Chapter 34 & 35

America in World War II, 1941-1945

The American Pageant

Causes of WWII

Peacetime DilemmasFDR & American Isolationism

The Good Neighbor Policy

The Costs of Noninvolvement

The Good Neighbor PolicyPre-FDR polices began an improvement of relations with Latin America Important to have everybody in Western Hemisphere united against fascismMade FDR popular figure in Latin America --"the good neighbor respects himself and the rights of others." Initiated an era of non-intervention and cooperation between the US & Latin America

FDR Recognizes U.S.S.R. (1933)• Soviets had already received recognition from other powers

• FDR believed recognition might bolster U.S.S.R. against Japan

• Americans hoped trade with U.S.S.R. would help U.S. economy

• Soviets formally promised to refrain from revolutionary propaganda in U.S.

• Promptly broke pledge when huge U.S. loan to Russia was not granted as U.S.S.R. seen as bad credit risk

• Loan Failure Viewed by many historians as a significant cause of the Cold War

• Considered as controversial an event as Nixon’s visit to China

World War II

Treaty of VersaillesHarshly Punishes

Germany after WWI

Depression DestroysGerman Economy

In the 1930s

Adolf Hitler and The Nazi PartyRise to Power

Germany Takes OverRhineland,

CzechoslovakiaAnd Poland

Britain & France Declare War on Germany,

September 1939

France Falls ToGermany in 1940

US Aids BritainThrough

Lend-Lease Act

Japan Signs TreatyWith Germany andItaly; forming the

Axis Powers

Japanese Bombingof Pearl Harbor

Draws the US intothe War

Nazi Aggression and War in Europe

Germany Withdraws from League of Nations (1933)Germany Nullifies the Treaty of Versailles (1937)Germany Annexes Austria – “Anschluss” (1938)

Britain / France Adopt Policy of Appeasement at Munich Conference (Sept. 1938)

Germany Takes Sudetenland (1938)Germany Takes Rest of Czechoslovakia (03/39)

Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (08/39)German Troops Invade Poland on Sept. 1, 1939

Britain & France Abandon Appeasement; Declare War on Germany & Italy

The Two Sides

AXIS

ALLIES

Neutrality

Arsenal of Democracy

AMERICAN NEUTRALITY

Neutrality Acts of 1935, ’36 & ’37

Prohibited Weapons Sales, Loans, Travel to Warring Nations

Established a “Cash & Carry” Policy for the sale of non-military goods

Banned US Involvement in the Spanish Civil War

US Continued to Downsize its Military

The Spanish Civil War (1936)Nationalist (Fascists Rebels) vs. Republican Government (Socialist)

Fascists Led By Francisco Franco

Democracies of Europe / US Stood by and watched as the Fascists destroyed the democratic government of Spain

Italy & Germany Actively Aided Franco

Hitler & Mussolini Saw A “Green Light” to Conquer the Rest of Europe

FDR’s “Arsenal of Democracy” Speech

A “fireside chat” on 12/29/39The US Cannot Remain Neutral Our Independence is at StakeGermany Seeks World DominationMany feel this speech marked entrance of US into the WarUS Increased Industrial Production of war goods to aid the Allies / BritainThis Militarization eventually brought the US out of the Great Depression

US Response to the War in EuropeUS Policy Changed Following the Fall of France and the Battle of BritainFDR Initiated the Army Air Corp and a 2-Ocean NavyCongress Passed A Selective Service Act in Sept. 1940

Act Later Expanded when US enters the war

Havana Conference (1940):

The Lend-Lease Act (1941)Considered 1 of the most significant laws in US HistoryGave the President the authority to give military aid to any nation deemed vital to the defense of the USWe would lend US Aircraft / Ships / etc. to the British & others in exchange for lease rights to naval basesFDR compared it to loaning a neighbor a hose when his house is on fireCritics:

The Atlantic Charter (August 1941)

A Secret Meeting between FDR & Churchill on a US warship in the North AtlanticHeld in Response to Hitler’s Invasion of the USSR“No territorial changes contrary to the wishes of the inhabitants” (self-determination)Restoration of Governments overthrown by Hitler and MussoliniCalled for “a permanent system of general security” – _____________________

Escalating Tensions between the US and Japan

Japan invades & conquers Manchuria, ChinaJapan expels US Business Interests in China; Declares and end to the Open Door policyUS Responds by passing Embargo Act (1940)

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Japan invades & conquers Indochina (Vietnam)Embargo Act (1941)

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The Japanese Attack atPearl Harbor, Hawaii

Japanese sank or damaged all 8 battleships of the US Pacific Fleet10 other ships damaged; 188 Planes DestroyedOver 2,500 Americans killed, 1,100 woundedDec. 8, 1941 – FDR asks for and receives a Declaration of War from Congress against JapanOnly 1 dissenting vote in CongressGermany & Italy later declared war on the US

The War at HomeMilitary MobilizationSelective Service is ExpandedWACS & WAVESWar Production Board: regulate use of raw materialsFederal Government actively regulated the economy to control inflation / set wage and price controls on industryOffice of Price Administration issued Ration Coupons to buy cars, tires, gas, meat, coffee, etc.Increased Income Taxes / Payroll Deductions

Women, Family & the War“Rosie the Riveter”More than 5 million women joined the workforce during WWIIWomen were urged to fill the voids on the assembly lines to help win the warFamily incomes soared with second incomesPaved the way for a post-war economic boomFamilies increasingly moved from the “Rustbelt” states to the “Sunbelt” states

Prejudice and the WarRace Riots in North killed dozensBlacks protested their exclusion from better paying jobs in the wartime economyA. Philip Randolph continues the “March on Washington” movementPressures FDR to create the Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC) to investigate labor / civil rights violations in defense industriesSegregation in the armed forces and government agencies continuedBlacks began to support a “Double V” Campaign

Mexican Americans During the War

The Bracero Program

The Zoot-Suit Riots in LA (1943)

Japanese Americans During the WarExecutive Order 9066 (1942)

Over 110,000 Japanese-Americans were rounded up and sent to concentration camps in the American westWhile the government considered similar actions against German-Americans and Italian-American, only those of Japanese descent were targetedKorematsu v. USCamps closed in March 1946In 1990, the US offered reparations to camp survivors – approximately $20,000 to each internee

The HolocaustDeath by FireRefers to the mass murder of over 11 million people by the NazisOver 6 million Jews were killed as part of Hitler’s Final SolutionOther victims included:

America’s Response to the Holocaust

US Response to the Holocaust reflected strong anti-Semitism in AmericaStrong opposition to respond from State Dept. US Immigration Quotas went unfilled for Germans while Jews were turned awayEventually, FDR was made aware of the holocaust by officials in the Treasury Dept.FDR refused to bomb or attack the death campsEnding the genocide in Europe was never a primary objective of the US Government

Allied Turning Points in the War: 1942-1945The Battle of Stalingrad (Sept. 1942)

Operation “Torch” in North Africa

D-Day (June 6, 1944)

The Battle of the Bulge (Dec., 1944)

The Bombing of Dresden (Jan. 1945)

V-E Day (May 7, 1945)

The Defeat of JapanBattle of the Coral Sea (May 1942)

Battle of Midway (June 1942)

Island Hoping Campaign begins in 1943

Battle of Guadalcanal (Aug ’42 – Feb ’43)

Battle of Iwo Jima (February 1945)

Battle of Okinawa (April ’45 – June ’45)

Death of FDR

FDR, with running-mate Harry Truman, defeated the Republican nominee Thomas Dewey in the Election of 1944FDR elected to an unprecedented 4th termApril 12, 1945 – FDR dies of a stroke at Warm Springs, GAHarry Truman becomes president

Science Goes to WarOffice of Science Research & Development (OSRP) created before Pearl HarborLed to advances in technology, radar, insecticides, etc.Government Sponsor of the Manhattan Project (est. in 1942)Truman was totally unaware of this project until he became president in 1945

The Manhattan ProjectEstablished to research all aspects of building an atomic bombFormed after Albert Einstein & Enrico Fermi warned FDR in 1939 that the Germans were working on an atomic bombConducted at various locations including New Mexico, the Univ. of Chicago, the TVADr. Robert Oppenheimer headed the Los Alamos NM phase of research Trinity – first test of the A-bomb on July 16, 1945

The US Decision to Drop “the Bomb”

Potsdam Conference (Summer ’45) – Truman warns Japan to surrender or face “complete and utter destruction”Japan refuses to remove emperor but does show some signs it is considering surrenderAug. 6, 1945 – US Drops “Fat Man” Bomb on Hiroshima – Over 80k killed immediatelyAug. 8, 1945 – US Drops “Little Boy” Bomb on Nagasaki – Over 60k killed immediatelyAug. 14, 1945 – VJ Day – Japan SurrendersWorld War II Ends

Truman’s Decision to Drop the BombRecent scholarship suggests Truman wanted to intimidate the Soviet Union by using the bombSome suggested a demonstration of the bomb for Japanese officialsIsland Hoping campaign would cost hundreds of thousands lives, perhaps millionsJapan was preparing women & children to fight to death in their defense of JapanHiroshima was not a military targetIf the bombing of Hiroshima was justified, critics claim the attack on Nagasaki was clearly unjustified

The Costs of World War II

Massive Casualties46-55 million dead; 35 million wounded23 million killed in the Soviet Union aloneMassive destruction of major citiesOver 11 million killed in the holocaust

The Consequences of World War II

World War II made allies of ideological enemies (US – Soviet Alliance)Soviet Union dominated eastern EuropeGermany is divided among the allies eventually leading to the formation of East & West Germany / East & West BerlinW. Europe no longer leader in world affairsUS & Soviet Union emerge as the dominant Superpowers (seeds for the Cold War are set)Nationalism became a dominant force throughout the worldEuropean colonies demanded independence

THE END