Bell Quiz: (page 552) Read the “Point/Counterpoint” box and answer the questions listed below: What did isolationists believe about America’s role in the world? What was the interventionist position on America’s world role? In what way did Lindbergh believe democracy would be saved? Why did FDR think the U.S. was threatened by what was happening in Europe?

Answers The U.S. should not “police the world” either by supplying other countries with money or by fighting wars. The U.S. should be actively engaged in fighting all of the world for peace and the freedom of others. Lindbergh believed democracy would not be saved by force rather it would be saved by setting an example that other countries would want to follow. The Nazi’s were conquering Europe at the time and eventually the U.S. would be next. Now is the time to actively defend ourselves.

What do you think Add this to your bell quiz: After WW1 many Americans became isolationists. Do you recommend that the United States practice isolationism today? Why or why not?

Objectives Describe the U.S. response to the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939. Explain how Roosevelt assisted the Allies without declaring war. Summarize the events that brought the United States into armed conflict with Germany. Describe the American response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Use pages 550-557 to answer the following questions. What was the U.S. response to the outbreak of war in Europe? What 3 countries formed the Axis Powers in 1940? How did Roosevelt assist the Allies without declaring war (4)? What events led the United States into armed conflict with Germany? Why did the Japanese draw the U.S. into WWII by attacking Pearl Harbor?

U.S. Moving Away from Neutrality 1939, Franklin Roosevelt convinced congress to revise the Neutrality Act. FDR persuaded Congress to pass a “cash-and carry” provision. Allowed warring nations to buy arms and weapons from the U.S. as long as they paid cash and transported them in their own ships. FDR asked Congress to increase spending for national defense. Congress also passed the Selective Training and Service Act (Draft). Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act in March 1941. Under the Lend-Lease Plan the president would lend or lease arms and other supplies to “any country whose defense was vital to the United States.”

The Axis Powers (1940) September 7, 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact as a mutual defense treaty. Germany, Italy, and Japan were now the Axis Powers. Under the Tripartite Pact each Axis nation agreed to come to the defense of the others in case of attack. The Tripartite Pact’s goal was to keep the U.S. out of the war. June 1941, Hitler broke the nonaggression pact and invaded the Soviet Union.

German U-boats Hitler deployed German submarines (U-boats) to attack supply ships. Groups of 40 submarines patrolled areas in the North Atlantic and attacked convoys of supply ships (wolf pack attacks). Could sink as much as 350,000 tons of shipments in a single month. September 1941, Roosevelt granted the navy permission for U.S. warships to attack Germany U-boats in self-defense.

Atlantic Charter Roosevelt and Churchill met secretly aboard the battleship USS Augusta. Churchill hoped for a U.S. military commitment, but instead settled for the Atlantic Charter–a joint declaration of goals for Post WWII Europe IF the U.S. should enter the war and the allies win AND how to maintain world wide peace after WWII. The Atlantic Charter also established the United Nations on paper. Allies: the nations that fought the Axis powers. The Big 3 were the U.S., Great Britain, and the Soviet Union. The Declaration of the United Nations was signed by 26 nations.

Japan Attacks Japan was led by Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and Emperor Hirohito. Goal was to unite East Asia under Japanese rule. U.S. protested Japanese aggression by cutting off trade (oil embargo). December 7, 1941 Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, the largest U.S. naval base in the Pacific. In less than 2 hours, the Japanese had killed 2,403 Americans and wounded 1,178. 21 ships had been sunk or damaged, nearly the whole U.S. Pacific fleet. 300 airplanes destroyed. Congress quickly approved Roosevelt’s request for a declaration of war against Japan. 3 days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.

Video Pearl Harbor