American Pageant Chapter 34

1933-1941

London Economic Conference 1933

Secretary of State: Cordell Hull

International effort to stabilize currencies

FDR worried about domestic recovery 1st

Wanted some inflationary policies, etc.

Sent scolding message to London

Ended international economic cooperation for crisis

Philippines:

Economic drain

Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934)

12 year economic tutelage then withdrawal by 1946

Kept Navy bases but not army

Soviet Union

Recognized by U.S. 1933

Threat of Germany

Latin AmericaGood Neighbor Policy Renounce Roosevelt Corollary of

Monroe Doctrine

7th Pan American Conference Endorsed non-intervention

Haititroops withdrew in 1934

Cubabetter terms than Platt Amendment

Mexicoseized oil interest, but no armed intervention by U.S.

FDR most popular U.S. president in Latin America

Need goodwill for potential allies with growing European threat

Cordell Hull Against high tariffs

Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act (1934) Amended most

objectionable rates from Smoot-Hawley Tariff

President (w/o Senate) has power to lower rates up to 50%--speedier action

Hull makes agreements with other 21 nations by 1939

U.S. foreign trade increases

Japanmilitaristic country Terminated Washington

Naval Treaty (1934)

Withdrew from League of Nations (1935)

Withdrew from naval disarmament conference in London & built more ships

Joined Italy and Germany in Tripartite Act (1940)

Senate investigation of merchants who made $ during WWI--1934 Led by Senator Gerald

Nye

Sensationalized information

Made illogical conclusion: If made money they caused the war

Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936, 1937 If President proclaimed

existence of foreign war: No American can sail on

belligerent ship

Cant sell munitions

Cant make loans to a belligerent

No difference between aggressor nations or victim nation

Abandoned policy of freedom of the seas

Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) Republic government in power General Francisco Franco

Fascist led revolt Aided by Hitler and Mussolini

U.S. refuses to sell needed arms to either side

Spanish republican government fell w/o U.S. help

America refused to build up armed forces and navy declined in strength 1938FDR finally gets congress

to pass a billion-dollar naval construction act but it was too late

Japan Invaded China 1937

FDR does not declare it a war so Neutrality Acts dont apply (Japanese buy war materials from US)

Quarantine SpeechChicago, 1937

FDR suggest quarantining aggressorsisolationist backlash

Panay Incident December, 1937

Japanese sink U.S. Gunboatkilling 2, wounding 30

Japanese quickly apologize & pay indemnity

Sharp contrast to Maine incident

Germany 1935compulsory

military service Jewish persecution March 1938bloodless

occupation of Austria Munich Conference,

September 1938 Hitler wants Sudetenland

(in Czechoslovakia) England & France cave to

demandshope to appease Hitlers appetite

March 1939Hitler takes rest of Czechoslovakia

Hitler-Stalin (aka Nazi-Soviet) Pact (August 1939)

Soviet Union key to keeping peace

Non aggression pact with Germanyshocked world

Hitler now free to take Poland

September 1, 1939Hitler invades Poland World War II starts

France & Britain declare war on Germany; U.S. neutral

Neutrality Act (1939) European democracies can purchase war

materials on a cash & carry basis

Hurts Chinablockaded by Japan

Demands helps recession of 1937-1939

Phony war -inactive few months followed by collapse of Poland

Soviets attack FinlandU.S. grants $30 million in non-military supplies

AprilJune 1940 Hitler takes

Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium and

France fell late June 1940 (Hitler aided by Mussolini)

Dunkirk: French port where British were able to rescue the bulk of the French forces

Only England is left to fight (& only constitutional government left in Europe) Constant air raids

Winston Churchill: PM, inspires British over BBC

U.S. shocked to action

FDR asks for building of huge air fleet & navy

Congress grants $37 billion for preparation

More than cost of WWI & 5 times the amount of New Deal

Conscription LawSeptember 19401st peace-time draft

Havana Conferenceall American countries promote Monroe Doctrine

Battle of BritainGerman air raids over England. Royal Air

Forceheroic efforts to protect England

Reports broadcast on radio to U.S.public sentiment starting to change

Isolationists v. Interventionists:

Charles A. Lindbergh; The Yanks are Not Coming.

Committee to Defend America

Britain is fighting our fight. or All methods short of war.

Destroyer DealSeptember 2, 1940 FDR (w/o Congress)

agrees to transfer to British 51 U.S. destroyers left over from WWI

Used simple presidential agreement

Violation of neutrality

Criticized by isolationists & some Republicans

British gave U.S. 8 valuable defense base sites for 99 years

Republicans:

Wendell L. Willkie

Newcomer to politics

Energetic, honest

Previously a Democrat

Only disagreed with FDRs methods for New Deal & foreign policy

Focused on FDRs dictatorship

Democrats: FDR3rd term

Better a 3rd term than a 3rd rater

FDR did not do much campaigning

World crisis aided his victory 449 EV to 82 (Difference

of 5 million popular votes)

Hitler was his real opponent

Britishalmost no more $ for cash & carry

FDR suggest Lend-Lease Act

Passed Congress March 1941

Worried about problems caused by WWI debts

U.S. loan military supplies to Allies, who would return them after the war was over (Like a neighbor borrowing a hose to put out a fire.)

U.S. to become Arsenal of Democracy--$50 billion of supplies by wars end.

Act risked warno longer neutral

Germany no longer as careful to not target U.S. ships

Hitler & Stalinuneasy truce Stalin didnt want Hitler to

have control of Balkans

June 22, 1941Germany invades Soviet Union Wanted oil & other resources

Thought they could crush Russia in a few weeks

U.S. expands Lend-Lease to Soviet Union $11 billion by wars end

August 1941--Roosevelt & Churchill meet on warship off coast of Newfoundland

Atlantic Charter8 points on goals after war Like Wilsons 14 points:

Opposed imperialistic annexations

Self determination

Right to choose government

Disarmament

Permanent system of general securityNew League of Nations

Isolationists criticize didnt realize U.S. no longer neutral

Lend-lease shipments are targeted by German wolfpack submarines

U.S. worried about being convoyed into war

July 1941FDR orders navy to escort shipments as far as Iceland Sept. 1941--USS Greer

attacked by undersea craft

Oct. 1941USS Kearny lost 11 men in attack

Oct. 1941USS Reuben James sunk off coast of Iceland with 100 officers & enlisted men

November 1941--Congress allows merchant ships to be armed & enter combat zones

September 1940: Japan formal military ally with Germany

China incident: Japan could not withdraw from China with honor or victory

Japan dependent on US oil, steel, scrap iron & aviation gasoline

FDR delayed embargoworried about Dutch East Indies

Late 1940: US embargo of Japan-bound supplies

Mid-1941: Freeze all of Japanese assets

Japan desperate for oil November & December

1941tense negotiations between Washington & Japan

US breaks Japanese codeknew Japan chose war

NO ONE IN HIGH AUTHORITY THOUGHT ATTACK ON HAWAII WAS A POSSIBLITY (Beware of urban legends!)

December 7, 1941: Japanese attack Pearl Harbor

Approximately 3000 casualties

Numerous aircraft, 8 battleships, and other smaller vessels

3 Aircraft Carriershad left harbor

U.S. declares war December 8, 1941

Germany & Italy declare war on U.S. December 11, 1941

Pacific fleet nearly destroyed but unified and angered the U.S.

Japanese Spy photo

Admiral Yamamoto

USS Arizona