America Moves toward War From a Nation of

America Moves toward War From a Nation of Neutrality to the Great Arsenal of Democracy

United States Musters Its Forces • In response to acts of aggression abroad, Congress passes the Neutrality Acts of 1937—no weapons can be sold to nations at war • 1939 Germany invades Poland; Britain and France declare war. IS America in danger? 1939 Roosevelt persuaded congress that American security depended on Britain • Congress passed the Neutrality Act of 1939 and the cash-and-carry policy went into effect

The Axis Threat • By summer of 1940, France had fallen and Britain was under siege • Roosevelt sent aid to the British rifles, machine guns, and Fighter Planes • On September 27, 1940 Germany, Italy and Japan had signed a mutual defense treaty Tripartite Act-designed to keep the United States out of the war • *Axis Powers Germany, Italy and Japan

Building Defenses • Roosevelt asked Congress to increase spending for National Defense • 1940 Congress passed the first peacetime military draft • 16 million men between the ages of 21 and 35 were registered

Great Arsenal of Democracy • Britain had spent all of their money • Lend-Lease Policy the president would lend or lease arms and other supplies to “any country whose defense was vital to the United States. ” • Congress passed the Lend Lease Act in March 1941. • U. S. not only helped Britain, but helped the Soviet Union as well

Great Arsenal of Democracy • This act was to aid Britain and the Soviet Union, and ensure the safe delivery of goods to the countries • Hitler deployed hundreds of U-boats to sink ships bringing supplies to Britain and the Soviet Union • In 1941, Roosevelt granted the Navy permission for U. S. warships to attack German U-Boats in self defense.

FDR’s Plans for War • Churchill and Roosevelt created a joint declaration of arms • Atlantic Charter a 1941 declaration of principles in which the United States and Great Britain set forth their goals in fighting the Axis Powers. Makes Britain and U. S. ALLIES • Allies The nations who fought against the Axis powers: United States, Britain, Soviet Union, (China, Mexico, Brazil, and numerous others)

Japan Attacks the United States • Germany’s European victories created new expansionist opportunities for Japanese Empire • In 1937, Hideki Tojo launched an invasion on China. French, Dutch and British colonies in the area were unprotected • British were too busy fighting off Hitler to protect their colonies. • Only the U. S. and its Pacific Islands were in Japan’s way.

Road to Pearl Harbor • In response to Japan’s attack on China in 1937, the United States begins supplying weapons to the Chinese • Since it is an “undeclared” war, the Neutrality Acts are not violated • The US continues to sell oil and scrap metal to the Japanese as well. • In 1941 the US cuts off oil to Japan to protest its aggression in French-Indo China

Japan Needs Oil! • The Japanese leadership decides to invade the Dutch East Indies to gain its Oil • This means that the US will most likely declare war on Japan since Holland Britain are allies. • If war against the US is inevitable then Japan will strike the first blow! • This is why Japan attacks Pearl Harbor on December 7 th 1941

Japan Attacks the United States • Tojo promised Emperor Hirohito that the Japanese government would attempt to preserve peace with the Americans. – November 5, 1941 Tojo ordered the Japanese Navy to prepare for an attack on the U. S. – U. S. had broken military codes and found out that Japan was going to attack but they did not know where or when. • Roosevelt sent a general warning out to all of the U. S. islands in the Pacific. • On December 7, 1941 the Japanese bombed the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii “The Day That Will Live in Infamy” – Killed 2, 403 Americans and wounded 1, 178. – The next day Roosevelt asked congress to declare war on Japan – American cultural bias against the Japanese made this attack so much more devastating • December 10, 1941 Germany and Italy declared war on the U. S.

The Pacific Theatre of World War II The United States Versus Japan

Japan’s Early Success • The first 6 months after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese conquered an empire • On the Asian mainland Japanese troops had overran Hong Kong, French Indo-China, Malaya, Burma, Thailand, and much of China. • In the Philippines, 80, 000 American and Filipino troops battled the Japanese for control. – General Douglas Mac. Arthur is ordered by Roosevelt to flee the island before being captured – “I’ll Be Back!”

The Battle of Midway • Turning point of the Pacific War – From this point the American Navy consistently drives the Japanese back towards Japan – Japan suffers the staggering loss of 4 aircraft carriers • American Strategy of “Island Hopping” • US Navy and Marine Corps travel from Island to Island slowly making their way to Japan • Each Island represents brutal combat against the Japanese army that is taught that surrender is dishonorable

The Atomic Bomb Ends the War • Several Battles convince the United States Leaders that Japan will not surrender: – Iwo Jima – Okinawa • President Truman is told about a secret weapon called the “Manhattan Project” • Truman authorizes the Military to use this weapon • August 6, 1945 the first ever atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima • August 9, 1945 the second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki