US Enters World War Two

1
US Enters World War Two
2
Isolationism

• Initially, much like the rest of the world, the
  United States wanted nothing to do with another
  war
• We were just recovering from the Great
  Depression, and public opinion was leaning more
  towards us looking inward, and taking care of
  domestic problems.

3
Kellog-Briand Pact

• To add to further feelings on isolation, the
  federal government went as far as to pass the
  Kellog-Briand Pact
• What the Kellog Briand Pact basically stated was
  that the United States would never make war
  again

4
The Merchants of Death

• To even further add to anti war feelings, news
  came out that during World War One bankers and
  munitions deals may have helped drag the United
  States to war.
• Reports stated that certain munitions dealers
  made incredible profits off of war. The Papers
  coined these people The Merchants of Death
• The infuriated the mainstream public, and made
  people want to go to war even less.

5
The Neutrality Acts

• 1935 FDR issues the Neutrality Acts.
• This prohibited the sale of arms or loaning of
  money to any nation at war
• FDR issues this with a great amount of
  reluctance.
• 1937 Japan invades China. FDR, not wanting
  China to fall to Japan, issues financial aid.
  The people of the US very publicly stated their
  disdain for this. As soon as the public outcry
  against lending money to China came forth, FDR
  backed off.

6
The Lend-Lease Act

• 1940, FDR is elected to a 3rd term of office.
• Britain is caught in a serious fight with
  Germany, and just successfully fought a merciless
  German invasion in the battle of Britain.
• Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister,
  goes to FDR for aid
• FDR agrees its a good idea, and passes the
  Lend-Lease Act
• This allows the United States to Lend or Lease
  any supplies necessary to any country whose
  defense was vital to the United States and
  democracy.

7
Hitlers Blunder

• As the war waged in Europe, Hitler had earned
  himself quite a stranglehold of the continent.
• In the summer of 1941, Hitler decided it was time
  to continue the next part of his plan and invade
  Russia.
• 3 million Nazi soldiers invaded Russia, only to
  fall to the weather, as well as the strong
  Russian forces.
• Afterwards, Stalin (the Russian Leader) formally
  has Russia join the Allies, and takes advantage
  of the Lend-Lease Act.

8
The Atlantic Charter

• That same summer, Churchill and Roosevelt were to
  meet for the first time.
• Off the coast of Newfoundland on a submarine the
  two met and discussed the terms for a document
  that would set ground rules for those opposing
  the Axis powers
• It was to be called The Atlantic Charter
• It stated that this declaration of these United
  Nations
• This would be the basis for the modern day UN
• 26 countries would sign.

9
Trouble with Japan

• Japan was relentless with their pursuit of
  conquering all of Eastern Asia.
• FDR wanted to help China in their fight against
  Japan, so he enacted an embargo on Japan, cutting
  off most of their oil supply.
• This crippled Japan, and US/Japanese relations
  strained.

10
Giving Peace a chance.. NOT!

• Nov. 5, 1941, Japan sends a peace envoy to
  Washington to discuss peace talks.. YAY!!!
• Dec 6, 1941, FDR intercepts a message from Japan
  to its envoy telling them to reject any and all
  peace talks Ummm!!!
• Dec 7, 1941, Japan bombs Pearl Harbor BOOO!!!!