World War II

1. World War II Chapter 25

2. Good Neighbor Policy Both Hoover and FDR were interested in improving relations with Latin America (Pan-American Conferences, repeal of Platt Amendment) FDR otherwise was interested in remaining isolated other than helping the US Economy (backing out of London talks of currency change, recognizing the Soviet Union for trade purposes, lowering tariffs)

3. Japan and Manchuria Japan’s defiance of the Open Door policy by conquering Manchuria showed the inability of the League of Nations to keep peace Hoover responded by not recognizing the new regime (Stimson Doctrine) but did not act on the event, and soon Japan was invading China

4. Mussolini, Hitler, and Franco Mussolini conquered Ethiopia Hitler annexed Austria, reoccupied the Rhineland, and grabbed the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia General Franco established a military dictatorship (fascist) in Spain

5. Nye Committee Americans were reluctant to stop any aggression due to World War I and new reports by the Nye Committee that the war only helped greedy bankers and businessmen make profits Therefore, Neutrality Acts were passed to keep the US out of war situations (no travel, supplies, loans to war nations)

6. Jewish Refugees Nuremberg Laws (citizenship stripping) and Kristallnacht led to the fleeing of many Jews from Germany to any place that would accept them The SS St Louis came to the US looking to drop off Jewish refugees, but the US would not accept them

7. Nuremberg Laws and Kristallnacht Passports allowed Jews to leave but not to return Kristallnacht – Night of Broken Glass

8. Appeasement – The Munich Pact One cause of World War II was the failure of appeasement (giving countries what they want in the hope that they will be satisfied), which was attempted in the Munich Pact with Hitler after he conquered Czechoslovakia Roosevelt, despite staying neutral, decided to use the “preparedness” strategy and increase spending

9. Non-Aggression Pact Another reason for the war was the agreement between Germany and Russia to have peace with each other (allowing Germany to turn attentions to the West) and also their agreement to divide Poland Britain and France spoke up, pledging to stop Hitler if he invaded Poland

10. The Tripartite Pact A third reason was the Tripartite Pact between Germany, Italy, and Japan where each agreed to ally with each other

11. War Begins • The invasion of Poland using blitzkrieg (lightning war) starts World War II as Britain and France declare war on Germany, Italy, and Japan • Germany invades France, Denmark, Norway, and other countries in Western Europe, leaving just Britain as the only European ally

12. US Policy Shifts • As the US witnesses the horrors of Hitler in Europe, people are more willing to help Britain and Roosevelt makes the following changes to neutrality: • “Cash and Carry” policy gives arms to Britain (through normal trading) • Roosevelt passes a peacetime Selective Service Act to set up a draft • Roosevelt sends 50 destroyers to Britain in exchange for the establishment of bases for US economy

13. Election of 1940 Roosevelt won an unprecedented third term due to his experience, which people felt was needed in this time of war

14. Lend-Lease Bill • Roosevelt’s election victory allowed him to take stronger stances towards allying with Britain: • Four Freedoms Speech (pledges to protect countries that fought against tyranny and for freedom) • Lend-Lease Act (lent supplies to Britain on credit – had reaction from the American First Committee who pledged neutrality) • Atlantic Charter (created peace objectives for the end of war) • Shoot-on-sight Policy (shoot German ships on sight) • Ending of trade with Japan

15. US enters war when… • Japan’s negotiations break down and tensions in the Pacific are strained • Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and US declares war • Germany and Italy declare war on the US, who now is allied with Britain and the Soviet Union (who had been double crossed by Germany)

16. War Economy The US War Economy turned the tide in the war as new agencies (WPB, Office of War Mobilization, Office of Price Administration) are created

17. Home Front Munitions Production in World War II(Expenditures in billions of dollars, US 1944 munitions prices)

18. John L. Lewis Labor Unions such as the Miner’s Unions led by John L. Lewis were often painted as anti-US in World War II The war had a positive effect on most people due to job creation, and most were okay with the new tax increases and war bonds to pay for the war, but the Smith-Connally Anti-strike Act made it difficult for labor unions in the 1940s

19. The Manhattan Project J. Robert Oppenheimer creates the Atomic Bomb With thousands of scientists employed, the “Wizard War” was a chance for the US to create new weapons of destruction to win them the war The Manhattan Project, run by Oppenheimer, developed the first nuclear bomb as tests were done all over the US

20. Death Tolls General Infantry saw death and destruction and suffering psychologically, but it did open their eyes to new countries and cultures and made them more tolerant of others

21. Women in the Workforce Women workers made up 1/3 of the labor force during World War II, often in previously male jobs, but they earned about 65% of what a man received in that job. Nevertheless “Rosie the Riveter” posters encouraged women to support the war

22. Minorities Get New Opportunities • Minority numbers in the war increased in general and: • African-Americans did suffer discrimination but were encouraged to fight with the “Double-V” slogan for victory over fascism leading to victory for equality • Mexican-Americans and Native-Americans worked in factories and on farms (braceros), leading to some rioting (Zoot Suit Riots in California)

23. Japanese-American Internment Internment Camps placed Japanese-Americans in guarded areas during the war for “necessary and proper” reasons according to the case Korematsu v. US

24. Election of 1944 The Americans yet again did not want to change Presidents during the war and Roosevelt won easily His ailing health also meant that his VP would likely serve, and he picked Harry Truman

25. The Big Three • Franklin Roosevelt (USA) – end of fascism, open trade between nations, self-determination for people in Europe • Winston Churchill (UK) – keep British empire, have balance of power against Germany and Soviet Union • Joseph Stalin (Soviet) – weaken Germany, impose Soviet domination over Eastern Europe and other areas • Meetings in Tehran, Casablanca, and Cairo all discussed postwar issues where the three debated the best way to end the war

26. The Yalta Conference • The Big Three met one last time in the Soviet Union, with Roosevelt now quite sick, and created an official treaty that: • Divided Germany into occupation zones for the Soviets, Britain, and the US • Allowed Soviet control (but with free elections) in Eastern Europe • Created the United Nations as a peacekeeping body

27. V-E Day After victory in Europe (the surrender of Germany) the Soviets started to break their promise to hold free elections and new President Truman criticized Stalin, leading to US and Soviet tensions

28. Dropping the Atomic Bombs Truman’s issuing of the Potsdam Declaration, calling on unconditional surrender from Japan, failed. Therefore, Truman ordered the dropping of two atomic bombs, one on Hiroshima and the other on Nagasaki. Since the use of the atomic bomb, historians have debated whether it was necessary.

29. The Holocaust The Holocaust activities began reaching the US in the early part of the war, but it wasn’t until the soldiers came home with pictures and stories of what they saw did people learn the truth