1. International Relations

2. "Good Neighbor" policy Relations with Latin America
FDR wanted the USA to act as a moral force for good in the world. The 'Good Neighbor' policy was a transformation of the Monroe Doctrine
"Good Neighbor" policy
Relations with Latin America
Following the 'Good Neighbor' policy, US troops left Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. The Platt amendment-which had authorised US occupation of Cuba- was nullified. One US naval base was maintained at Guantanamo. 
By 1938, ten treaties had been made, contributing to huge increases in trade and lower tariffs improving Latin American economies.
1934 Reciprocal Trade Agreement repealed several isolationist trade policies to allow the USA to compete better in foreign trade

3. Policy of Neutrality Neutrality Acts
first neutrality act of gave president power to prohibit US ships from carrying US made munitions to countries at war. Could also prevent citizens travelling on these ships.
Second neutrality act of banned loans/credit to countries at war. Set no limits on trade of materials useful to countries at war 
Third neutrality act of 1937-forbade export of munitions to either of the opposing forces in Spain. It did allow countries at war to buy munitions from the USA as long as they used their own ships and paid in cash (known as the 'cash and carry' system)
Fourth neutrality act of president able to decide what could and could not be bought. Made travel on ships of countries of war unlawful
Policy of Neutrality

4. Roosevelt and Neutrality
Roosevelt despised the spread of totalitarianism and by 1937 identified a need to move away from neutrality and become more involved in European affairs. This was despite the conflicting views of Congress and the American public. A Gallup poll in 1937 indicated that 70% of the public thought involvement in WW1 was a mistake and 95% wished to avoid future conflict.
German U-boats attacked British ships, bringing the war closer to the USA. As a result, FDR introduced the fifth neutrality act in 1939 which gave the president the power to authorise 'cash and carry' situations himself, as well as giving him the power to name and specify areas considered theatres of war (through which US citizens and ships were forbidden to travel)
Roosevelt and Neutrality

5. Response to European war 1939-41
After the Munich (which allowed Germany to annex part of Czechoslovakia) FDR granted a further $300 million to the defence budget
October secret talks with the French began on how to bypass neutrality laws and allow French to place orders for US aircraft
As tension in Europe rose, FDR called  Germany and Italy to reassure they wouldn’t attack any European country in the next 10 years.
1939- after Britain and France went to war with Germany, FDR saw to repeal the trade embargo of arms in the neutrality of acts. In November, Congress moved to allow sale of arms on a strict 'cash and carry' basis.
Britain placed orders for 14,000 aircraft and 25,000 aero-engines, but was increasingly unable to pay. After France was defeated in 1940, Britain stood alone and it became clear the USA had to do more
In 1940, FDR traded Britain 50 destroyers for 6 Caribbean bases
Response to European war

6. 1940 Presidential Election
Roosevelt decided to stand for a third term as there was no obvious successor. 
Though he continued to say he hated war and made promises that American 'boys were not going to be sent into any foreign wars', he began to focus on big businessmen who would benefit from the war rather than his traditional demographic. 
His victory was smaller than that of 1936, with just 27 to 22 million votes
29 December referred to the USA during a fireside chat as the 'arsenal of Democracy', meaning the provider of arms to Britain
1940 Presidential Election

7. Lend Lease and the Atlantic Charter
Lend Lease was introduced with approval from Congress in May 1941
USA effectively gave Britain the means to remain in the war
After the USSR was invaded by Germany in June 1941, Lend Lease was extended to the USSR in November of the same year
FDR was still not prepared to go to war. Public opinion still opposed war but was favorable towards Britain. This was reflected in a Gallup poll in 1941 which showed only 19% of the respondents felt the USA had gone too far in helping Britain.
The Atlantic Charter was created by Roosevelt and Churchill and detailed what was envisioned for after the war. This included international peace, national self-determination and freedom of the seas
Lend Lease and the Atlantic Charter

8. The USA and Japan Worsening Relations
Relations deteriorated since Japan invade china in Japan declared the open door policy obsolete, leading FDR to lend funds to China to buy weapons and to ask US manufacturers not to sell planes to Japan.
Japan was dependent on US supplies, and knew if these dried up they would have to find other sources, by force if necessary
July 1940-congress limited supplies of oil and scrap iron to Japan
After signing of Rome-Berlin-Tokyo axis, FDR banned sale of machine tools to Japan
Secretary of state, Hull, met with Japanese ambassador, Nomura, and demanded Japan withdrew from China and promise not to attack French and Dutch colonies in south-east Asia. Japan did not respond as they were offered nothing in return.
The USA and Japan

9. The USA and Japan Worsening Relations
When France was defeated by Germany, Japan attacked the French colonies in Indochina and announced the Greater East-Asia co-prosperity sphere (allowed Japan to economically exploit countries in its control)
July USA froze Japanese assets in the USA and placed an embargo on oil (which Japan was wholly dependent on)
Nomura told Hull Japan would halt further expansion if USA and Britain ceased aid to China and lifted economic blockade on Japan.
Some interpret this as Japan seeking a face saving way out but some believe Japan wouldn’t have honoured any agreements made.
The USA and Japan

10. The USA and Japan Operation Magic
Intended to break military and diplomatic codes and allowed US to decipher Japanese radio traffic.
Gave information about Japanese ship movements but did not identify the ships destination.
US knew the Japanese had set 25 November as a deadline for making diplomatic progress
Hull told the US cabinet on November 7th that they should expect a Japanese military attack 'anywhere, anytime'
The USA and Japan

11. The USA and Japan Attack on Pearl Harbor
The objective of the attack was to immobilise the US navy so they could not prevent Japan's expansion into East Asia
Japan's European allies were unaware of the plan
Sunday 7th December Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. 180 American aircraft , 7 battleships and 10 other vessels were destroyed. American aircraft carriers were out at sea and avoided the attack. Over 2,400 American servicemen were killed
Failed to hit fuel stores, which would have seen the naval base return to the USA leaving the region undefended
8th December- USA declared war on Japan. 11th December- Germany and Italy declared war on the USA
The USA and Japan