American Involvement:

The U.S. Helps Its Allies

Hitler was busy taking over Europe

1939America declares its neutrality

Although isolationist feelings were strong, many Americans sympathized with those who battled the Axis Powers

President Roosevelt found ways to go around the Neutrality Acts

He wanted to find a ways to provide aid, including warships, to Britain as it stood alone against Hitler

Lend-Lease Act• Passed in1941 by

Roosevelt/Congress• Sell or lend war

materials to “any country whose

defense the President deems vital to the

defense of the U.S.”: Countries of

democracy/freedom • Supplied arms to those

who were fighting for freedom

Atlantic Charter

• Aug. 9, 1941: Roosevelt (U.S.) and Churchill (G.B.) met secretly on a battleship

• Set goals for the war: “the final destruction of the Nazi tyranny”

• Right for people to choose their government

• Free Trade• “Permanent system of

general security” • Becomes the Allies’

peace plan at the end of WWII

• September 4, 1941, U.S. destroyer: Greer was heading back from Newfoundland to Iceland.•German U-boat fires on the U.S. destroyer: Greer•President Roosevelt issues orders to "shoot on sight" any warships within "our defensive waters." •U.S. & Germany involved in undeclared naval war