WWII America Gets…

I.N.V.O.L.V.E.D.

I don’t thinks so… Isolationistic

o With WWI fresh in their memory, Americans did not want:• Their ships bombed • To enter another war

o How can they prevent it?

Neutrality Actso Americans could not travel on

ships of countries at war.o “The US could not supply arms,

ammunition, or implements of war to nations in conflict.

o Non-military goods could be sold to nations opposed to aggression – Cash & Carry only

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OPTIC O- overview P-parts T-title I-interrelationship C-conclusion

“Nice Guys…”Franklin D. Roosevelt

United States

N Winston Churchill

England

Joseph Stalin Soviet Union

The

Allies

Chang Kai ShekChina

Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin

Volunteers Fly Flying Tigers

o Took supplies to Chinao Fought the Japaneseo (Like a solo white tiger

jumping into a fight. The US hadn’t entered the war yet)

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(See Flying Tigers Video)

Optimistic vs Realistic France Fell to Germany The US starts rearming itself & building up the

military Congress enacts a peacetime military draft Roosevelt is re-elected

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

O

Lend-Lease Act Britain has been fighting Germany on their own.

o Churchill declares they are nearly bankrupt

Should the US change their policy? How can they help and not get involved?

Lend-Lease Acto Lots of public & congressional debate over this oneo The US can sell, lease, or lend war materials to “any country

whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States”

o Primarily England and the Soviet Union, but parts of Africa and the Pacific too

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Vocalizing For Freedom & Peace Four Freedoms

o Roosevelt told Americans he wanted to establish a world of:1. Freedom of speech and expression2. Freedom of religion3. Freedom from want4. Freedom from fear

Atlantic Chartero Churchill and Roosevelt meet on a warship in the Atlantic

and declare1. Their countries sought no territorial gain2. Freedom of the seas3. End to war

o This became a foundation for the later United Nations

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Ending Trade With Japan In their quest to get Europe out of Asia and gain

raw materials for themselves – Japan gained control of China and Indo China (part of SE Asia)

The US reacted:o All Japanese assets in US banks were frozeno All US trade is cut off to Japan, including oilo Roosevelt offered to resume trade only if Japan withdrew

from China and Indo China – They didn’to The US send aid and loans to China

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December 7th, 1941Pearl Harbor - “A date which will live in

infamy”Japan attacks military bases on Oahu, HI300 Japanese bombers and fighter planes2 hours18 US ships sunk300 US planes damaged2400 Americans dead1200 Americans wounded29 Japanese planes lost1 Day later the US declares war on Japan

D

(See Pearl Harbor Video)