Chapter 16 World War Looms Essential Question: How did the rise
of dictators contribute to the outbreak of WWII?
Slide 2
Section 1 p. 554 Dictators Threaten World Peace Main Idea: The
rise of rulers with total power in Europe and Asia led to WWII. Why
it matters now: Dictators of the 1930s and 1940s changed the course
of history, making world leaders especially watchful for the
actions of dictators today OBJ: ID the types of governments that
took power in Russia, Italy, Germany, and Japan after WWI Why did
America turn to isolationism in the 1930s?
Slide 3
Conflict still brews in Europe after WWI. For many nations,
peace did not bring prosperity it brought revolution fueled by
economic depression and struggle. The post war years brought the
rise of powerful dictators driven by the belief in nationalism
loyalty to ones country ABOVE ALL ELSE! Dictators also wanted new
territory. Failures of the WWI Peace Settlement: The Treaty of
Versailles caused anger and resentment for Germans. They saw
nothing fair in a treaty that blamed them for starting the war. It
stripped them of their colonies and border territories. These
problems overwhelmed the Weimar Republic, the democratic government
set up in Germany after WWI. The Soviets also resented the carving
up of parts of Russia. Why did the new democracies set up after WWI
fail? Because there was a lack of democratic tradition, failure of
the Treaty of Versailles and economic devastation.
Slide 4
With no democratic tradition, people turned to authoritarian
leaders to solve their economic and social problems. The new
democracies collapsed and dictators were able to seize power.
Germany experienced hyperinflation in 1923. The economic demand of
reparations payments, required by the Treaty, was the prime cause
of inflation. The German people felt their government had betrayed
them and they were angry with the Allies for waging economic war on
their country. Inflation was so high that 5-million German Marks
were worth less that a penny. Children built blocks with stacks of
useless German marks.
Slide 5
Russia becomes the Soviet Union (formally Russia and its
surrounding territories) establishing the communist state in 1922.
Lenin communist leader dies in 1922. Stalin becomes leader. Joseph
Stalin Transforms the Soviet Union Stalin focused on creating a
model communist state. He made agricultural and industrial growth
the prime economic goals. He established all privately owned farms
and replaced them with collectives large government-owned farms,
each worked by hundreds of families. Stalin moved to transform the
USSR from a backward rural nation into a great industrial power.
1928 he outlined several 5 year plans to direct industrialization.
All economic activity was placed under state management. By 1937
The USSR had become the worlds second-largest industrial power. The
human costs for this transformation was tremendous.
Slide 6
Stalin eliminated or purged challenges to his rule by attacking
his closest allies and leaders of the revolution. The world watched
as the accused plead guilty to the states outlandish charges of
treason and counter-revolution, knowing full well that such
confession would result in their execution. The Show Trials (1936,
37 and 38) made a big impact on American Communists and
sympathizers. Many saw the potential totalitarian underpinnings of
Communism and deserted the movement. He eliminated anyhow who
threatened his power he did not even spare his most faithful.
Historians estimate that Stalin was responsible for the deaths of 8
13 million people. Millions more died in famines caused by the
restructuring of Soviet society. By 1939, he had established a
totalitarian government that tried to exert complete control over
its citizens.
Slide 7
Totalitarian state is where individuals have NO RIGHTS, and the
government suppresses all opposition. No Civil Liberties! What are
the characteristics of a totalitarian state? It has complete
control over citizens and uses ruthless suppression of the
opposition.
Slide 8
The Rise of Fascism in Italy: While Stalin was consolidating
his power in USSR, Benito Mussolini was establishing a totalitarian
regime in Italy where unemployment and inflation produced bitter
strikes, of which some were communist led. Upper and middle classes
demanded strong leadership alarmed by the threats. Mussolini took
advantage. He was a powerful speaker and knew how to appeal to
Italys wounded national pride. He played on the fears of economic
collapse and communism. This way he won support of many
discontented Italians. He started his political career as a
socialists rising through the ranks to become editor of the
Socialist Partys newspaper, Avanti! He broke with his party over
the issue of WWI. The Socialists opposed it, He was a nationalist
at heart and favored it. One of the characteristics of Fascism is
extreme patriotism.
Slide 9
Mussolini established the Fascist Party in 1921 which stressed
nationalism and placed the interests of the state above those of
individuals. Fascists argued that to strengthen the nation, power
must rest with a single strong leader and a small group of devoted
party members. Oct. 1922 he and thousands of his followers ( BLACK
SHIRTS - thugs) marched on Rome. When the government, army, and
police sided with the Fascists, the Italian king appointed him head
of the government. He called himself Il Duce and gradually extended
Fascist control in every aspect of Italian life. He was able to
achieve efficiency in aspects of every day life making trains run
on time but crushed all opposition by making Italy a totalitarian
state. What factors led to the rise of Fascism in Italy? Following
WWI, Italian pride had been hurt, there was rising inflation,
unemployment, and social unrest.
Slide 10
Nazis Take Over Germany: Adolf Hitlers path to power was
similar to Mussolinis. He was an unemployed soldier drifting around
Germany. He joins the National Socialist German Workers Party
(NAZI). It has no ties to socialism. He was a powerful public
speaker and organizer and quickly become a party leader, calling
himself Der Fuhrer the Leader he promised to bring Germany out of
chaos. Hitler was born in Austria and wanted to 1. unite all
German-speaking people in a Great German empire. His book Mein
Kampf (My Struggle) set forth the basic beliefs of Nazism the
German brand of fascism also based on extreme nationalism. Hitler
also wanted to enforce 2. racial purification at home.
Blue-eyed/blond haired Aryan Germans formed the master race and
were destined to rule the world. Inferior races Jews, Slavs,
non-whites, were fit only to serve Aryans. 3. national expansion.
He believed that for Germany to thrive, it needed more lebensraum
or living space.
Slide 11
What were the key ideas and goals that Hitler presented in Mein
Kampf? He wanted to reunite all Germans; Germans were the master
race others were inferior; Germany needed more living space. The
Great Depression helped Nazis come to power. Because of war debts
and dependence on American loans, and investments, Germanys economy
was hart hit. 1932 6 million Germans unemployed. Many joined
Hitlers private army (Brown Shirts storm troopers). The German
people were desperate and turned to Hitler as their last hope. By
1932 the Nazis had become the most powerful political party. Hitler
was appointed chancellor (prime minister). Once in power, Hitler
quickly dismantled Germanys democratic Weimar Republic. In its
place he established the Third Reich the third German Empire that
would last a thousand years. Hitler was elected in a democratic
election. The last democratic election of the Weimar Republic.
There was so much political infighting that moderate and right wing
party members decided that Hitler was somebody they could work with
and preferable to the moderate left Social Democrats.
Slide 12
Slide 13
Militarists gain control in Japan: Nationalistic military
leaders were trying to take control of the imperial government in
Japan. They shared Hitlers belief in the need of more living space
for a growing population on this island nation. In 1931 the
militarists launched a surprise attack and seized control of the
Chinese province of Manchuria twice the size of Texas rich in
natural resources.
Slide 14
The League of Nations established after WWI to prevent
aggressive acts went to Manchuria to investigate the situation.
Japan was condemned they quit the League. The League had no power
or ability to enforce its edicts. European dictators took notice.
1933 Germany leaves the League and begins a military buildup in
violation of the Treaty of Versailles. He sent troops into the
Rhineland, France did nothing to stop him. Hitler realized that he
could continue his aggressive demands, and the Western powers would
give in. Mussolini began building his new Roman empire. He targeted
Ethiopia one of Africas few remaining independent countries. By May
of 1936 Ethiopia had fallen. It symbolized another in a long line
of historical atrocities committed against people of African
descent. Emperor Haile Selassie the emperor of Ethiopia- was moved
to know that Afr/Am raised money for medical supplies and some
fought for them not abandoning their African brothers standing by
them.
Slide 15
Civil War Breaks out in Spain: 1936, Spanish army officers led
by General Francisco Franco rebelled against the Spanish republic.
Revolts broke out all over Spain and the Spanish Civil War had
begun. About 3,000 Americans went to Spain to fight. Western
democracies remained neutral. Limited aid could not stop the spread
of fascism. Hitler and Mussolini backed Franco and formed an
alliance know as the Rome-Berlin Axis. Franco becomes established
fascist Spanish dictator in 1939 after the loss of almost 500,000
lives. Another country in Europe becomes totalitarian. Italy and
Germany poured weapons and other assistance into Spain. The 2
countries use the Spanish Civil War and a testing ground for new
weapons and tactics.
Slide 16
The US responds cautiously: Americans were alarmed by the
international conflicts but believed that the US should NOT get
involved isolationism. What factors contributed to Americans
growing isolationism? There was evidence that large profits had
been made by greedy banks and arms industries during WWI; there was
regret over having involved in WWI Americans were more determined
than ever to avoid war; there was hatred of militarism.
Slide 17
Neutrality Acts: in an effort to keep the US out of future
wars, beginning in 1935, Congress passed a series of Neutrality
Acts. The first 2 acts outlawed arms sales or loans to nations at
war. The third act was passed in response to the fighting in Spain.
This act extended the ban on arms sales and loans to nations
engaged in civil wars. Despite efforts to legislate neutrality,
Roosevelt found it impossible to remain neutral. When Japan
attacked China in 1937, Roosevelt found a way around the acts by
claiming a war had not formally been declared. The US sent arms and
supplies to China. Roosevelt called for nations to stand up against
aggression. He was attacked by isolationist newspapers protesting
that the President was leading the nation into war. He backed off.
The US remained isolated from the conflicts over there.
Slide 18
Section 2 p. 562 War in Europe Main Idea: Using the sudden mass
attack called blitzkrieg, Germany invaded and quickly conquered
many European countries. Why it matters now: Hitlers actions
started WWII and still serve as a warning to be vigilant about
totalitarian government. Obj: Explain Hitlers motives for expansion
and how Britain and France responded Describe the blitzkrieg
tactics that Germany used against Poland.
Slide 19
Austria and Czechoslovakia Fall: Nov.5, 1937, Hitler met with
his military advisors declaring that Germany could not grow and
prosper without land (lebensraum)! That is the land of its
neighbors. He planned to absorb Austria and Czechoslovakia into the
Third Reich. Austria was hit first target. Most of Austrias
population were Germans who favored unification with Germany. March
12, 1938 German troops marched into Austria unopposed. Germanys
Anschluss (union) was complete. No one did anything or responded.
Hitler then turns his sights on the Sudetenland the western border
regions of Czechoslovakia where German-speaking people lived. He
wanted to annex this region to provide more living space and to
control its important natural resources. Of course Hitler claimed
the Germans there were abused German headlines were full of
hysteria and untruths about Czechs murdering Germans.
Slide 20
Slide 21
Early in the crisis France and Great Britain promised to
protect Czechoslovakia. Hitler met with the French premier Edouard
Daladier and British Prime minister Neville Chamberlain in Munich,
Germany. The fuhrer declared that this annexation of the
Sudetenland would be his last territorial demand. So believing him,
and wanting to avoid war, on Sept. 30, 1938, they signed the Munich
Agreement turning the Sudetenland over to Germany without a shot
being fired. Chamberlain returned home believing he had brokered
peace with an honorable man. Another Englishman Winston Churchill
Chamberlains political rival did not agree. Churchill felt that the
Munich Agreement was just a shameful policy of appeasement giving
up principles to pacify an aggressor. What was appeasement, and why
did Churchill oppose it so strongly? It was an attempt to do
whatever was necessary to pacify Hitler. Churchill saw it as an
abandonment of moral principles that would lead to a war and
national disaster.
Slide 22
Slide 23
Slide 24
The German Offensive Begins: As Churchill warned, Germany was
not through expanding the Third Reich. March 15, 1939, German
troops took the rest of Czechoslovakia. Hitler stated that
Czechoslovakia no longer existed. Land-hungry Hitler next turns his
gaze on its eastern neighbor Poland.
Slide 25
Poland also had a sizable German-speaking population. In the
spring of 1939 Hitler again charges that Poland is mistreating
German speaking people there and they need his protection. Some
thought Hitler was bluffing because his attack on Poland may bring
Germany into conflict with the Soviet Union Polands neighbor. Also,
this attack on Poland may provoke a declaration of war from France
and Great Britain both had promised to protect Poland. That would
make Germany fight on 2 fronts its east and its west.
Slide 26
Slide 27
As tensions over Poland grow, Stalin surprised everyone by
signing a nonaggression pact with Hitler (once a bitter enemy).
Aug. 23,1939, they signed an agreement to never attack each other.
They also signed a secret pact to divide Poland between them. This
eliminated a war on 2 fronts for Germany. The fate of Poland is
sealed. Sept. 1, 1939, the German Luftwaffe (Germanys improved air
force) roared over Poland dropping bombs on military airfields,
railroads, and cities at the same time, Germanys improved tanks
raced across Poland spreading terror and confusion. This was
Germanys new military strategy blitzkrieg or lightening war. They
moved fast and were powerful quickly to surprise and crush the
opposition with overwhelming force. Three days later Sept.3,
Britain and France declared war on Germany.
Slide 28
The blitzkrieg tactics worked perfectly. The major fighting was
over in 3 weeks before France and Britain could mount a defense. In
the last weeks, the USSR attacked Poland from the east grabbing
land. Germany annexed western Poland containing 2/3 of its
population. By the end of Sept., Poland ceased to exist and WWII
had begun.
Slide 29
Several months after Poland fell, France and Britain stationed
themselves along the Maginot Line a system of fortifications built
along Frances eastern border with Germany. No one fought. In the
meantime, Stalin occupied eastern Poland, annexed the Baltic states
of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. In 1939 he sent the Soviet army
into Finland who surrendered after 3 months.
Slide 30
April 9, 1930 Hitler launched a surprise invasion of Denmark
and Norway on order to protect their (countrys) independence. He
really had planned to build bases along their coasts to strike at
Britain. He then turned to the Netherlands, Belgium., and
Luxembourg which were overrun by May.
Slide 31
France and Britain Fight on: Frances Maginot Line ineffective
Germany simply went around it. As the Germans march toward Paris,
about 400,000 French and British soldiers are trapped at Dunkirk
its on the French side of the English Channel. In less than a week,
a makeshift fleet of fishing trawlers tugboats, river barges,
pleasure craft about 800 vessels ferried these troops to safety
across the Channel to England.
Slide 32
A few days later, Italy entered the war on Germanys side and
invaded France from the South as the Germany closed in on Paris
from the North. June 22, 1040, Hitler handed French officers his
terms of surrender Germans would control the northern part of
France and a Nazi-puppet government would be set up a Vichy in
southern France. After the fall of France, French general Charles
de Gaulle fled to England where he set up a government in
exile.
Slide 33
Battle of Britain: In the summer of 1940, the French assemble
an invasion fleet along the French coast. Their naval power could
not compete with Britain, so they also launched an air war at the
same time. The Luftwaffe began to make bombing runs over Britain.
GOAL: to gain total control of the skies by destroying the RAF
Britains Royal Air Force.. Hitler sent around 2,000 planes to fly
over London bombing it every night for 2 solid months. At first,
the Germans targeted airfields and aircrafts. Then it targeted
cities. The RAF fought back with new technology called: Radar. By
September, Hitler called of the Britain invasion indefinitely BUT
the Germany continued to pound Britains cities trying to disrupt
production and break civilian morale. British pilots also bombed
German cities. Civilians on both sides unrelentingly carried
on.
Slide 34
Slide 35
Section 3 p. 568 The Holocaust Main Idea: During the Holocaust,
the Nazis systematically executed 6 million Jews and 5 million
other non-Aryans Why it matters now: After the atrocities of the
Holocaust, agencies formed to publicize human rights. These
agencies have remained a force in todays world. OBJ: Explain the
reasons behind the Nazis persecution of the Jews and the problems
facing Jewish refugees. Describe the Nazis' final solution to the
Jewish problem and the horrors of the Holocaust.
Slide 36
In 1942 Jewish families in Poland had to give up their homes to
German families. They were rounded-up by the SS - Hitlers elite
Schutzstaffel security squadron and sent to labor camps.
Persecution begins: Shortly after Hitler took power in Germany in
on April 7, 1933, he ordered all non-Aryans removed from government
jobs. This was one of his first moves in a campaign for racial
purity it leads to the Holocaust the systematic murder of 6 million
Jews across Europe. They Nazis also murdered about 5 million other
people considered undesirable or enemies of the state. Even though
Jews werent the only victims of the Holocaust, they were the center
of Nazi targets. Anti-Semitism hatred of the Jews. This hatred has
been going on for centuries in parts of Europe and the Germans
needed a scapegoat for the cause of their failures. Hitler claims
the Jews were responsible for Germanys economic problems and defeat
in WWI.
Slide 37
In 1935 the Nuremberg Laws stripped Jews of their German
citizenship, jobs, and property. To make it easier to identify
them, Jews had to wear a bright yellow Star of David attached to
their clothing. A later extension of these laws subjected Jews to
economic, social and legal restrictions, which made it virtually
impossible to do anything. Kristallnacht: November 9-10, 1938,
Kristallnacht Night of Broken Glass. Nazi storm troopers attacked
Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues across Germany and
Austria. Windows were smashed, about 100 Jews were killed, and
hundreds injured. 30,000 Jews were arrested and hundreds of
synagogues were burned. Afterwards, the Nazis blamed the Jews for
the destruction.
Slide 38
Kristallnacht marked a step-up in the Nazi policy of Jewish
persecution. Nazis tried to speed Jewish emigration Jews fleeing
Germany had trouble finding nations that would accept them. France
already had 40,000 Jews; British worried about anti-Semitism and
refused 80,000 more refugees. The British controlled the Palestine
Mandate ( part of which later became Israel) allowed 30,000
refugees there. US: in the 1930s the US tradition of offering
asylum to victims of religious and political persecution conflicted
with the quota system imposed aby the Immigration Act of 1924.
Unemployment was at an all-time high (Depression), few leaders were
willing to open the doors to thousands of refugees result Jewish
refugees that may have been saved, died in the death camps.
Slide 39
The St. Louis was a German ocean liner with Jewish passengers
from Germany was not allowed to dock in Miami in 1939. They were
also refused to land in Cuba. Most had US immigration papers still
they were not allowed to dock. The ship was forced to return to
Europe. More than half were murdered in the Holocaust.
Slide 40
Hitlers Final Solution: To rid Europe and Germany of its Jews,
Hitler imposed his Final Solution a policy of genocide the
deliberate and systematic murder on an entire population. Hitlers
belief of this rested on the belief that Aryans were superior
people and that the strength and purity of this :master race: must
be preserved. Jews and other groups that were viewed as inferior or
unworthy or and enemies of the state were condemned. The groups
included gypsies, freemasons, Jehovahs Witnesses, mentally ill,
homosexuals, physically disables and incurable ill. Hitler began
implementing his Final Solution in Poland where the SS rounded up
Jews men, women, children and shot them on the spot.
Slide 41
Jews were also ordered in to overcrowded Ghettos segregated
Jewish areas in certain Polish cities. They were sealed off with
barbed wire and stone walls. Life in the ghetto miserable, dead
bodies piled up faster than they could be removed, people were
forced to work in factories next to the ghettos. Some Jews formed
resistance movements inside the ghettos, published underground
newspapers, secret schools were set up to educate Jewish children.
Theater and music groups continued to operate.
Slide 42
Concentration Camps: Labor camps. Jews were dragged from their
homes and herded onto trains or trucks for shipment to
concentration camps. Families were separated many never to see each
other again. They were originally set up to imprison opponents and
protesters; the camps were turned over to the SS who expanded them
to warehouse undesirables. Life in the camps was a cycle of hunger,
humiliation, and work that almost always ended in death. They
worked 7 days a week sun-up to sun-down. Prisoners were crammed
into crude wooden barracks that held 1,000 each. They were cramped,
full of rats, fleas and anything else. Those too weak to work were
killed.
Slide 43
The Final Stage: The Final Solution reached its final stage in
early 1942. Hitlers top officials agreed to begin a new phase of
the mass murder of Jews. To the mass starvation and slaughter they
would add a 3 rd method of killing poison gas. Being overworked,
staved, beaten, and shot the Nazis were not satisfied that the Jews
were being killed fast enough. So they built 6 death camps in
Poland that began operating in 1941. They had huge gas chambers
that could kill 12,000 a day. They were told they were going into
the chamber for a shower. They were poisoned with cyanide gas that
spewed from the walls while cheerful music played. The bodies were
then buried in a large pit the smell of decaying corpses could be
smelled for miles. At some camps, huge crematoriums or ovens burned
the dead or thrown into pits and set on fire. Still others died as
a result of horrible medical experiments carried out by camp
doctors injected with deadly germs to study the effects,
sterilization methods, or research looking for ways to improve the
master race.
Slide 44
The survivors: it is estimated that 6 million Jews died in
death camps, but there were survivors.
Slide 45
Section 4 p. 576 America Moves Toward War Main Idea: In
response to the fighting in Europe, the US provided economic and
military aid to help the Allies achieve victory. Why it matters
now: The military capability of the US became a deciding factor in
WWII and in world affairs ever since. OBJ: Describe the US response
to the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939. Explain how Roosevelt
assisted the Allies without declaring war. Summarize the events
that brought the US into armed conflict with Germany Describe the
American response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Slide 46
The US Musters its forces: In Sept. of 1939 Roosevelt persuaded
Congress to pass the cash-and-carry provision that allowed warring
nations to buy US arms as long as they paid cash and transported
them in their own ships. He felt this would help France and Britain
defeat Hitler and keep the US out of the war. It passes Congress.
AXIS THREAT: By 1940 France has fallen and Britain was under siege.
Roosevelt scrambled to provide the British with all aid short of
war. On Sept.27 Germany, Italy and Japan signed a mutual defense
treaty the Tripartite Pact- the Axis Powers. Their aim was to keep
the US out of the war. To declare war would be a nightmare for the
US it would be fighting a war on several continents and on 2
Oceans. What impact did the outbreak of war in Europe have on US
foreign and defense policy? Roosevelt revised the Neutrality Acts;
he dramatically increased defense spending; there was also the
institution of the nations first peacetime draft.
Slide 47
Roosevelt runs for a 3 rd term: he broke with tradition of a
2-term presidency. He was re-elected. He told America that it was
impossible to negotiate peace with Hitler. He warned that if
Britain fell, the Axis powers would be left unchallenged to conquer
the world. Lend-Lease Plan: By late 1940, Britain was out of cash
to spend FDR suggested a new plan lend-lease. Under this plan the
president would lend or lease arms and other supplies to any
country whose defense was vital to the US. It passed in Mar. 1941.
In June 1941, Hitler broke his agreement with Stalin and invaded
the USSR. He was offered the lend-lease supplies. Why did FDR take
one unneutral step after another to assist Britain and the USSR in
1941? FDR believed that the best way to stop the Axis powers was to
help their opponents mainly Britain and the USSR.
Slide 48
German Wolf Packs: Providing supplies and aid was one thing,
keeping supply lines open across the Atlantic Ocean was another.
Hitler deployed hundreds of German submarines U-Boats to attack
supply ships. These U-boast became know as the wolf pack. Some
groups of 40 would patrol areas in the North Atlantic where convoys
could be expected. They were successful for sinking as many as
350,000 tons of supplies in a single month. In June of 1941, FDR
granted the navy permission for US warships to attack German U-
boast in self-defense. By 1943, subs were contained by a new
detection device radar and by airborne anti-sub patrols operating
from small escort aircraft carriers. Atlantic Charter: US and
Britain pledged: collective security, disarmament,
self-determination, economic cooperation and freedom of the seas.
FDR told Churchill that he couldnt ask Congress to declare war
against Germany but he would do everything he could to force an
incident.
Slide 49
Allies: These nations that fought against the Axis powers. 26
nations Why was the Atlantic charter important? It set forth the
war aims of the Allies. Why did the US enter into an undeclared
shooting war with Germany in fall of 1941? Because German U-boats
were attacking American ships.
Slide 50
Japan Attacks the US: The US was now involved in an undeclared
naval war with Hitler. However, the attack that brought the US into
war came from JAPAN. Hideki Tojo: chief of staff of Japans Kwantung
Army. Japanese leaders saw an opportunity to unite East Asia under
Japanese control by seizing the colonial lands of Europeans at war.
Only the US and its Pacific islands remained in Japans way. They
needed OIL to do this. The US had an embargo against them. They
would seize the oilfields in the Dutch East Indies it would mean
war. How was oil a source of conflict between Japan and the US?
Japan needed oil and the US had placed an embargo on it to protest
Japanese aggression in Indochina.
Slide 51
Tojo becomes prime minister, he meets with emperor Hirohito and
even through he promised peace, he ordered the Japanese navy to
prepare for an attack on the US. Roosevelt sent out a war warning,
December 7, 1941 the Japanese bomb Pear Harbor, Hawaii, the largest
US naval base in the Pacific. At this time Hawaii was not a state.
For an hour and a half, the Japanese planes bombed and blasted
target after target. The devastation was appalling. Reaction to
Pearl Harbor: FDR addressed Congress, Yesterday, December 7, 1941,
a date which will live in infamy, an unprovoked and dastardly
attack Congress quickly approved Roosevelts request for a
declaration of war against Japan. 3 days later, Germany and Italy
declared war on the US. Former isolationists now were behind the
war effort. The war was good for business. It brings the US out of
the Depression by producing war supplies, etc. Factories were
hiring again and the unemployment rate shrank rapidly.