America Gets Involved

FDR spoke out against the aggression of Japan, Italy, and Germany during the 1930s

Many Americans favored a position of isolationism- why?Great Depression needed to be handledEntering WWI was a mistakeConspiracy theories that big business pulled

the US into WWI

America Gets Involved Isolationists:

US should avoid alliances with other nations

Americans should focus on local issues (Depression)

The US would be safe if it remained neutral

WWI and other foreign wars were a mistake

Interventionists: US should work with

other nations to promote collective security

American interests were being threatened by Germany, Japan

Britain and France were fighting for democracy and freedom

Put pressure on Germany and Japan and prepare for War

America Gets Involved

Neutrality Acts were passed to keep the US from joining the inevitable war

Neutrality Act of 1939 had provisions that only benefitted the Allied countries

Radio broadcasts from London during the blitz gave Americans a view of what it was like for the people of Britain that were being attacked

America Gets Involved

Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact in Sept, 1940, officially becoming Allies (Axis Powers)

Decision was made by the United States to prepare to defend itself…

America Gets Involved

Lend-Lease Act:Britain needed war aid, but had run out of

money to pay for itCongress passed the Act in 1941Act allowed the President to give military aid

to any country whenever it was “necessary in the interests of the defense of the United States”

America Gets Involved

Atlantic Charter-Roosevelt secretly met British Prime

Minister Winston Churchill on a warship off the coast of Newfoundland

Agreed that post-war Europe would embrace national self-determination and an international system of “general security”

America Enters the War

Tensions had existed between the US and Japan following WWIAmerica had a strong presence in Japan’s

sphere of influence (Guam and Philippines)America supported Japan’s enemy, ChinaUS set up a trade embargo to prevent

Japanese expansion (failed)Japan entered into alliance with Germany

and Italy, which led to stronger embargo

America Enters the War

General Hideki Tojo (new prime minister of Japan) sought to strengthen his military, while keeping the US neutral

Peace talks failed during 1940-194- Tojo decided to take action on the US

America Enters the War

Pearl HarborSite of the major naval base for the US in

the Pacific OceanTojo ordered a surprise attack- one that

would destroy the American military presence in the Pacific

Attack was a success- destroying battleships, destroyers, and hundreds of aircraft

Nearly 2,500 Americans were killed

America Enters the War

Soviet Union had joined the Allies in June 1941- Americans were concerned about being on the same side

Attack by Japan changed that- Congress voted 388-1 to declare war on Japan

Honoring their alliance, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States