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Chapter 24 Section 4. America Enters the War. 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
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Chapter 24 Section 4 America Enters the War
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 FDR Supports England
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 WWII • Fight for Freedom Committee • 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 Isolationist Debate
Edging Toward War • FDR wanted to preserve democracy in Britain • Wanted to protect their four freedoms: • Freedom of speech • Freedom of worship • Freedom from want • 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-boatsand 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. • German U-Boat fired on U.S. destroyer Greer • German U-Boat sank U.S. destroyer, Ruben James • 115 sailors died Edging Toward War
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 materialsto 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 Attacks the U.S.
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 Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor - Dec. 7, 1941 A date which will live in infamy!
Pearl Harbor Memorial 2,887 Americans Dead!
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. Germany Declares War
