1. War began in 1939 U.S. did not enter until Dec. 7, 1941
American Entry to WWII
War began in 1939
U.S. did not enter until Dec. 7, 1941

2. Unit Objectives
To assess America’s role in the war before and after entering it
To learn what brought America into WWII and what caused it to happen, including the theory of Revisionism
To assess America’s impact on the war

3. Why did America stay out of WWII?
ISOLATIONISM—THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HAD BEEN TURNED OFF BY THE WWI EXPERIENCE
THE WAR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH AMERICA

4. What was FDR’s opinion of that?
HE DISAGREED—HE RECOGNIZED THE AXIS POWERS AS A THREAT TO AMERICA AND WANTED TO STOP THEM BEFORE THE ALLIES FELL

5. American role in the war before 1941
Officially neutral:
NOT INVOLVED IN THE WAR; NO TROOPS;
DID NOT OFFICIALLY TAKE A SIDE; DID TRY TO
CONTINUE TRADE WITH BRITAIN AND FRANCE
JUST LIKE DURING WWI

6. American role in the war before 1941
Neutrality Act of 1939 (Cash and Carry):
In an attempt to keep American ships out of
harm’s way and avoid problems of WWI,
Congress declared that warring nations could
buy weapons from the U.S. but would have to
pay cash and carry them on their own ships to
Europe

7. The U.S. helped and supplied the Allies as much as possible anyway (isolationist or interventionist???)
Destroyers for Bases Deal:
FDR traded 50 older destroyers to Britain for the
rights to build naval bases on British territory in
the Pacific—example of interventionism
Lend-Lease Act:
U.S. “loaned” weapons/ships to any country
considered “vital to American interests”—
another example of interventionism

8. American public opinion on isolationism was divided by 1940—Some wanted the U.S. to remain neutral, some wanted to get involved

9. America’s relationship with Japan before 1941
U.S. Embargo:
ON OIL AND OTHER PRODUCTS TO JAPAN IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP JAPAN FROM ATTACKING BRITAIN AND TO PUT ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON JAPAN
Japan negotiated with America toward peace while preparing to attack Pearl Harbor

10. December 7, 1941 (ID)
JAPAN ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR KILLING 2403 AMERICANS
JAPAN WIPED OUT MOST OF THE U.S. PACIFIC FLEET

11. Dec. 7, 1941 Why was the attack such a surprise? Should it have been?
Japan was thought to be too far from Hawaii for Pearl Harbor to be at risk (feared sabotage more than aerial attack)
Underestimated the Japanese due to racism
Failed to recognize several warning signs the attack was coming

12. Impact of the attack U.S. DECLARED WAR ON JAPAN
GERMANY AND ITALY DECLARED WAR ON THE U.S.
U.S. DECLARED WAR ON GERMANY AND ITALY
ISOLATIONISM WAS DEAD
AMERICA SENT TROOPS TO EUROPE FIRST BECAUSE THE ALLIES WERE ON THE VERGE OF DEFEAT