AMERICA MOVES TOWARD WARCh 24.4

Neutrality Revised• As Germany “blitzkrieg-ed” Poland, FDR sought to revise

Neutrality Acts of 1935.• “Cash and Carry” revision: countries could buy U.S. arms

as long as they paid cash and carried in their ships.

June 1939• U.S. sent 500,000 rifles, 80,000 machine guns, and

traded 50 old destroyers with Britain.

Axis Powers• Tripartite Pact, signed in Sept 1940 by Germany, Italy,

and Japan.• If U.S. joined war, would have to fight in both Atlantic and

Pacific Ocean.

Nazi aggression=mobilization• Selective Training and Service Act: passed in 1940: 16

million men between ages of 21 and 35 were registered.

Roosevelt wins again in ‘40• Roosevelt breaks two term precedent set by Washington;

defeating Republican Willkie.• Received 55 percent of the vote.• Felt U.S. should be the “great arsenal of democracy”

Lend-Lease Act, March ‘41• U.S. would lend/lease arms to any country vital to its

interests.• Britain was broke.

Stalin and Hitler: Honeymoon’s Over!• In June 1941, Hitler invades Soviet Union breaking non-

aggression pact.• “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” ~FDR.

You sunk my battleship!• German U-boats continue “wolf-pack” attacks against U.S.

merchant and naval ships.• 350,000 tons of cargo destroyed in North Atlantic.

FDR and Churchill meet• On U.S.S. Augusta, FDR and Churchill agree to Atlantic

Charter as a measure of collective security.• Precursor to “A Declaration of the United Nations”

which was signed by 25 other nations to ally against the Axis Powers.

Undeclared war against Germany• Mid Sept ’41: American merchant ship, Pink Star, is sunk

near Greenland.• Mid Oct ’41: American destroyer, Kearny, was sunk.

Days later, Reuben James sunk killing 100 sailors.• Declaration of war seemed inevitable.

Japan• Sought French, Dutch, and British colonial possessions in

Asia: “Asia for the Asians” became the battle cry.• Hideki Tojo: Chief of Staff of the Imperial Army.• Hirohito: emperor, considered God-like figure.• Bushido: the code of the Samurai.

Japan continues to grow• In ’41, Japan seized control of British controlled lands in

Pacific-Britain was too busy in Europe.• U.S. reacted by cutting off trade, including oil.