World War II: The Causes of World War II: The Causes of US EntryUS Entry

US History: SpiconardiUS History: Spiconardi

Isolation & NeutralityIsolation & Neutrality

US wanted to focus on coming out of the US wanted to focus on coming out of the Great DepressionGreat Depression

Senate investigation of US entry into WWISenate investigation of US entry into WWI– Encouraged by financiers & armament Encouraged by financiers & armament

makersmakers

US could be secure despite the events US could be secure despite the events going on in Europegoing on in Europe– Protected by an oceanProtected by an ocean

Isolation & NeutralityIsolation & Neutrality

Neutrality Acts of Neutrality Acts of 1935 & 19361935 & 1936

– USA would withhold USA would withhold weapons and loans of weapons and loans of money from all nations money from all nations at war and that U.S. at war and that U.S. citizens who traveled citizens who traveled on ships belonging to on ships belonging to nations at war did so at nations at war did so at their own risk.their own risk.

– FDR promised to keep FDR promised to keep US out of WWIIUS out of WWII

Isolation & NeutralityIsolation & Neutrality

““Cash and Carry”Cash and Carry”

Neutrality Act of 1937Neutrality Act of 1937– If belligerents in WWII wanted to trade with If belligerents in WWII wanted to trade with

US…US…Had to pay cash for non-military goodsHad to pay cash for non-military goods

Carry the goods from US back to Europe on their Carry the goods from US back to Europe on their own shipsown ships

– Why would FDR allow this in 1937?Why would FDR allow this in 1937?

Lend-Lease ActLend-Lease Act

Roosevelt finds a way Roosevelt finds a way around the neutrality around the neutrality actsacts

– Lend-Lease Act states Lend-Lease Act states that US can sell or loan that US can sell or loan war materials to “any war materials to “any country whose defense country whose defense the President deems the President deems vital to the defense of vital to the defense of the United States.” the United States.”

– FDR proclaims that the FDR proclaims that the U.S. would become the U.S. would become the “arsenal of democracy.”“arsenal of democracy.”

Lend-Lease ActLend-Lease Act

““If your neighbor’s If your neighbor’s house is on fire, you house is on fire, you don’t sell him a hose. don’t sell him a hose. You lend it to him and You lend it to him and take it back after the take it back after the fire is out.”fire is out.”

Pearl HarborPearl Harbor

Japan makes Tripartite Pact with Italy & Japan makes Tripartite Pact with Italy & GermanyGermany– If a country not involved in the war attacks If a country not involved in the war attacks

one of the three, then the others would come one of the three, then the others would come to that country’s aidto that country’s aid

US takes stern stance against Japanese US takes stern stance against Japanese imperialism after being lax for yearsimperialism after being lax for years– Froze Japanese assets in USAFroze Japanese assets in USA– No longer sold resource deprived Japan oilNo longer sold resource deprived Japan oil

Pearl HarborPearl Harbor

– December 7, 1941, Japanese war planes attacked December 7, 1941, Japanese war planes attacked the U.S. Navy fleet at Pearl Harbor.the U.S. Navy fleet at Pearl Harbor.

2,403 died and 1,178 wounded2,403 died and 1,178 wounded

On December 8, 1941 FDR makes his “a date which will On December 8, 1941 FDR makes his “a date which will live in infamy” speech. He asks Congress to declare war live in infamy” speech. He asks Congress to declare war on Japan.on Japan.

– Unanimous vote in Senate and 388-1 vote in House.Unanimous vote in Senate and 388-1 vote in House.

– Three days later Germany and Italy declare war on US, Three days later Germany and Italy declare war on US, honoring the Tripartite Pact they had signed with Japanhonoring the Tripartite Pact they had signed with Japan

– With the U.S. now in the war, Winston Churchill remarked, With the U.S. now in the war, Winston Churchill remarked, “Hitler’s fate was sealed. Mussolini’s fate was sealed. As for “Hitler’s fate was sealed. Mussolini’s fate was sealed. As for the Japanese, they would be ground to powder…I went to the Japanese, they would be ground to powder…I went to bed and slept the sleep of the saved and thankful.”bed and slept the sleep of the saved and thankful.”

Pearl HarborPearl Harbor

Pearl HarborPearl Harbor

Did the US Government know?Did the US Government know?– If so, when?If so, when?– If so, why not prevent the attack?If so, why not prevent the attack?