14.2 From Isolation to Involvement

Objectives Understand the course of the early years of WWII in Europe Describe FDRs foreign policy in the mid-1930s and the great debate between interventionists and isolationists Explain how the U.S. became more involved in the conflict

FDR Opposes Aggression Violence in Japan-Rape of Nanjing Japan attacked without declaring war-Shanghai and Nanjing FDR criticized but did nothing Created informal alliance of peace loving nations

War Erupts in Europe Hitler violates Munich Pact and takes rest of Czechoslovakia Britain and France see need to take action Britain saw that Hitler was going to take Poland Pact with Poland—aid if Hitler attacked Hitler concerned with Soviet Union Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact 1939 Publicly-agreed not to attack each other Privately-agreed to invade Poland

Blitzkrieg Hitler attacked Poland early Sept. 1, 1930 from 3 directions Blitzkrieg-sudden attack “lighting war” Took out Poland’s air force Sept. 17-SU invades from east France and Britain declare war on Germany—do nothing for Poland Poland falls

France Falls Axis powers: Germany, Italy, Japan Allies: Britain, France, and eventually SU, US, and China April and May 1940-Germany attacks and conquers 5 countries Eyes on France next France set up forts and armies along borders where Germany attacked in WWI

France Falls Cont. Germany attacked through Ardennes mountains to the English Channel to corner France and Britain Troops escaped to Britain from Dunkirk port “miracle at Dunkirk” Winston Churchill=new Prime Minister of Britain, warned that wars are not won by evacuations France divided… occupied France (North), Vichy France (small southern area)

Hitler Swaggers into Paris, 1940 The fall of France to German forces in June 1940 was a galling blow to French pride and convinced many Americans that their country must mobilize to defeat the Nazi menace.

Battle of Britain Churchill was ready for battle Hitler: Operation Sea Lion-invasion of Britain, July 1940 Air force battle over English Channel and Britain Britain lost 1,000 planes, Germans 1,700 Month long bombing campaign “the blitz” British held on, Hitler postponed

Americans Debate Involvement Isolationists-Majority of Americans opposed war Neutrality Acts of 1935,36,37 Restrictions of Americans during times of war Selling munitions and arms, sailing on ships owned by nations at war Interventionists: FDR wanted to intervene Neutrality Act of 1939 Cash and Carry-Allowed nations at war to buy goods and arms from the U.S. if they paid cash and carried on their own ships

FDR Inches to Involvement Reports from London convinced many Americans that the U.S. should at least prepare Selective Service Act (draft) FDR gave Britain 50 WWI battle ships in exchange for 8 defense bases Tripartite Pact Germany, Italy, Japan became allies

Cont… FDR re-elected 1940 Lend Lease Act 1941 Increased support for Britain “four freedoms” in danger Lend Lease Act 1941 Authorized FDR to “sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of, to any such gov. any defense article” when in the best interest of the U.S. Economic declaration of war

Atlantic Charter FDR and Churchill met secretly on warship off the coast of Newfoundland Atlantic Charter: Endorsed national self-determination and an international system of “general security” Deepened alliance between countries

Germany Attacks American Subs Hitler knew we were supporting the Allies Fall 1941-German U-boats attacked U.S. ships USS Greer, Kearny, and sunk the USS Reuben James U.S. still neutral but FDR game orders to attack boats Nov. 1941 Germany at war with SU and we were not far behind