Lesson Two From Neutrality to War After WWI

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ After WWI many Americans again supported isolationism ○ Accusations were made that arms manufactures encouraged the US to enter into WWI ○ The Neutrality Act of 1935 made it illegal for Americans to sell arms to any country at war

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ Mussolini invaded Northern Africa to expand Italy’s territory ○ 1936 the Spanish Civil War broke out and Spain was taken over by nationalist General Francisco Franco took control, he ruled Spain until his death in 1975

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ Axis Powers- Japan, Italy, and Germany

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ Allied Powers. Great Britain, France, USSR (Russia), the United States

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ Neutrality Act of 1937 said that countries at war could buy nonmilitary supplies on a “cash and carry” basis ○ FDR supported internationalism, where trade between nations helped them to be prosperous and prevent war

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ Japan invaded China in 1937 without declaring war ○ FDR said that since war had not been declared the Neutrality Acts did not apply and sent weapons to China

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ The Neutrality Act of 1939 permitted the sale of weapons to countries at war on a “cash and carry” basis ○ By 1940 many Americans supported lending limited aid to the Allies

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ FDR won a third election in 1940

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ The Lend-Lease Act allowed the US to lend or lease arms to any country considered “vital to the defense of the US”

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ August 1941 Winston Churchill (British Prime Minister) and FDR met and established the Atlantic Charter ○ Both nations were committed to post-war democracy ○ Free trade ○ Economic advancement ○ And Freedom of the Seas

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ German U-Boats begin targeting US ships in the Atlantic that were giving away their position to the British ○ Tensions continued to grow between the US and Germany

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ Japan had depended on scarp metal, oil, and steel from the US ○ FDR restricted the sale of strategic materials like metals and oil that were needed for the war effort ○ Japan was upset that they were no longer receiving these materials from the US and signed the alliance with Germany and Italy, the Axis Powers

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ Tensions rose between the US and Japan as Japan took over territory in Southeast Asia

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ Peace negations between the US and Japan failed in late November ○ Japan attacked the US at Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 ○ 8 battleships were sunk ○ 180 aircraft were destroyed ○ 2403 Americans were killed another 1178 injured

Lesson Two From Neutrality to War ○ The US declared war on Japan the next day ○ December 11 th Italy and Germany declared war on the US