1. FROM NEUTRALITY TO WAR

2. AMERICAN NEUTRALITY War Fatigue – WWI had cost the United States many lives and a great deal of money. Many Americans did not understand what purpose WWI had served and did not want to get involved in another world war. International Debt – Former allies from WWI had not repaid much of the war debt owed to the United States. Internationalism seemed costly. Nye Committee – Led by Senator Gerald Nye, Republican from North Dakota, the committee reported that many arms manufacturers had profited greatly from WWI. This led many Americans to think that they fought in WWI to benefit arms companies and disinclined them to support World War II.

3. NEUTRALITY ACTS 1935: – In response to the findings of the Nye Committee, this first act prohibited Americans from selling arms to countries at war. 1936: – Following the onset of the Spanish Civil War, this act prohibited Americans from selling arms to either side fighting in a civil war. 1937: – After Germany, Italy, and Japan allied as the Axis Powers, this act again banned the sale of arms to countries at war. It also required U.S. companies to sell nonmilitary supplies to warring countries only on a cash-and-carry basis to prevent attacks on U.S. ships and ensure payment.

4. Roosevelt’s Internationalism During the 1930s, Roosevelt was focused on leading the United States out of the Great Depression with his New Deal legislation. However, Roosevelt supported internationalism, believing that international trade generated prosperity and encouraged peaceful resolution to conflicts. Roosevelt opposed but did not veto the Neutrality Acts. Roosevelt authorized the sale of arms to China when Japan invaded the country in 1937. He claimed the Neutrality Acts did not apply because Japan had not declared war on China.

5. NEUTRALITY TESTED First three acts were passed in 1935, 1936, and 1937. They prohibited the sale of arms to countries at war. 1939: – Neutrality Act allowed the sale of weapons on a “cash-and- carry” basis only. Spring 1940: – Roosevelt approved a Destroyers-for-Bases deal with Britain. Britain received 50 old U.S. destroyers in exchange for the right to build American bases on British soil. – Roosevelt announced four freedoms that both the US and Britain stood for: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, Freedom Freedom from Fear.

6. 1939: – As Britain moved its forces to the Atlantic, it left its colonies along the Pacific vulnerable to attack from Japan. Japan had embarked on expansionist policies to gain more resources. 1940: – Roosevelt restricted the sale of Strategic Materials – items necessary for fighting a war, such as airplane fuel and scrap iron, to pressure Japan to pull out of China and to deter Japan from invading British colonies. Japan responded by joining the Axis Powers.

7. July 1940: – Congress authorized Roosevelt to begin an embargo-a government ban on trade with another country, against Japan. March 1941: – Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act, allowing U.S. companies to lend or lease arms to countries deemed “vital to the defense of the United States.” April 1941: – Roosevelt declared the western half of the Atlantic Ocean to be a Hemispheric Defense Zone, and ordered the U.S. Navy to disclose the location of any German submarines in the zone to the British. August 1941: – Roosevelt and Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter, committing the United States and Britain to postwar security, peace, free trade, and freedom of the seas.

8. JAPAN ATTACKS PEARL HARBOR 1941: – The United States granted lend-lease aid to China to keep Japan bogged down there, but Japan continued with its plans to invade French holdings in Indochina. 1941: – The United States froze Japanese assets, stopped oil shipments to Japan, and sent additional forces to the Philippines. 1941: – Japan responded by planning an invasion of French, British, and Dutch colonies. Japan also planned to attack Pearl Harbor and the Philippines.

9. December 7, 1941: – Japan attacked the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii. – U.S. forces had been anticipating a Japanese attack—but not on Pearl Harbor because of its great distance. – 2,403 Americans killed – destroyed or severely damaged numerous battleships and other naval vessels.

10. December 8, 1941 – Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war. Senate voted 82-0 House 388-1 December 11, 1941 – Germany and Italy declare war on US. Hitler underestimated US strategy – US determined Germany larger threat than Japan – US used Navy to fight Japan