The United States in World War II

Escalating Tensions with Germany1939 US to sell weapons to Euro democracies – Cash & Carry1939 FDR’s “Arsenal for Democracy” speech 1940 FDR agrees to the Destroyers for Bases Deal w/Britain1941 Fresh off reelection, FDR makes his Four Freedom’s Speech to Congress asking for more aid for the British1942 Lend-Lease Act authorized FDR to give all military supplies to any nation vital to the defense of the US, regardless of payment1943 In response to German aggression, FDR proclaims “Shoot- on-sight” orders to US ships

Escalating Tensions with GermanyAugust 1941 – Atlantic Charter FDR & Churchill secretly meet

off Newfoundland Met to establish a plan for post-

war peace Allies not fighting for territorial

changes Called for “a permanent system

of general security” (UN)*Very similar to Wilson’s 14 Points, stated what Allies were fighting for in WWII.

President Roosevelt & PM Churchill

The Atlantic Charter was negotiated aboard the USS Augusta.

Escalating Tensions with Japan1937 US condemns Japanese invasion of China (*FDR makes “Quarantine Speech”)July US declares an embargo on Japan 1940 after its occupation of Indochina (Embargo to include aviation fuel, scrap iron, and steel)Sep Japan signs Tripartite Pact with Germany & Italy1941 FDR moves Pacific Fleet to Pearl HarborJuly Japan occupies southern Indochina, US freezes assets and cuts off oil & access to Panama Canal*During negotiations, US demands that Japan withdraw from Indochina & China, withdraw from Tripartite Pact, and promise not to attack in Pacific in exchange for improved eco relations – no deal.Oct General Hideki Tojo becomes PM, secretly decides that if no deal is reached by Nov 25, Japan to attack.

December 7, 1941“A date which will live in infamy.”

U.S. Declares War!

On December 8, 1941, the US declares war on the Empire of Japan.Three days later, Germany and Italy declare war on the US. The US and Britain pledge themselves to the principles in the Atlantic Charter and agree on a “Germany First” strategy.

Home Front USAEconomic Mobilization: War Mobilization Board created to regulate use of raw materials. Office of Price Administration begins extensive rationing program. Smith-Connolly Antistrike Act empowered the govt to seize factories

idled by strike. Office of Scientific Research and Development led to numerous

advances with civilian applications – including the Manhattan Project.Women: Approximately 350,000 women served in uniform. More than 5 million joined the work force. “Rosie the Riveter” Women’s wages helped to swell family incomes and pave the way for

post war consumer demand.

American Women Support WWII

American Women Support WWII

American Women Support WWII

African Americans & Civil Rights during WWII

• Great Migration II creates tension.

• Race riots break out in 47 cities .• A. Phillip Randolph emerges as

an early civil rights leader• Threatens FDR with a march on

Washington, demands1. Equal access to defense jobs2. Desegregation of the military3. End to segregation in fed govt*FDR agrees to investigate #1NAACP membership grows from 50,000 in 1940 to 500,000 in 1945.

• Almost 1 million African Americans serve in segregated units during WWII

A. Phillip Randolph & First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt

Mexican Americans During WWIIBracero ProgramDemand for ag workers during the war led to a new US policy of short-term work permits issued to Mexican migrant workers.Zoot Suit RiotsYoung Latino men were often targeted in LA by white military personnel.

The Plight of Japanese AmericansExecutive Order 9066

Executive Order 9066

Korematsu v. USFacts of the Case During World War II, Presidential Executive Order 9066 and congressional statutes gave the military authority to exclude citizens of Japanese Ancestry from areas deemed critical to national defense and potentially vulnerable to espionage. Korematsu remained in San Leandro, California and violated Civilian Exclusion Order No. 34 of the U.S. Army. The Court sided with the government and held that the need to protect Against espionage outweighed Korematsu's rights. The Court argued that compulsory exclusion, though constitutionally suspect, is Justified During circumstances of "emergency and peril."

Fred Korematsu

Important Early Events in the Pacific Theater

April 1942 – Doolittle Raid on Tokyo

May 1942 – Fall of Corregidor & Bataan Death March

May 1942 – Battle of the Coral Sea

June 1942 – Battle of Midway *Turning point of the war.

Aug 1942 – Battle for Guadalcanal begins

Nov 1943 – Battle for Tarawa commences Island Hopping Strategy

Top US Commanders in the Pacific

From left to right: General Douglass MacArthur, President Roosevelt, and Admiral Chester Nimitz

US Strategy in the Pacific Theater

End Game in the PacificOct 1944 – Sep 1945 Campaign for the Philippines

Feb 1945 Iwo Jima

April – June 1945 Battle for Okinawa

Aug 6, 1945Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima(Aug 9 second bomb on Nagasaki)

Sep 2, 1945Japanese surrender

Important Early Events in Europe1941-43 Battle for the Atlantic

June 1942 US strategic bombing campaign begins

Nov 1942 Operation Torch - American landings in North Africa

July 1943 Operation Husky – American invasion of Sicily

Sep 1943 Allied campaign for Italy begins. (German forces will still be fighting when the war ends in 1945.)

Allied Strategy in Europe

Top American Commanders in Europe

Gen. George S. Patton

Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Gen. Omar Bradley

End Game in EuropeJune 6, 1944 – Operation Overlord D-Day landings at Normandy France

Aug 1944 – Paris is liberated

Dec 1944 – Jan 1945 Battle of the Bulge

April 1945 – Allied & Soviet forces link up in Germany

April – May 1945 Battle for Berlin

May 7, 1945 Germany Surrenders

War Time ConferencesTehran – Nov 1943British & Americans to invade France inthe spring of 1944. Soviets to eventually join campaign against Japan.

Yalta – Feb 1945Post-war planning. Germany to be divided into zones of occupation. Free elections in E. Europe. Soviets to enter war against Japan. United Nations to be created.

Potsdam – July 1945Demand unconditional surrender from Japan. War crime trials for Nazis. US reveals atomic bomb.