From Isolation to Involvement

Section 23.2

Objectives Explain the difference between

isolationists and interventionists Identify the problems facing

Roosevelt in the late 1930s Evaluate the actions of Germany in

1939 and 1940

Germany Invades Poland Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

• Agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union to split Poland

Sept. 1st 1939 Germany invades Poland• Blitzkrieg- Lightning warfare

Sept. 17th – Soviet Union invades Poland

German Army Advances April 1940

Denmark and Norway falls

May 1940 • Belgium• Netherlands• Luxembourg

French Defense Maginot Line-

French line of defense along German border

Defense along Belgium Border

Ardennes Forest• Natural defense

France Falls to Germany May 1940 – France is overtaken by

Nazi Forces• France is Divided in half• Occupied territory• Vichy France

Vichy France was ran as a puppet government under Nazi rule

Soldiers Escape German Invasion

Escape to Dunkirk : May 26-June 4, 1940• 338,000 English and French troops

evacuate the European Mainland• If these soldiers had not escaped, it is

doubtful that Britain could have stayed in the war

Supplies left behind• 475 tanks, 38,000 vehicles, 12,000

motorcycles, 8,000 artillery guns, 7,000 tons of ammunition

Winston Churchill English Prime Minister

• “We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”-June 4, 1940

The Winter War Soviet Union

invades Finland• Soviets

underestimate Finnish resistance

• Hitler sees this as a weakness on the part of the Soviet Union

America Debates Involvement

Roosevelt favors intervention• But…Election

coming in November 1940

Majority of Americans favor isolation

America First!

Reasons for Isolation Did not want to

repeat WWI

Avoid alliances with other countries

Focus on issues at Home like the Depression

Americas Initial Response Neutrality Acts of 1935,36 and 37

• Imposed restrictions on Americans during times of war

• Prohibited Americans from sailing on ships owned by belligerents or nations at war

• Prevented Americans from giving money or weapons to nations at war

Leaning Towards Intervention

Neutrality Act of 1939• Cash and Carry

Allowed nations at war to buy weapons with CASH and transport items themselves

Tripartite Pact• September 1940• Alliance between

Japan, Italy and Germany

Selective Service• September 1940• First peacetime draft

Lend-Lease• March 1941• Allowed US to give

military aid • Mostly sent items to

UK and USSR

The Atlantic Charter Meeting between

Roosevelt and Churchill• August 1941• Signed the Charter

together• Reinforced US

support of Great Britain

Germany attacks US Ships Hitler saw the US helping UK and USSR

through Lend-Lease

Fall 1941-Hitler ordered U-Boats to attack American ships on sight• Shocked and angered Americans

Without consent of Congress, Roosevelt allowed US Navy to destroy German U-Boats

Objectives Explain the difference between

isolationists and interventionists Identify the problems facing

Roosevelt in the late 1930s Evaluate the actions of Germany in

1939 and 1940