1. 14.2 From Isolation to Involvement

2. Objectives Understand the course of the early years of WWII in Europe
Describe FDRs foreign policy in the mid-1930s and the great debate between interventionists and isolationists
Explain how the U.S. became more involved in the conflict

3. FDR Opposes Aggression
Violence in Japan-Rape of Nanjing
Japan attacked without declaring war-Shanghai and Nanjing
FDR criticized but did nothing
Created informal alliance of peace loving nations

4. War Erupts in Europe
Hitler violates Munich Pact and takes rest of Czechoslovakia
Britain and France see need to take action
Britain saw that Hitler was going to take Poland
Pact with Poland—aid if Hitler attacked
Hitler concerned with Soviet Union
Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact 1939
Publicly-agreed not to attack each other
Privately-agreed to invade Poland

5. Blitzkrieg
Hitler attacked Poland early Sept. 1, 1930 from 3 directions
Blitzkrieg-sudden attack “lighting war”
Took out Poland’s air force
Sept. 17-SU invades from east
France and Britain declare war on Germany—do nothing for Poland
Poland falls

6. France Falls Axis powers: Germany, Italy, Japan
Allies: Britain, France, and eventually SU, US, and China
April and May 1940-Germany attacks and conquers 5 countries
Eyes on France next
France set up forts and armies along borders where Germany attacked in WWI

8. France Falls Cont.
Germany attacked through Ardennes mountains to the English Channel to corner France and Britain
Troops escaped to Britain from Dunkirk port “miracle at Dunkirk”
Winston Churchill=new Prime Minister of Britain, warned that wars are not won by evacuations
France divided… occupied France (North), Vichy France (small southern area)

9. Hitler Swaggers into Paris, 1940 The fall of France to German forces in June 1940 was a galling blow to French pride and convinced many Americans that their country must mobilize to defeat the Nazi menace.

11. Battle of Britain Churchill was ready for battle
Hitler: Operation Sea Lion-invasion of Britain, July 1940
Air force battle over English Channel and Britain
Britain lost 1,000 planes, Germans 1,700
Month long bombing campaign “the blitz”
British held on, Hitler postponed

12. Americans Debate Involvement
Isolationists-Majority of Americans opposed war
Neutrality Acts of 1935,36,37
Restrictions of Americans during times of war
Selling munitions and arms, sailing on ships owned by nations at war
Interventionists:
FDR wanted to intervene
Neutrality Act of 1939
Cash and Carry-Allowed nations at war to buy goods and arms from the U.S. if they paid cash and carried on their own ships

13. FDR Inches to Involvement
Reports from London convinced many Americans that the U.S. should at least prepare
Selective Service Act (draft)
FDR gave Britain 50 WWI battle ships in exchange for 8 defense bases
Tripartite Pact
Germany, Italy, Japan became allies

14. Cont… FDR re-elected 1940 Lend Lease Act 1941
Increased support for Britain
“four freedoms” in danger
Lend Lease Act 1941
Authorized FDR to “sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of, to any such gov. any defense article” when in the best interest of the U.S.
Economic declaration of war

15. Atlantic Charter
FDR and Churchill met secretly on warship off the coast of Newfoundland
Atlantic Charter:
Endorsed national self-determination and an international system of “general security”
Deepened alliance between countries

16. Germany Attacks American Subs
Hitler knew we were supporting the Allies
Fall 1941-German U-boats attacked U.S. ships
USS Greer, Kearny, and sunk the USS Reuben James
U.S. still neutral but FDR game orders to attack boats
Nov Germany at war with SU and we were not far behind