1. World War II: Why the US got involved*
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World War II: Why the US got involved
APUSH Unit 7
Note: the slides show the progression of US involvement, starting with US’ focus on initial isolationism and then progressing to a declaration of war following the attack on Pearl Harbor
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2. Isolationism v. Internationalism*
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Isolationism v. Internationalism
How involved should the U.S. be in world affairs?
Support/Reject?
League of Nations
Naval Arms Limits
Open Door Policy in China
Kellogg-Briand Pact (1920s)
During the 1920s and 1930s, the American public and the government struggled over the degree to which the US should become involved in foreign conflict.
US rejected membership in the League of Nations, but supported naval arms limits, the Open Door in China, and the Kellogg-Briand Pact in the 1920s.
How does the second bullet point show a tension between isolationism and internationalism?
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3. Nye Committee Led by: Investigated: Result of Nye report:*
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Nye Committee
Led by:
Investigated:
Result of Nye report:
Conclusions made by report:
Led by Senator Gerald P. Nye of North Dakota
Investigated the reasons for US entry to WWI, sparked controversy:
American bankers and munitions makers profited from WWI.
The staff uncovered facts about the lobbying activities and profits of American companies.
Example: The Du Pont company’s earnings went from $5 million in 1914 to $82 million in 1918.
Nye report convinced citizens that the bankers who had lent money to the European allies had been "merchants of death" and had tricked the country into war.
Thus, the "mistake" of 1917 must never be repeated.
Note: the Nye committee’s findings supported the isolationist argument. It was believed that the US involvement in WWI was a mistake.
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4. *
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Neutrality Acts, 1935
Forbade the sale of munitions to all belligerents whenever President proclaimed state of war in existence.
Americans who were on belligerents’ ships were at their own risk.
Loans to belligerents were prohibited by 1936.
Roosevelt reluctantly accepted the bills; but he later moved to modify them.
They were spurred by the growth in isolationism in the US following its costly involvement in World War I, and sought to ensure that the US would not become entangled again in foreign conflicts.
The legacy of the Acts is widely regarded as having been generally negative; they made no distinction between aggressor and victim, treating both equally as "belligerents", and they limited the US government's ability to aid Britain against Nazi Germany until the formal declaration of war in 1941 rendered them irrelevant.
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5. The Peak of Appeasement: The Munich Conference, 1938*
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The Peak of Appeasement: The Munich Conference, 1938
In September 1938:
At the Munich Conference:
British: Neville Chamberlain
French: Edouard Daladier
In the agreement:
The U.S. still remained neutral.
In September 1938, Hitler demanded that Czechoslovakia cede the German-speaking Sudetenland to the Third Reich.
At the Munich Conference, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French Premier Edouard Daladier, gave in to Hitler’s threats and promises, and persuaded the Czechs to surrender the region.
In the agreement, Germany promised to end its aggressive expansion, and Britain and France viewed it as an attempt to avoid war.
The U.S. still remained neutral.
However when Hitler violated the agreement, Roosevelt called for “methods short of war” to demonstrate America’s determination to check the Nazis and Fascists.
Note: even though Hitler is stepping up his aggressive tactics against other nations, the US stays out of the picture. After he violates the agreement, the US chooses to “get involved” indirectly by supplying arms to Great Britain and France but does not send troops to Europe just yet.
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6. America First Committee*
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America First Committee
Leader Charles Lindbergh
Small but influential group that opposed US involvement in WWII; included members of both parties.
Note: example of isolationist spirit in America
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7. Lend Lease, 1941
Great Britain was running low on money and supplies after almost two years of war.
Instead of proposing to lend them money, Roosevelt decided to lend them all the war supplies they needed.
Make the US “the arsenal of democracy.”
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8. Strained relationship with Japan*
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Strained relationship with Japan
US stopped:
July 27, 1941…
Colonel William F. Friedman…
U.S. expected...
In Hawaii, Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and General Walter C. Short…
US stopped oil and metal shipments to Japan because of US opposition to Japanese conquests in Asia.
July 27, 1941; U.S. froze Japanese assets in America and barred trade with Japan.
Colonel William F. Friedman, cracked the Japanese diplomatic code.
The U.S. prepared for an attack. U.S. expected an attack on Southeast Asia, possibly in the Philippines.
In Hawaii, Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and General Walter C. Short, took precautions only against Japanese sabotage; later reprimanded.
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9. Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941
Japanese aircraft found easy targets at Pearl Harbor.
In less than 2 hours, the Pacific Fleet had lost two battleships, six others were heavily battered, and nearly a dozen lesser vessels put out of action.
More than 150 planes were wrecked; over 2,300 servicemen were killed and 1,100 wounded.
Blame was widespread, both on the Officials in Washington and on the Admiral and the General in Hawaii.
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10. Formal Declaration of War
On December 8, Congress issued a formal declaration of war.
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