FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT AND THE SHADOW OF WAR—

1933-1941Chapter 34

The London Conference Roosevelt’s willing to be an isolationist if it would

help the domestic economy. 66 nations meet. Purpose and primary goal Roosevelt pulls out. Why? Roosevelt pulls the rug out from underneath the

conference and nothing is accomplished Results:

World depression gets worse and everyone pursues their own policies.

Leads to an increase in nationalism. Reduces chances for international cooperation on

other issues

Philippines and Russia

Why was US ready to give up the Philippines? Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1934—Provided for

the independence of the Philippines after a twelve-year period of economic tutelage. Gave up army bases, but keep Naval bases

1933 US recognized the Bolshevik regime in USSR. Why? Anticommunists and Catholics objected.

Becoming A Good Neighbor Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor

Policy Impact in Latin America. Reasons were somewhat

selfish. Policy receives a test in 1938

when Mexicans seize American oil properties.

Policy was a great success

Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act (1934) Secretary of State Cordell Hull.

Aimed at both relief and

recovery. Provision. Whittled down the worst parts

of Hawley-Smoot. President had authority without

consulting Congress. Benefits?

Rationale for Act ? Get agreements with 21

countries

Failures of WW1 Peace Settlement

Treaty of Versailles: anger and resentment over terms

Germany at FaultStripped of land and

ColoniesNew government –

Weimar RepublicNo MilitaryWar Reparations

Rise of Hitler in Germany Germans economically crushed

by Versailles treaty. Desperate and resentful

Hitler a powerful orator and politically aggressive

Germany has a potent industrial base and technological talent.

US made things worse by refusing to ratify the league of nations, thus eliminating the moral strength of that body.

Nazis Take over GermanyAdolf Hitler WW1 vet,

sent to jail for treason writes Mein Kampf

NazismExtreme Nationalism all

German speaking people should be united

Racial PurificationExpansion of empireDepression leads to

Nazi party rallies.Brown Shirts or storm troopers

1932—1933 elected Chancellor-dismantles democracyThird Reich would last 1000 years

Joseph Stalin, man of steel, transforms Soviet Union

command economy-industrial and agricultural growth #1 priority

five year plan: all economic activity controlled by the state

1937 # 2 economic power8-11 million direct deaths

millions more died from famineTotalitarian state

The Rise of Fascism in Italy Benito Mussolin

Italy in depressionFascist; nationalism and

state stressed“Il Duce” crushes

opposition 1922 takes control

Militarist Gain Control of Japan

Imperialism for natural resources invade China 1931

League of Nations does nothing

Japan and Italy Japan also a growing threat.

Resentful. Why? Growing increasingly militaristic Lusted after space and resources of

neighbors. Why? 1934 terminated the naval Treaty and

started aggressively building navy. American response?

1935 Mussolini attacks Ethiopia. Easily crushes it. Seeking glory and empire for Italy in

Africa League of Nation reaction? Reason?

Japan seizes Korea and much of Manchuria in 1905, after defeating Russia in the Russo-Japanese War. In 1931, Japan invades and claims the rest of Manchuria

Aggression in Asia, Europe and Africa Europe and Asia.

Europe notices League of Nations lack of Response

1935 Germany with draws from League of Nations and violates T of Ver.

Reoccupies lost Rhineland

Mussolini takes Ethiopia 1935-36

“come on in. I’ll treat you right. I used to know your daddy The United States

Responds Cautiously

Two Views on clinging to Isolationism

Isolationism Why didn’t America Act?

Distracted by the depression Vividly recall the losses of

WWI feel safe behind the protection

of two oceans, largely believed that what

happened in the rest of the world didn’t effect them.

Rise of fascists increased desire to avoid entanglement..

Johnson Debt Default Act.Better Keep to the Old Channel

Congress Legislates Neutrality Who does the public

now blame for WWI? Congress passes

Neutrality Acts in 1935, 36 and ’37

Basic Rule?

Effect of Neutrality Acts

Is an abandonment of Americas traditional policy of freedom of the high seas and the right of Americans to ship to both sides in a war.

Effectively removed America from the arena as an agent that can stop or blunt war and aggression. Made America reactive and at the mercy of world events.

Encouraged totalitarian regimes and hurt democratic ones, because they received no aid from US.

America Dooms Loyalist Spain The Spanish Civil War (1936-39)

shows fallacy of Neutrality policy Franco and other fascist rebels tried

to overthrow the left-leaning but democratic government of Spain. Franco is aided by Hitler and Mussolini.

Congress prohibits aid to EITHER side.

Condemns democratic Spain to slow strangulation

Dictators believe that Democracies will not take action to stop them.

Francisco Franco leads Fascist revolt in Spain

private individuals react to try and stop Franco

Western powers remain “neutral

Hitler/Mussolini back Franco; create friendship

1939 Franco wins

Fascist ALLIANCE is formed Rome-Berlin alliance

Whittling Down the Big Stick

State of American military compared to Germany and Japan.

Americans attitude toward navy. Effect of depression Reaction to FDR’s call for increased

military preparedness

Appeasing Japan 1937 Japan invades Manchuria with the

intent of making it a Japanese colony. Why?

Roosevelt refuses to call this a war. Why?

Fall 1937 Roosevelt makes famous Quarantine Speech What does he call for? How does Congress and Country react.

Dec. 1937, USS Panay. Japan abuses Americans in China.

Thinks US wimpy

Hitler on the Rise 1935 breaches Versailles treaty by reintroducing the

draft. 1936 marches troops into the demilitarized Rhineland

Britain and France reaction. Hitler begins to persecute and discriminate against the

Jews. 1937 starts building the military at an aggressive pace, March 1938 Hitler marches without resistance into

Austria Hitler then begins making demands for the Sudetenland

War In Europe Austria and Czechoslovakia Fall

Union with Austria March 1938

Munich Conference Allies desperate to avoid

war. Munich Conference 9/38 Democracies have no real

leverage. Appeasement Germany gets

Sudetenland. What does it promise?

Neville Chamberlain: “Peace in our time”

Bargaining for the Sudetenland

Nazi's use propaganda to stir up GermanyFrance and Great Britain pledge support for Czech.

France and G.B meet with Hitler in Munich Germany.Appease HitlerPeace in our time declared by Chamberlain. Angers Winston Churchill

Hitler-Stalin Pact France-England attempt to negotiate a

mutual defense pact with Stalin. Why don’t they get one?

August, 1939, Stalin-Hitler sign a non-aggression pact. Stalin’s motive? Seals the fate of Europe. Poland.

Hitler’s demand on Poland.

WWII Begins Poland refuses and

Germany marches in unleashing its Blitzkrieg 9/1/39.

WWI has begun. Stalin moves into Eastern

Poland England and France

declare war, but can’t do much about Poland, which surrenders in three weeks.

Non-Aggression Pact

Poland's fate is sealed! Blitzkrieg in Poland Sept. 1st September 3rd 1939 WW2 starts. France and Britain declare war on Germany

Use fast overwhelming force, 3 weeks Poland is done. (U.S.S.R also attacks Poland ; takes the Baltic States and Finland in the next few months)

US Reaction to Fall of Poland

Roosevelt issues proclamation of hostilities. Consequences?

US attitude toward war. Roosevelt wants to amend Neutrality Acts

Knows that European democracies are woefully unprepared and will not win on their own.

Wants to lift the arms-sale restrictions entirely. But, knows that neither the nation nor

Congress is ready for that.

The United States Sleeps while the Phony War goes on for several months

Cash and Carry

FDR calls a special session of Congress; passes Neutrality Act of 1939 Cash-and-Carry Selling point of Cash and Carry?

Purchases from England and France help lift US economy

Hitler Runs Amok April 1940 Hitler attacks Denmark and Norway. May attacks Netherlands and Belgium, then

France. June 1940 France is forced to surrender Miracle of Dunkirk

Very significant because saves a huge chunk of British army.

US shocked by quick fall of France Impact on public attitude Threat to US of German domination Europe

US Starts to Arm FDR calls for building of huge air fleet and a two-

ocean navy that would check both Germany and Japan.

Congress approves 37 Billion More than the cost of WWI and 5-times larger than

any annual budget for New Deal. Congress passes a conscription law, Sept. 1940.

America’s first peace-time draft. Havana Conference of 1940

“We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

Winston Churchill, the new prime minister summed up the British attitude:

Battle of Britain August 1940 Battle of

Britain begins Battle rages for

months. German advantages British advantages. British planes chew

up Luftwaffe

Battle of Britain in US Edward R. Murrow. Impact of radio reports on

Battle of Britain on US public opinion.

Hitler eventually indefinitely postpones invasion—huge mistake.

Fortress America?

Issue: Whether to provide scarce resources to GB or to husband all resources so that available to US

What do supporters of aid argue?

What do those against aid argue?

America First Committee.

Destroyer Deal

British in desperate need of destroyers. Why?

Destroyer Deal. Details Isolationists scream Is a clear departure from neutrality But public opinion supported all aid to GB

short of war.

Wilkie? In 1940 Republicans

nominate Wendell Wilkie. Why such a surprise? Background. Personality Attitude toward New Deal foreign policy.

Wilkie does not exploit resentment against FDR among isolationists

FDR Three-peat FDR keeps the country in suspense, but

decides to run for a third term. FDR pledges that “Your boys are not

going to be sent into any foreign wars.” FDR wins easily, but not as triumphantly

as the first two times. FDR might not have won if not for war.

Also might not have run.

Lend-Lease By late 1940 Cash and Carry not

working for Britain. Why? FDR knows that Congress will not

approve cash loans to allies. Proposes Lend-lease. How does it

work? FDR proposes making the US the

arsenal of democracy. This bill is vigorously debated

throughout the nation. Passes in March, 1941. Was a clear

declaration of hostility to Hitler. May, 1941 Germans sink first US

merchant ship

Atlantic Charter June 1941 Hitler invades the Soviet Union and

opens up a second front in his rear. Takes the pressure off GB and divides his army.

What is he thinking? Soviets are on the edge of defeat.

Roosevelt extends lend-Lease to Soviets. Extends 1 Bill. of what will eventually be 11 Billion.

Atlantic Conference-8/41. First of a series of meetings between Churchill and Roosevelt.

Atlantic Charter Leads to 8-point plan for

post-war world. Atlantic Charter. Similar to Wilson’s 14 points Pledges that countries will

not have borders changed Self determination and

return to pre-war governments

League of nations type organization.

U.S. Destroyers And Hitler’s U-boats

Lend-Lease to GB was faltering. Why? FDR response. Clashes with Subs—

9/41—Greer attacked without damage 10/41—Kearny attacked but not sunk 10/41—Reuben James sunk with loss of more

than 100. Congress pulls Neutrality legislation and

authorizes the arming of Merchant ships.

In the meantime……out in the Pacific Japan is mired in China. US is pressuring them to get

out, Japan is heavily dependent on US steel, oil, gasoline

and other war supplies. If US cuts them off, Japan is toast.

FDR reluctant to impose sanctions. Why? Late 1940 US does impose sanctions. 1941 freeze Japanese assets and ends all oil shipments. Japan’s choices US has broken code and knows that Japan plans to

attack somewhere. Warnings from US to Pearl Harbor are late in arriving.

Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 Japanese aircraft carriers

launch waves of attack planes. Destroy most of US Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor. 8 battleships, most of aircraft, 3000 casualties. But, three US carriers were out to sea and were

spared. Japanese failed to destroy repair facilities, allowing

US to stay at Pearl and repair the fleet. Big mistake. Next day—Congress declares war. Japan and Germany are allies—Germany and

Italy then declare war on US. U.S. declares war on Germany. We are in.

December 7th 1941

F.D.R. Dec.8th speech “ A Day that will live in Infamy”

FDR Signs Declaration of War