America watches the World go to War (again) Looking at what lead the United States into World War II

United States FDR FDR Democratic Party Democratic Party President of the United States President of the United States Elected into office: 1932 Elected into office: 1932 Grand Plan: 1.Wants to stop military aggression that threatens American interests 2.Prevented from doing so by U.S. isolationists

Neutrality Acts ( ) Written by isolationists in Congress as a reaction to U.S. losses following WWI Written by isolationists in Congress as a reaction to U.S. losses following WWI –Loans were not paid back by allies or enemies –Seen as a cause of the Great Depression Prevented the United States from trading with countries involved in a war Prevented the United States from trading with countries involved in a war –No distinction was made between a “belligerent” country or a “victim” country

The Axis Powers

Italy Benito Mussolini Benito Mussolini National Fascist Party National Fascist Party Duce of the Italian Social Republic Duce of the Italian Social Republic Elected into office: 1922 Elected into office: 1922 Grand Plan: 1.Revenge for Versailles 2.Restore the Roman Empire 3.Re-assert cultural superiority over “ lesser ” peoples

Italy 1935: Invades Ethiopia 1935: Invades Ethiopia –Economic sanctions passed by League of Nations –Leaves League of Nations 1937: Supports fascists in Spanish Civil War 1937: Supports fascists in Spanish Civil War –Spanish fascists win war 1939: Invades Albania 1939: Invades Albania The sanctions were voluntary and the major countries largely ignored them

Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler National Socialist German Workers Party (NAZI) National Socialist German Workers Party (NAZI) Chancellor of Germany Chancellor of Germany Elected into office: 1933 Elected into office: 1933 Grand Plan: 1.Recover from Depression 2.Unify German peoples 3.Purify Germany 4.Create “ lebensraum ” (living space) for Germany

Nazi Germany 1937: Seizes the Rhineland 1937: Seizes the Rhineland –Violation of Versailles Treaty 1938: Seizes Austria 1938: Seizes Austria –Violation of Versailles Treaty 1938: Demands W. Czechoslovakia 1938: Demands W. Czechoslovakia –Gets it, then invades rest of country 1939: Signs treaty with Russia / co-invade Poland 1939: Signs treaty with Russia / co-invade Poland –GB and Fr. Declare war 1940: Conquers France 1940: Conquers France

Empire of Japan Emperor Hirohito Emperor Hirohito Showa Nationalism (Emperor worship) Showa Nationalism (Emperor worship) Emperor of Japan (Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere) Emperor of Japan (Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere) Became Emperor: 1926 Became Emperor: 1926 Grand Plan: 1.Become self-sufficient 2.Become dominant power in the Pacific 3.End foreign imperialism

Empire of Japan 1931: Invades Manchuria 1931: Invades Manchuria –Economic sanctions passed by League of Nations –Leaves League of Nations 1937: Invades China during its Civil War 1937: Invades China during its Civil War 1941: Japan attacks US, GB, FR, and Dutch holdings 1941: Japan attacks US, GB, FR, and Dutch holdings The sanctions were voluntary and the major countries largely ignored them

Selective Training and Service Act First (and only) peacetime draft in U.S. history First (and only) peacetime draft in U.S. history 21 to 35 years old 21 to 35 years old Looking for 1 million for 1 year (but only in Western Hemisphere) Looking for 1 million for 1 year (but only in Western Hemisphere) Result? The U.S. was prepared for war this time (unlike WWI) Result? The U.S. was prepared for war this time (unlike WWI)

Lend-Lease Act Help any country that was “ vital to the US ” Help any country that was “ vital to the US ” –Garden Hose example –Critics of plan: Do you want it back? Became the “ Great arsenal of democracy ” Became the “ Great arsenal of democracy ” Result? The U.S. was prepared for war this time (unlike WWI) Result? The U.S. was prepared for war this time (unlike WWI)

Atlantic Charter The “ 14 Points ” of World War II The “ 14 Points ” of World War II –Rights to self government –Freedom to choose own government –Fear from aggression –Security for all Became the founding document of the UN (United Nations) Became the founding document of the UN (United Nations)

Why did England need help? France defeated in 1940 France defeated in 1940 Evacuation at Dunkirk (1940) Evacuation at Dunkirk (1940) – “ Miracle at Dunkirk ” (338,000 saved) Battle for Britain (Sept 1940 – May 1941) Battle for Britain (Sept 1940 – May 1941) –20,000 killed in the Blitz – “ softening ” for Operation Sea Lion Germans invade Russia (June 1941) Germans invade Russia (June 1941)

Winston Churchill British Prime Minister ( ) British Prime Minister ( ) “ …will fight with our blood, sweat, toil, and tears. ” “ …will fight with our blood, sweat, toil, and tears. ” “ …we fight for civilization. ” “ …we fight for civilization. ” “ …we will never surrender ” “ …we will never surrender ”

Soviet Union Joseph Stalin Joseph Stalin Communist Party Communist Party General Secretary and Premier of the USSR General Secretary and Premier of the USSR Leader since: 1924 Leader since: 1924 Grand Plan: 1.Repel German invasion 2.Fight a two front war 3.Protect the Motherland by preventing another invasion from Europe

The United Nations