FDR and the Shadow of War

London Economic Conference66 nations meet. Purpose and primary

goalRoosevelt pulls out. Why? Results:

World depression gets worse and everyone pursues their own policies.

Leads to an increase in nationalism.Reduces chances for international cooperation

on other issues

FDR’s Foreign PolicyIncreased isolationismWithdrew from AsiaTydings-McDuffie Act – independence of the

Philippines1933 – recognized the Soviet Union

“Good Neighbor Policy”Renounced armed intervention in Latin

America.  Marines left Haiti in 1934; Cuba, under the Platt Amendment, was

released from American controlMexican government seized American oil

properties in 1938,FDR held to his unarmed intervention policy

and a settlement was worked out in 1941

Dictators: Joseph Stalin1922: Control of Communist USSR

Dictators: Benito Mussolini1922: Italy

Dictators: Adolf HitlerNazi Party (Germany) – 1921Rome-Berlin Axis (1936)

Isolationism: Dr. Seuss

Neutrality Acts1935, 1936, 1937No American could legally sail on a

belligerent ship, sell or transport munitions to a belligerent, or make loans to a belligerent.

Provoked agression

Japan

Japan invades ChinaIn 1937, the Japanese militarists touched off an

explosion that led to the all-out invasion of China.  President Roosevelt refused to call the "China

incident" an officially declared war.  The Japanese, as a result, were able to continue

to buy war supplies in the United States.In 1937, Japanese planes sunk an American

gunboat, the Panay.  Tokyo was quick to make apologies and the

United States accepted.

Germany

Hitler’s violation of the Treaty of Versailles

1935 - mandatory military service in Germany.  I1936 - took over the demilitarized German

Rhineland.In March 1938, Hitler invaded Austria. 

(Note:  Austria actually voted for the occupation, fully aware that if it resisted, Germany would forcefully take over Austria.)

At a conference in Munich, Germany in September 1938, the Western European democracies, unprepared for war, gave away Sudetenland to Germany. 

In March 1939, Hitler took control of Czechoslovakia. 

WWII in Europe BeginsHitler-Stalin Pact (1939)Pact of Steel (1939)

Italy and GermanyHitler invades Poland on Sept 1, 1939.

Blitzkrieg – “Lightning War”Britain and France declare war on Germany

Neutrality Act of 1939. European scould buy American war materials

as long as they would transport the munitions on their own ships.

Other territorial gainsSoviet Union took FinlandGermany took Denmark and Norway (1940)Germany took Netherlands and Belgium

Fall of FranceMay 10th , 1940The battle consisted of two main operations.

Fall Gelb (Case Yellow), German armored units pushed through the Ardennes to cut off and surround the Allied units that had advanced into Belgium.

Fall Rot Case Red), executed from June 5th, German forces attacked the larger territory of France across the Maginot line.

Italy declared war on France on June 10th. The French government fled to Bordeaux and Paris

was occupied on June 14th. France surrendered on June 25th.

German occupation

U.S. ReactionRoosevelt moved with tremendous speed to

call upon the nation to build huge air fleets and a two-ocean navy. 

Congress approved spending of $37 billion.  On September 6, 1940, Congress passed a

conscription law; First peacetime draft was initiatedprovision was made for training 1.2 million

troops and 800,000 reserves each year.At the Havana Conference of 1940,

responsibility of upholding the Monroe Doctrine.

Germany v. BritainAugust 1940 -  The Battle of Britain

Air battle radio broadcasts brought the drama from

London air raids directly to America homes. On September 2, 1940, President Roosevelt

agreed to transfer to 50 destroyers left over from WWI to Britain.  Violated neutrality agreements

In return, Britain agreed to hand over to the United States 8 valuable defensive base sites. 

Battle of Britain

Election of 1940Republican – Wendell Willkie

Dictatorship of FDRInefficiency of the New Deal

Democrat – FDRexperience

BothStay out of warStrengthen defenses

Voters felt FDR more prepared for war

Lend-Lease BillPassed fearing the collapse of BritainAmerican arms could be leased to

democracies who needed them.Abandoned neutrality

Hitler – “unofficial declaration of war”Robin Moor – merchant ship destroyed by

German submarine

Germany v. Soviet UnionJune 22, 1941, Hitler attacks the Soviet

Union.  Roosevelt made military supplies available.

Atlantic Conference: August 1941.  Roosevelt and Churchill8 points

no territorial changes contrary to the wishes of the inhabitants

it affirmed the right of a people to choose their own form of government

declared for disarmament and a peace of security,  

Atlantic Conference

Repeal of Neutrality ActU.S. escorts the shipments of arms to Britain

by U.S. warships in July 1941.  In September 1941, the U.S. destroyer Greer

was attacked by U-boatRoosevelt a then proclaimed a shoot-on-sight

policy. Congress voted in November 1941 to

repeal the Neutrality Act of 1939, enabling merchant ships to be legally armed and enter the combat zones with munitions for Britain.

U.S.S Greer

“A Day That Will Live in Infamy.”Japan had been allied with Germany.Washington imposed the first of its

embargoes on Japan-bound supplies in 1940.  Asked Japan to move out of China

On "Black Sunday" December 7, 1941, Japanese bombers attacked Pearl Harbor, killing 2,348 people. 

On December 11, 1941, Congress declared war.

Kamikaze Pilots

Declaration of War