Why Does the US Enter World War II?

Axis on the Rise, Isolationists Hamstring

FDR, visit of Br. Royalty 2:39-2:52

Road to US Entry - 1936 to 1941

Rise of Fascism/Totalitarianism in the 1930’s

Mussolini

(Italy)

Hitler

(Germany)

Tojo

(Japan)

Common Traits of future Axis Powers :

•Rally support of people with appeals to extreme nationalism

• Authoritarian rule eliminates domestic opposition

•Expansionist foreign policy justified by claims of racial supremacy

1930’s US Foreign Policy:

Condemn dictators, but maintain neutrality & isolationism

Avoid “collective security” actions

The “Rape of Nanking”

1937

Over 200,000 Chinese massacred

Mussolini threatens expansion in Balkans & East Africa

Hitler Expands in Europe Rhineland (1936);

France, EnglandAppease Hitler

Poland (1939)

Austria (1938)Sudetenland/Czechoslovakia (1938);

FDR Attempts to Sway American Public“Quarantine” Speech – Oct. 1937

Congress Reacts with Neutrality Acts

Isolationism Cartoons of late 1930’s

Isolationism Cartoons of late 1930’s

WWII Begins on 9/1/39 With German “Blitzkrieg”

US Remains Neutral

Churchill Cautiously Reaches

Out to FDRDuring

“Battle of Britain”

America First Committee Campaigns Against US Involvement in Foreign Affairs and a 3rd Term for FDR in 1940

Anti-Isolationist Cartoon

FDR elected

to a 3rd TermAfter promising: “Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars”

FDR’s Inaugural“Four Freedom’s” Speech

January – 1941 Attempts toSway US Public Opinion

… In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.

The fourth is freedom from fear…which means a world-wide reduction of armaments… [so] no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor--anywhere in the world.

The third is freedom from want…which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world.

The first is freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world.

Patriotic song from movie

FDR Uses Political Maneuvering to undo Neutrality Acts: Cash & Carry (’39)

replaced by Lend-Lease Act ( Spring ’41)

FDR agrees to “Atlantic Charter” August – 1941 – Triumph of Internationalism

FDR and Churchill set goals for the postwar world •stated that US & UK would seek no territorial gain from war

•stated war was only justified to safeguard "the rights of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live"

Tensions with Germany – Sept & Oct 1941USS Greer, and other US ships

come under German Attack while escortingLend-Lease Convoys to UK

Why Does FDR Seek an “incident” with Nazis?

War with Germany seems imminent

Meanwhile…US places Embargo on oil and scrap metal to expanding Japan in mid 1941

Japanese Response = Surprise Attack on US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Dec. 7th, 1941…

US Formally Enters World War II the next day