WORLD WAR IIUnit Overview

ORGANIZING PRINCIPLE The 1930s began with a Great Depression that kept all

American eyes fixed on domestic affairs. However, the isolationism of the 1920s waned as a new international menace threatened the future of democracy. At the close of the decade, the United States was on the brink of war. Japan’s decision to bomb Pearl Harbor pushed us over the brink and dragged the U.S. into the conflict. During World War II, America experienced changes that reached into virtually every corner of the country. The conflict revamped the economy and pulled us out of the Depression. While the war effort started off as cumbersome, America shaped up and prevailed on both fronts and redefined America’s position in the world.

STORM CELLAR ISOLATIONISM & NEUTRALITY Neutrality Acts of 1935, 36, and 37:

When the president proclaimed the existence of a foreign war Americans could not : Sail on belligerent ships Transport goods on belligerent ships Sell or transport munitions to a belligerent Make loans to belligerents

Abandons freedom of the seas

THE DEATH OF SPANISH DEMOCRACY Spanish Civil War 1936-1939

General Francisco Franco (fascist dictator) Backed by Italy and Germany

The Loyalist Regime (republican government) Backed by the Soviet Union

Neutrality Acts leave Loyalists ill equipped FDR signs an arms embargo—for both

sides

APPEASEMENT IN ASIA AND EUROPE Japanese attack at Peking (China) 1937

FDR won’t call it a war—both sides can buy munitions FDR’s “Quarantine Speech” Panay incident

Nazi Germany Compulsory service in military—Rhineland reoccupied Luftwaffe—guns for butter Anchluss 1938—Union with Austria Krystallnacht 1938 Sudetenland (Czechoslovakia) 1938

Munich Pact 1938 Gave Germans Sudetenland

Appeasement “Peace in our time”

HITLER’S AGGRESSION &AMERICA’S UNNEUTRAL NEUTRALITY

Nonaggression Pact (1939) Germany and Russia

Hitler invades Poland 01 September 1939—WWII begins Blitzkrieg—lightning war

U.S. reaction Neutrality Act of 1939

“Cash and Carry” Helps allies

Economic recovery

WAR IN EUROPE & THE FALL OF FRANCE The “Phony War”

Sitzkrieg: major powers do not attack each other Stalin annexes:

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—defeats Finland Germany takes:

Denmark, Norway, and Low Countries German invasion:

Through Ardennes—around the Maginot Line “Miracle at Dunkirk”

Evacuation of British Italians invade from the South—converge of Paris France falls:

Germans occupy northern France Nazi puppet government set up in southern France

General Charles de Gaulle—gov’t. in exile

DESTROYERS FOR BASES Fall of France pitted Britain v. Germany

Battle of Britain Air battle to soften Great Britain for German invasion

Americans split Isolation v. intervention

Tripartite Pact Creates Axis Powers

Nazi U-boats barricade of British Isles FDR acts:

Grants Britain 50 old WWI Destroyers in exchange for eight bases from New Foundland to S. America

LEND-LEASE BILL “Arsenal for Democracy” of “Blank Check Bill”

1940—Britain is running out of money Allies can borrow our equipment and return it after the war Approved by congress in March 1941

Economic declaration of war By 1945—50 billion dollars of arms given to allies

Nazi U-boats start sinking American ships 5/21/41—Robin Moor

THE FOUR FREEDOMS & THE ATLANTIC CHARTER

The Four Freedoms1. Freedom of Speech and Expression2. Freedom of Worship3. Freedom from Want4. Freedom from Fear

The Atlantic Charter August 1941: FDR and Churchill

Eight Points—extremely “Wilsonian” Self determination Disarmament Total defeat of the Axis

HITLER INVADES THE SOVIET UNION 22 June 1941

Germany invades the Soviet Union Natural resources and

territory U.S. extends $1

billion in Lend-Lease money for USSR

Winter in Russia

WOLF-PACKS IN THE ATLANTIC “Convoyed into War”

Lend-Lease munitions needed to be delivered safely July 1941—FDR orders U.S. convoy to Iceland

German response USS Greer incident (September)

FDR issues shoot on sight policy USS Kearny (October)

11 dead USS Reuben James (October)

Over 200 men dead U.S. response

Congress approves armed Merchant ships

Ships can enter war zones

PEARL HARBOR

Japan’s situation Bogged down by Chinese incident (war) War machine dependent upon U.S.

resources 1941

U.S. lays embargo on Japan and freezes assets is U.S.

Japanese response “A date that will live in infamy”

07 December 1941 Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

3,000 casualties 8 battleships destroyed and crippled Aircraft destroyed

Congress declares war