American Neutrality During WWII

1
American Neutrality During WWII
2
Isolationism

• During the 1930s, the US turned away from
  international affairs and focused on the Great
  Depression
• Horrors of WWI still haunted Americans
• Scared to be dragged into another foreign conflict

3
FDRs Stance

• I have seen war. I have seen war on land and
  sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded.
  I have seen men coughing out their gassed lungs.
  I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen
  cities destroyed. I have seen two hundred
  limping, exhausted men come out of the line-the
  survivors of a regiment of one thousand that went
  forward forty-eight hours before. I have seen
  children starving. I have seen the agony of
  mothers and wives. I hate war. - FDR

4
US Chooses Neutrality

• Passed a series of Neutrality Acts.
• 1935 Banned the US from providing weapons to
  nations at war.
• 1936 Banned loans to such nations

5
US Chooses Neutrality

• 1937 Permitted trade with fighting nations in
  nonmilitary goods as long as those nations paid
  cash and transported the cargo themselves.
• Became known as Cash and Carry.

• These Neutrality Acts prevented the US from
  selling arms even to nations that were trying to
  defend themselves.
• FDR believed this encouraged aggression. US sat
  back and watched.

6
Election of 1940

• FDR wins reelection in 1940.
• Introduces a new plan to help English Prime
  Minister Churchill.
• Congress passes the Lend Lease Provide aid to
  any country vital to US security.

7
Last Weeks of Peace

• The US refused to ship scrap iron and steel to
  Japan.
• After Japanese take over of Indochina, the US
  froze Japanese financial assets and cut off oil
  shipments.
• While the US and Japan continued to negotiate
  peace, a militant army officer took power in
  Japan General Tojo Hideki

8
Pearl Harbor

• US Naval base stationed in Oahu, Hawaii
• Attacked on December 7, 1941 by the Japanese
• In 2 hours, 2,400 Americans were killed, 1,200
  wounded, 200 planes damaged, 18 warships
  destroyed.

9
Peace Ends

• FDR calls it A day that will live in infamy.
• Declares war on Japan immediately.
• Italy and Germany declares war on the United
  States
• US neutrality comes to an end.