1. From Neutrality to War
World War II Continued

2. American neutrality
War Fatigue World War I had cost the United States many lives and a great deal of money. Many Americans did not understand what purpose World War I had served and did not want to get involved in another world war.

3. American neutrality
International Debt Former allies from World War I had not repaid much of the war debt owed to the United States. Internationalism seemed costly.

4. American neutrality
Nye Committee Led by Senator Gerald Nye, Republican from North Dakota, the committee reported that many arms manufacturers had profited greatly from World War I. This led many Americans to think that they fought in World War I to benefit arms companies and disinclined them to support World War II.

5. Neutrality acts
1935: In response to the findings of the Nye Committee, this first act prohibited Americans from selling arms to countries at war.
1936: Following the onset of the Spanish Civil War, this act prohibited Americans from selling arms to either side fighting in a civil war.
1937: After Germany, Italy, and Japan allied as the Axis Powers, this act allowed the sale of non-military supplies on a cash-and-carry basis.

6. Roosevelt’s internationalism
During the 1930s, Roosevelt was focused on leading the United States out of the Great Depression with his New Deal legislation.
However, Roosevelt supported internationalism, believing that international trade generated prosperity and encouraged peaceful resolution to conflicts.
Roosevelt opposed but did not veto the Neutrality Acts.
Roosevelt authorized the sale of arms to China when Japan invaded the country in He claimed the Neutrality Acts did not apply because Japan had not declared war on China.

7. Neutrality acts
First three acts were passed in 1935, 1936, and They prohibited the sale of arms to countries at war.
1939: Neutrality Act allowed the sale of weapons on a cash-and-carry basis only.
Spring 1940: Roosevelt approved a Destroyers-for-Bases deal with Britain. Britain received 50 old U.S. destroyers in exchange for the right to build American bases on British soil.
July 1940: Congress authorized Roosevelt to begin an embargo against Japan.

8. Neutrality acts
March 1941: Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act, allowing U.S. companies to lend or lease arms to countries deemed “vital to the defense of the United States.”
April 1941: Roosevelt declared the western half of the Atlantic Ocean to be a Hemispheric Defense Zone, and ordered the U.S. Navy to disclose the location of any German submarines in the zone to the British.
August 1941: Roosevelt and Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter, committing the United States and Britain to postwar security, peace, free trade, and freedom of the seas.

9. Embargo on japan
Embargo on Japan1939: As Britain moved its forces to the Atlantic, it left its colonies along the Pacific vulnerable to attack from Japan. Japan had embarked on expansionist policies to gain more resources.
1940: Roosevelt restricted the sale of airplane fuel and scrap iron to pressure Japan to pull out of China and to deter Japan from invading British colonies. Japan responded by joining the Axis Powers.

10. Embargo on japan
1941: The United States granted lend-lease aid to China to keep Japan bogged down there, but Japan continued with its plans to invade French holdings in Indochina.
1941: The United States froze Japanese assets, stopped oil shipments to Japan, and sent additional forces to the Philippines.
1941: Japan responded by planning an invasion of French, British, and Dutch colonies. Japan also planned to attack Pearl Harbor and the Philippines.

11. Pearl harbor
December 7, 1941: Japan attacked the Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii.
U.S. forces had been anticipating a Japanese attack—but not on Pearl Harbor because of its great distance.
The attack killed 2,403 Americans and destroyed or severely damaged numerous battleships and other naval vessels.
The next day, Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war.