America Enters the War

AMERICA ENTERS THE WARChapter 24 Section 4

FDR SUPPORTS ENGLAND

FDR wanted to help Britain and France Neutrality Act of 1939

Proclaimed U.S. neutral FDR called for Congress to allow for the selling of weapons (if

they paid in cash), buying country must transport weapons

Britain was in great need of destroyers to protect their cargo ships from German U-Boats FDR found a loophole around the Neutrality Act

of 1939 Destroyers for Bases Deal

ISOLATIONIST DEBATE

What two events swayed U.S. public into favoring limited aid to the allies? Range of Opinion

Two groups in favor of U.S. involvement in WWII1. Fight for Freedom Committee2. Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies

America First Committee

Election of 1940 FDR (Dem.) vs. Wendell Willkie (Rep.)

FDR wins b/c wanted a president who had experienced crisis

EDGING TOWARD WAR

Edging Toward War FDR wanted to preserve democracy in Britain

Wanted to protect their four freedoms:1. Freedom of speech2. Freedom of worship3. Freedom from want4. Freedom from fear

Lend-Lease Act U.S. would lend or lease arms to any country

considered “vital to the defense of the U.S.” Contributed more than $40 Billion in weapons, vehicles,

and other supplies Eventually supported the Soviets also

EDGING TOWARD WAR

Hemispheric defense zone Allowed America navy to locate German U-boats

and tell the British their location The Atlantic Charter

Agreement b/w FDR and Churchill Postwar world of democracy, nonaggression, free trade,

economic advancement, and freedom of the seas Two incidents of German aggression toward the

U.S.1. German U-Boat fired on U.S. destroyer Greer2. German U-Boat sank U.S. destroyer, Ruben James

115 sailors died

JAPAN ATTACKS THE U.S.

America Embargoes Japan FDR introduced policies to discourage the

Japanese from attacking British Empire in Asia Most of the navy had left to fight Germans in

Europe Japan depended on the U.S. for scrap iron,

steel, and oil (80%) Export Control Act

Allowed FDR to restrict the sale of strategic materials to other nations

Japanese signed an Alliance with Germany and Italy

JAPAN ATTACKS THE U.S.

In 1941, FDR began sending lend-lease aid to China

Wanted China to keep the Japanese occupied It failed, by July 1941, Japanese troops had marched into

Indochina threatening the British Empire The Japanese were now in position to destroy British shipping

Roosevelt responded with freezing all Japanese assets in the U.S.

FDR would only lift oil embargo if Japan withdrew from Indochina and made peace with China

b/c of lack of oil and other resources Japan attacked British and Dutch colonies

Now focused on destroying U.S. fleet in Pacific On Nov. 26, 1941, Japan set sail for Hawaii

JAPAN INVADES CHINA

JAPAN ATTACKS PEARL HARBOR

American had decoded Japanese messages that stated Japan was preparing for war with the U.S. Nov. 27, 1941, American commanders at Pearl

Harbor received warning of Japanese attack from Washington, they were not mentioned a target

On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan surprised the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor (date that will live in infamy)

21 ships were sank; 8 battleships, 3 cruisers, 4 destroyers, and 6 Other vessels 2,403 died and 1,178 injured

On Dec. 8, 1941, U.S. declared war on Japan

Pearl HarborPearl Harbor

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

Pearl Harbor from the Cockpit of a Japanese Pilot

Pearl Harbor from the Cockpit of a Japanese Pilot

Pearl Harbor - Dec. 7, 1941Pearl Harbor - Dec. 7, 1941

A date which will live in infamy!

President Roosevelt Signs the US Declaration of WarPresident Roosevelt Signs the US Declaration of War

USS Arizona, Pearl HarborUSS Arizona, Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor MemorialPearl Harbor Memorial

2,887 Americans Dead!

GERMANY DECLARES WAR

Hitler was frustrated with the Americans navy attacks on German submarines Believed the Japanese would easily defeat

the Americans Hoped helping the Japanese now, he could

count on them for help against the Soviets Hitler declared war on the U.S. on

December 11, 1941.