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US entry into WW2. During the early 1930s Americans were isolationist-the 1934 Senate Nye Committee investigation had convinced many Americans the WW1 had been fought to benefit greedy bankers. 1937 Gallup Poll: 64% US intervention was a mistake
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US entry into WW2 • During the early 1930s Americans were isolationist-the 1934 Senate Nye Committee investigation had convinced many Americans the WW1 had been fought to benefit greedy bankers. • 1937 Gallup Poll: 64% US intervention was a mistake • The July 1937 “China Incident” began to bring America out of its isolationist mood. The US began to put pressure on Japan to respect the integrity of China. • “China Incident” marked a turning point in American policy. It became clearly more international. FDR wanted to keep the US out of war, but not at the expense of US foreign policy interests. • 1938: Japan proclaimed a “New Order” for East Asia, no more Open Door Policy in China. US objected and reasserted interests in China and the Far East. • US also terminated Japanese-American commercial treaty of 1911 to open up economic sanctions
US entry into WW2 • After the fall of Poland, Congress passed the “Cash and Carry Act” • banned loans to belligerent governments and prohibited US ships from entering war zones • The fall of France moved FDR to run for a third term. Congress appropriated $10 billion for the military, and passed the first peacetime draft in the nations history. • The quick fall of France surprised many Americans. Many thought England was next. If that happened American interests would be at stake. • When the war started in 1939 the US military was one-third the size of Belgium’s
US entry into WW2 • In September 1940 the US gave Britain 50 WW1 destroyers in exchange for 8 Western Hemisphere military bases. • This marked the end of US neutrality in WW2 • December 1940: FDR in a radio address said to the nation that the US has to be ‘an arsenal of democracy” • In March 1940 Congress passed the “Lend Lease Act,” and in April and July 1941 American troops occupied Greenland and Iceland. American warships began to convoy US shipping half-way across the Atlantic. After the September 1941 “Greer Incident,” US warships began to escort British merchant ships, and the US navy was issued orders to “shoot on sight” and German submarine. An undeclared was existed in the Atlantic.
US entry into WW2 • USS Greer Incident: attacked by a German submarine as it was giving submarine’s position to British patrol plane. FDR claimed the attack was unprovoked and ordered the German’s be shot on sight • Japan’s main goal was hegemony over China and the establishment of a “New Order” for Asia under Japan’s supervision. In April 1941 Japan and the USSR signed a neutrality pact. In July 1941 Japan occupied French Indochina. The US responded with a ban on the sale of aviation gasoline and scrap iron to Japan and gave China a $100 million loan. The US fleet was moved to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Trade ceased between the two countries by July 1941.
US entry into WW2 • Fall of 1940 Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy. • The Japanese held a surprise attack at Pearl Harbor to keep the US away from the Indies so they could gain oil. • The US also did not give oil to Japan in response to the invasion of French Indochina. This oil embargo surprised Japan. They only had enough for one more year and no source. Two choices: 1. Agree to US demands or 2. Strike for an independent supply. They chose #2. They went after the Dutch East Indies. • After the attack Germany and Italy declared war on the US. The attack took some pressure of FDR, he had no decision to make any longer, it was attack. Congress declared was on the three countries thus beginning US involvement militarily.
