief of Staff

The Closing of the WarIn April 1945, the Soviets stormed Berlin and the

Allies were able to make their last push through Germany

Hitler committed suicide in his underground bunker and Eisenhower accepted a formal surrender from the Germans

The nation celebrated V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day)

The Allied forces captured Iwo Jima and Okinawa in the Pacific

The U.S. drops Atomic bombs on the Japanese cities Nagasaki and Hiroshima