War began in 1939 U.S. did not enter until Dec. 7, 1941 American Entry to WWII War began in 1939 U.S. did not enter until Dec. 7, 1941

Unit Objectives To assess America’s role in the war before and after entering it To learn what brought America into WWII and what caused it to happen, including the theory of Revisionism To assess America’s impact on the war

Why did America stay out of WWII? ISOLATIONISM—THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HAD BEEN TURNED OFF BY THE WWI EXPERIENCE THE WAR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH AMERICA

What was FDR’s opinion of that? HE DISAGREED—HE RECOGNIZED THE AXIS POWERS AS A THREAT TO AMERICA AND WANTED TO STOP THEM BEFORE THE ALLIES FELL

American role in the war before 1941 Officially neutral: NOT INVOLVED IN THE WAR; NO TROOPS; DID NOT OFFICIALLY TAKE A SIDE; DID TRY TO CONTINUE TRADE WITH BRITAIN AND FRANCE JUST LIKE DURING WWI

American role in the war before 1941 Neutrality Act of 1939 (Cash and Carry): In an attempt to keep American ships out of harm’s way and avoid problems of WWI, Congress declared that warring nations could buy weapons from the U.S. but would have to pay cash and carry them on their own ships to Europe

The U.S. helped and supplied the Allies as much as possible anyway (isolationist or interventionist???) Destroyers for Bases Deal: FDR traded 50 older destroyers to Britain for the rights to build naval bases on British territory in the Pacific—example of interventionism Lend-Lease Act: U.S. “loaned” weapons/ships to any country considered “vital to American interests”— another example of interventionism

American public opinion on isolationism was divided by 1940—Some wanted the U.S. to remain neutral, some wanted to get involved

America’s relationship with Japan before 1941 U.S. Embargo: ON OIL AND OTHER PRODUCTS TO JAPAN IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP JAPAN FROM ATTACKING BRITAIN AND TO PUT ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON JAPAN Japan negotiated with America toward peace while preparing to attack Pearl Harbor

December 7, 1941 (ID) JAPAN ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR KILLING 2403 AMERICANS JAPAN WIPED OUT MOST OF THE U.S. PACIFIC FLEET

Dec. 7, 1941 Why was the attack such a surprise? Should it have been? Japan was thought to be too far from Hawaii for Pearl Harbor to be at risk (feared sabotage more than aerial attack) Underestimated the Japanese due to racism Failed to recognize several warning signs the attack was coming

Impact of the attack U.S. DECLARED WAR ON JAPAN GERMANY AND ITALY DECLARED WAR ON THE U.S. U.S. DECLARED WAR ON GERMANY AND ITALY ISOLATIONISM WAS DEAD AMERICA SENT TROOPS TO EUROPE FIRST BECAUSE THE ALLIES WERE ON THE VERGE OF DEFEAT