FROM NEUTRALITY TO WAR 1939-1941

Outbreak of War in Europe Hitler breaks Munich agreement,

occupies Czechoslovakia Britain and France draw line at Poland Stalin (USSR) and Hitler sign

nonaggression pact, secretly divide Poland

Outbreak of War in Europe Invasion of Poland

September 1, 1939 Britain and France

declare war Blitzkrieg strategy

Air Power Fast tanks

Control of Scandinavia, France by spring of 1940

Changing U.S. policy Most opposed Hitler Roosevelt believed British survival was

necessary Chipped away at neutrality laws Massive aid to Britain was controversial

Cash and Carry Less restrictive Neutrality Act Arms if carried on their ships and paid cash Strongly favored Britain

Changing U.S. Policy Selective Service Act (1940)

Compulsory military service/draft All men 21-35 1.2 million troops First draft during peacetime

Smaller proportion of resistors than WWI 3x as many (6,000)

Destroyers-for-bases deal Britain under constant attack Couldn’t sell destroyers

50 ships for right to build bases on Brit islands

The Election of 1940 3 Term president? Campaign

“Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars.”

Wendell Willkie GOP nominee New Deal critic Similar in view on war Focused on 2-term limit

Result 54% for Roosevelt

Arsenal of Democracy Four Freedoms

Proposed lending money to GB to buy war materiel

In defense of 4 freedoms Speech, religion, from want,

from fear Lend-Lease Act

End cash and carry Sell arms on credit America-First vehemently

opposed

Arsenal of Democracy Atlantic Charter

Secret meeting between Roosevelt and Churchill

Affirmed peace objectives Self-determination for all No territorial expansion Free trade

Shoot-on-sight U.S. escorts for British ships carrying lend-

lease sales American ship attacked by German American ships to attack Germans on sight

Disputes with Japan Japan had expanded into Allied colonies U.S. economic action

No steel or iron to any country except GB Oil embargo

Negotiations Needed oil for navy and AF Japan would have to take resources Invasion of China violation of Open Door Unsuccessful, hope for delayed

confrontation

Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 2,400 deaths 1,200 wounded 20 warships 150 airplanes

Pearl Harbor Partial surprise

High gov. officials aware of immanency of attack Code broken

No exact target and date Philippines, Dutch East Indies, Malaya

Declaration of War Nearly Unanimous

Jeanette Rankin First female Congressperson ONLY congressperson to vote against both WWI

and WWII