Why Does the US Enter World War II? Road to US Entry to 1941

Rise of Totalitarianism in the 1930’s Italy (Mussolini), Germany (Hitler) & Japan (Tojo) Common Traits of future Axis Powers : * Rallies support of people with appeals to extreme nationalism * Authoritarian rule eliminates domestic opposition * Expansionist foreign policy justified by claims of racial supremacy 1930’s US Foreign Policy: Condemn dictators, but maintain neutrality & isolationism - Avoid “collective security” actions

Japan expands in Asia during the 1930’s and earlier – US & Europe “Appease”

Mussolini threatens expansion in Balkans & East Africa League of Nations “Appeases”

Hitler Expands German Territory Rhineland (1936); Sudetenland (1937) Austria (1938); Poland (1939) France, England & USSR “Appease”

FDR Attempts Unsuccessfully to Sway American Public Ex: “Quarantine” Speech – Oct. 1937

Congress Reacts Ex: Nye Committee & Neutrality Acts

Differing US opinions on isolationism in late 30’s

WWII Begins: 9/1/39 – US Remains Neutral

Churchill Secretly Reaches Out to FDR For Aid

America First Committee Campaigns Against US Involvement in Foreign Affairs and a 3 rd Term for FDR in (Pro & Con Views)

FDR elected to a 3 rd Term Foreign Policy Key Issue

FDR’s Inaugural “Four Freedom’s” Speech January – 1941 In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression-- everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want--which, translated into universal terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants--everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear--which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor-- anywhere in the world. That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation. That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny which the dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb.

FDR Uses Political Maneuvering to undo Neutrality Acts - Cash & Carry (’37) replaced by Lend-Lease Act ( Spring ’41)

FDR agrees to “Atlantic Charter” August – 1941 – Triumph of Internationalism The Atlantic Charter was an agreement between Roosevelt and Churchill, which set goals for the postwar world – but was not a formal military alliance. It states that US & UK (and any nation that signs the agreement) will seek no territorial gain from any war & that war was only justified to safeguard "the rights of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live", and the signers of the charter (US & UK) agree to promote "a permanent system of general security“… later called the United Nations

Tensions with Germany - Sept/Oct 1941 USS Greer, USS Kearney & USS Reuben James All come under German Attack while escorting Lend-Lease Convoys to UK – War with Germany seems imminent

Meanwhile…US places embargo on oil and scrap metal to Japan in mid 1941 Japanese Response = Surprise Attack on US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor (Dec. 7 th, 1941) US Formally Enters World War II next day…