American Neutrality Coach Crews U S History Vocabulary

American Neutrality Coach Crews U. S. History

Vocabulary • Internationalism • Strategic materials Respond to the following prompt: It is the role of America to protect the world from conflict: Agree or disagree and explain.

American Neutrality • War Fatigue World War I had cost the United States many lives and a great deal of money. Many Americans did not understand what purpose World War I had served and did not want to get involved in another world war. • International Debt Former allies from World War I had not repaid much of the war debt owed to the United States. Internationalism seemed costly. • Nye Committee Led by Senator Gerald Nye, the committee reported that many arms manufacturers had profited greatly from World War I. This led many Americans to think that they fought in World War I to benefit arms companies and disinclined them to support World War II.

Neutrality Acts • 1935: In response to the findings of the Nye Committee, this first act prohibited Americans from selling arms to countries at war. • 1936: Following the onset of the Spanish Civil War, this act prohibited Americans from selling arms to either side fighting in a civil war. • 1937: After Germany, Italy, and Japan allied as the Axis Powers, this act allowed the sale of non-military supplies on a cash-and-carry basis

Roosevelt’s Internationalism • During the 1930 s, Roosevelt was focused on leading the United States out of the Great Depression with his New Deal legislation. • However, Roosevelt supported internationalism, believing that international trade generated prosperity and encouraged peaceful resolution to conflicts. • Roosevelt opposed but did not veto the Neutrality Acts. • Roosevelt authorized the sale of arms to China when Japan invaded the country in 1937. He claimed the Neutrality Acts did not apply because Japan had not declared war on China.

Neutrality Acts • 1939: Neutrality Act allowed the sale of weapons on a cash-and-carry basis only. • Spring 1940: Roosevelt approved a Destroyers-for-Bases deal with Britain received 50 old U. S. destroyers in exchange for the right to build American bases on British soil. • July 1940: Congress authorized Roosevelt to begin an embargo against Japan. • March 1941: Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act, allowing U. S. companies to lend or lease arms to countries deemed “vital to the defense of the United States. ” • April 1941: Roosevelt declared the western half of the Atlantic Ocean to be a Hemispheric Defense Zone, and ordered the U. S. Navy to disclose the location of any German submarines in the zone to the British. • August 1941: Roosevelt and Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter, committing the United States and Britain to postwar security, peace, free trade, and freedom of the seas.

Exit Questions • What events persuaded many Americans to favor neutrality? • How did requiring other countries to use their own ships maintain neutrality? • What policy shifted us away from neutrality? • Which policy made the U. S. military indirectly involved in the war?