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America and World

War II

United States Status After WWI

After WWI US is considered Isolationist by many, because of the desire to stay out of international politics (not a member of League of Nations…Wilson and Republicans)

Few international treaties:

Dawes Plan- reorganizes German WWI debt payments

Reduction of interference in Latin America (Good Neighbor)

Above all- popular opinion in US is to stay out of foreign wars!

FDR and Foreign Affairs

Similar to Wilson, FDR wanted to use power to maintain order Moral and just principles

However, must abide by public opinion which is Isolationist

Basic views: Isolation is not a lasting policy

Technology impacts distance of oceans

Important to maintain American interests

Reciprocal Reduction of Tariffs- will help the economy= countries that reduce tariffs, US will also reduce tariffs= more trade for both partners

“Good Neighbor” Policy

FDR wanted to continue the cordial relations with the world and Latin America in particular

Continued attempt begun with Hoover

Cooperation and non-interventionist

Withdrew troops from Haiti

Did not send troops to Cuba

1936 FDR visited Buenos Aires, arranged meeting of LA nations supporting peace movement

Mussolini-Italian Right Wing

Dictator

Came to power in 1922

Right Wing, anti-Socialist and Communist

Wanted greatness like the Roman Empire for

Italy

Repressive but not too extreme- (no

concentration camps)

Nationalist

Invades Somalia (1935) and Ethiopia in 1936

Hitler Rises to Power

Germany has problems:Economic Depression

Conflict with Socialist/Communists against

Right Wing Groups- Nazis are one group

Nazis gain significant power in Reichstag

(German legislature) 1933 and Hitler ascends to

Chancellor (similar to Prime Minister-executive

branch)

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Factors that Contributed to Hitler’s

Rise

Economic depression

Treaty of Versailles (Peace Treaty Germany and Allies World War I) – This was why Germany was angry!!!!! Striped Germany of land (East Prussia, Danzig and empire)

Striped Germany of military, navy, air force

Allies had a right to intervene (Saar Basin Rhineland, many resources)

German had to take explicit blame for the war

Pay War Repartitions

Socialists/Communists vs Right Wing groups were fighting for control

Created conditions for popularity of Nazis for some German voters

Hitler-Once in Power

Hitler vows to make Germany great again

To “Claim its rightful place in the Sun.”

Reichstag fire = Hitler has emergency powers

Hitler begins to implement his plan- (found in his book Mein Kampf) Rearm Germany

Unite the German people in one country (all German speaking people; 1938 Anschluss- political unity between Austria and Germany, later (Sudetenland) Czechoslovakia and East Prussia (part of Poland)

Ethnically Cleanse German Territory (all non-Aryan…Jews, Gypsies)

Expand East “Lebensraub”- into Russian lands, Destroy communists

European Appeasement

Appeasement (giving in to demands as an expedient to avoid a conflict or difficult struggle)

France & Great Britain let Hitler get away with too much, too many times. They should have stopped his early demands. Rather Hitler got used to getting away with it, and simply stopped asking for permission.

Could Hitler have been stopped before he was too powerful?

Why did the Allies appease Hitler?

Treaty of Versailles- Price for Peace was too harsh for Germans.

Wanted to avoid war at all costs, even if it meant turning their head the other way for small violations.

Failure of the League of Nations

NO ENFORCEMENT! It can’t make anyone do anything.

Recommendations only

Only weapon was economic embargo and public pressure

With no one telling them no:

Japan, Italy, and Germany pursue aggression invade other countries (Manchuria, Somalia, Ethiopia,

Spanish Civil War, and Czchoslovakia)

League has little or no effect. NO BITE!

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China Still Weak

After WWI China remains weak

“Open Door” Reinforced- Anyone can come in

to do business. Supported by Nationalists.

Opposed by Communist forces of Mao Tse

Tung.

Japan

Nationalist-Wanted to expand it’s empire similar to

France, Britain, and the US.

Achieve by control China’s abundant natural resources

Washington Naval Conference Not good for Japan

because:

set limit for Japanese Navy

reinforced the “Open Door” policy (Japan wanted closed

door, knock and have permission to do business.)

Japan invades Manchuria 1931

Control economic interests and resources.

When China tries to Boycott Japanese goods, Japan bombs Shanghai in retaliation. Now they have to buy Japanese goods.

Results of Japanese invasion of

ManchuriaThe US

Responds with the Stimson Doctrine

US will not recognize territorial changes-

League of Nations

condemns the attack on China, no action.

Japan withdraws from League of Nations

Rest of the World

Not my job, No one steps in: Rape of Nanjing

200,000 civilians killed

Japan closes the “Open Door”.

American Neutrality

The Neutrality Act of 1935- members of congress, wanted to keep America out of war

Whoever wants to fight, we will not do business with you.

Neutrality Act 1936- forbade loans to belligerent countries

Neutrality Act 1937- response to the Spanish Civil War

Goods from the US to warring nations had to be paid for in cash (2 years only)

Discuss this: What is the point of American Neutrality??

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German-Soviet Non Aggression Pact

August 23, 1939- Hitler and Stalin sign a secret

agreement to partition Poland-

Germans invade Poland in the West

Russians invade Poland in the East

World War II in Europe begins- France and

Britain had guaranteed Polish sovereignty

US responds with a renewed Neutrality act

1939- “cash and carry” would aid allies alone

Non Aggression Pact

Germans and Soviets share

Poland-1939

German Eye on: Poland to

France and Britain

Germany rapidly beat Poland “Blitzkrieg”

France and Britain mobilized and waited for attack

April 1940 Denmark, Norway,

May 1940 Belgium and France

Dunkirk- 300,000 British troops escape the continent-Churchill now in charge

Paris Falls June 1940

England stands alone “Battle of Britain”

Battle of Britain

Brits were alone as of June 1940

Winston Churchill, the new prime minister summed up the British attitude:

“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.”

What did Churchill mean?

United States Reacts to War

Debate 1940:

Isolationist or Internationalist

Isolationists

America First Committee

Charles A Lindberg

“Intervention is

detrimental to American

interests”

Internationalists

Committeed to Defend

America

Best way to keep US out

of war is to Help allies

fight the Germans

Roosevelt is sympathetic

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FDR Aids the Allies

Summer 1940 FDR asks congress to allow trade

of 50 destroyers in exchange for 99 year leases

for bases in the Atlantic

Although population does not want to enter the

war, 73% support aid to Britain.

1941 Lend-Lease

1941 Lend Lease: “lease, lend or otherwise dispose of” any items not vital to the nation’s defense.

FDR in a “Fireside Chat” “If a neighbor’s home were on fire…” - offer aid to Brits

US is closer to the War- (US Ships secretly were supporting the British Navy by searching and reporting on U-boat locations)

Hitler afraid to attack American Ships. WHY?

Election of 1940 then the Draft

FDR decides to Run for a third term

The Nation Needs emergency situation: War in Europe

Problems in Asia

Wants to protect New Deal reforms

Ran against Wendell Willkie

FDR Wins- then begins the process

Prepare for War: Draft

Armament build up

FDR Wins Unprecedented 3rd Term FDR’s Four Freedoms Speech

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

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

The third is freedom from want--which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants-everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear--which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor--anywhere in the world.”

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Significance of “Four Freedoms”

Speech

Represents FDR’s view that America needs to

prepare for war and support Britain.

FDR Prepares for War

Increased Military appropriations

Aliens are fingerprinted

Peace time draft to raise 2 million troops

Big Questions: Winning

the War

To what extent was the mobilization for

war a key factor in the American victory?

How is the American home front and

mobilization in WWI similar to the home

front and mobilization in WWII and how

are they different?

Key Ideas: America’s

Response to War

US had started to prepare 1940

Airplane production/design

Draft/Selective Service-1940

Build the “Arsenal of Democracy”-Harness the Industrial and Economic power of the US- and focus it toward War.

Focus on building War material- Speficially Air power, Bombers, B17, B24, B29

Germany was the biggest threat, Focus of first phase of War

Then Japan

Meeting Before the War

Secret, FDR and Churchill meet to coordinate in

August, 1941

Create the Atlantic Charter (a statement of principles

agreed upon)

Condemned Aggression

Endorsed National Self Determination

Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941

American Reaction to Pearl Harbor American reaction to Pearl Harbor was swift and violent.

Immediate calls for war and revenge were heard throughout the country.

Congress declared war and thousands of soldiers volunteered to fight.

Americans were mad and they would never forget the treachery of the Japanese.

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Japan Offensive

Hitler and Mussolini both declared war on the United States as a sign of support for the Japanese.

Japan Attacks Polynesian Asia Immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor Japanese

forces invade Malaysia, Singapore, Burma, French Indochina, and the Philippines. American forces in the Philippines were outnumbered and overwhelmed by Japanese forces.

12,000 American prisoners were taken in the fall of the last Philippine strong hold called Bataan.

“Bataan Death March” What is the significance to NM?

American “Arsenal of Democracy”

America Mobilizes for War= (WPB)

War Production Board- goal is to transform industrial

production to War production, organize all industrial output

Board had much power to control resources:

Limited civilian goods- Rationing of food, fuel…

Conservation and recycle movement, rubber, metal, grease,

Financing the War

Taxes increase

Income

1941 7 million people file taxes

1944 42 million people file taxes

Government starts a withholding $ from workers

Loans/War Bonds

$100 billion in bonds sold

Problem of Inflation

Prices rise with full inflation

Full employment

Office of Price Administration is created-Freezes prices

Rations- Gas, tires, meat, sugar, shoes, coffee, canned goods (Ration books-needed coupons to purchase goods)

The Size of Government Explodes

Hundreds of agencies created:

National War Labor Boards- to manage labor

practices and prevent strikes

Office of War Mobilization- to help coordinate

agencies

Local Draft Boards

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Internment of Japanese Americans

Japanese immigrants had increased in the United

States with the since early 1900

When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor a great

backlash was directed at Japanese Americans

Japanese Relocation

120,000 Japanese lived on the West coast

Were accused of potentially aiding Japanese espionage

Some people, racist, and wanted to use the opportunity to take Japanese land

February 1942 FDR signed an executive order

“Remove any and all persons who might pose a threat to national security.”

Japanese Internment Camps

Japanese were relocated in

Camps:

Some Japanese sued for

their rights:

Korematsu v. US

Supreme Court upheld

the Internment of the

Japanese

Japanese internment FACTSIn the entire course of the war, 10 people were convicted of

spying for Japan, all of whom were Caucasian.

Roosevelt interned 120,000 Japanese

2/3 were American citizens and had never shown disloyalty

Japanese American Heroes

33,000 Japanese Americans served

Volunteers

442 Combat Regiment Team

The 442nd received more medals than any other

unit in US military history. Some survivors swear

it's because they were kept in combat longer

than white units.

War in Europe

First priority

North Africa-November 1942

1942 Bombing campaign against Germany begun

September 1943 Italy Surrenders (German Army occupies and

holds Northern Italy)

June 6, 1944 D-Day- Allied Invasion of Normandy France, the

Second Front is opened.

December 16, 1944 Battle of the Bulge (German counter attack

in the Ardennes Forrest, 200K Germans attack Allies)

May 7, 1945 Germany Surrenders (Hitler is dead, Russians

conquer Berlin)

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Women and the War

Rosie the

Riveter:

Women go to

work in

munitions

factories, other

jobs, and the

military

“GI Bill of Rights”

GI is the term used for American soldiers in

WWII. (G.I. means General Issue)

The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act

Provided veterans a series of benefits:

Low interest loans for homes, business, and farms

Aid for education

FDR Dies April 12, 1945

FDR dies and Harry Truman takes over

FDR was elected to an unprecedented 4 terms

He was a extremely beloved leader.

“Roosevelt had filled their lives through depression and war for more than a dozen years, allying their years and giving them hope. Now he was gone…”

Harry Truman

Atomic Bomb Production

FDR authorized a secret program “Manhattan Project”

1943, J. Robert Oppenheimer, led the team of physicists to develop and atomic weapon in Los Alamos, New Mexico

July 1945, the bomb was ready (Truman had no idea any bomb like this was being worked on, when he took office)

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German Atrocity…