Congress Passes the Congress Passes the Landmark Lend-Lease LawLandmark Lend-Lease Law

► Britain was running out of Britain was running out of money, but Roosevelt didn’t money, but Roosevelt didn’t want all the hassles that came want all the hassles that came with calling back debts, so he with calling back debts, so he came up with the idea of a came up with the idea of a lend-lend-leaselease program in which the arms program in which the arms and ships, etc. that the U.S. lent and ships, etc. that the U.S. lent to the nations that needed them to the nations that needed them would be returned when they would be returned when they were no longer needed. were no longer needed.

Senator Taft retorted that in this Senator Taft retorted that in this case the U.S. wouldn’t want case the U.S. wouldn’t want them back because it would be them back because it would be like lending chewing gum then like lending chewing gum then taking it back after it’d been taking it back after it’d been chewed! chewed!

Great Britain.........................$31 billionSoviet Union...........................$11 billionFrance......................................$ 3 billionChina.......................................$1.5 billionOther European.................$500 millionSouth America...................$400 million

The amount totaled: $48,601,365,000

Great Britain.........................$31 billionSoviet Union...........................$11 billionFrance......................................$ 3 billionChina.......................................$1.5 billionOther European.................$500 millionSouth America...................$400 million

The amount totaled: $48,601,365,000

U. S. Lend-Lease Act,1941U. S. Lend-Lease Act,1941

► The 1941 lend-lease bill was:The 1941 lend-lease bill was:1.1. A focus of intense debate between internationalists and isolationists.A focus of intense debate between internationalists and isolationists.2.2. A direct challenge to the Axis dictators.A direct challenge to the Axis dictators.3.3. The point when all pretense of American neutrality was abandoned.The point when all pretense of American neutrality was abandoned.4.4. The catalyst that caused American factories to prepare for all-out war The catalyst that caused American factories to prepare for all-out war

production.production.

► Though it was argued over heatedly in Congress, it passed, and by war’s Though it was argued over heatedly in Congress, it passed, and by war’s end, America had sent about $50 billion worth of arms and equipment. end, America had sent about $50 billion worth of arms and equipment.

The lend-lease program was basically the abandonment of the neutrality The lend-lease program was basically the abandonment of the neutrality policy, and Hitler recognized this. policy, and Hitler recognized this.

Before, German submarines had avoided attacking U.S. ships, but after Before, German submarines had avoided attacking U.S. ships, but after the passage, they started to fire upon U.S. ships as well, such as the the passage, they started to fire upon U.S. ships as well, such as the May 21, 1941 torpedoing of the May 21, 1941 torpedoing of the Robin MoorRobin Moor..

Hitler’s Assault on the Soviet Hitler’s Assault on the Soviet Union Spawns the Atlantic Union Spawns the Atlantic

Charter Charter ► On June 22, 1941, Hitler shockingly On June 22, 1941, Hitler shockingly

attacked Russia, breaking the agreement attacked Russia, breaking the agreement of the nonaggression pact!of the nonaggression pact!

► Neither Stalin nor Hitler had ever actually Neither Stalin nor Hitler had ever actually trusted each other, and both had been trusted each other, and both had been expecting a double-cross from the expecting a double-cross from the beginning of the arrangement.beginning of the arrangement. Hitler assumed his invincible troops Hitler assumed his invincible troops

would crush the inferior Soviet would crush the inferior Soviet soldiers, but the valor of the Red soldiers, but the valor of the Red army, U.S. aid to the U.S.S.R. army, U.S. aid to the U.S.S.R. (through lend-lease), and an early and (through lend-lease), and an early and bitter winter, stranded the German bitter winter, stranded the German forces at Moscow and shifted the tide forces at Moscow and shifted the tide against Germany.against Germany.

Now Hitler was forced to Now Hitler was forced to divide his forces and divide his forces and fight a war on 2 fronts. fight a war on 2 fronts. He had made his He had made his greatest mistake….greatest mistake….

Operation Barbarossa:Hitler’s Biggest MistakeOperation Barbarossa:

Hitler’s Biggest Mistake

Unexpected Unexpected Guest, Guest, 1941 1941

Stalin joins the Stalin joins the democracies,democracies,Britain and Britain and America.America.

► FDR and new British Prime Minister FDR and new British Prime Minister Winston Churchill met on a ship in the Winston Churchill met on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean to discuss the war.Atlantic Ocean to discuss the war.

► What became known as the Atlantic What became known as the Atlantic Conference was held in August 1941 Conference was held in August 1941 and the result was the eight-point and the result was the eight-point Atlantic Charter (similar to Wilson’s Atlantic Charter (similar to Wilson’s earlier Fourteen Points). Main points earlier Fourteen Points). Main points included….. included….. There would be no territorial changes There would be no territorial changes

contrary to the wishes of native contrary to the wishes of native peoples. peoples.

The charter also affirmed the right for The charter also affirmed the right for native people to choose their rulers native people to choose their rulers (self-determination). (self-determination).

It declared disarmament and a peace It declared disarmament and a peace of security, as well as a new League of of security, as well as a new League of Nations. Nations.

► Isolationists charged that FDR was Isolationists charged that FDR was interfering with official neutrality interfering with official neutrality policy, while ignoring the fact that the policy, while ignoring the fact that the U.S. was already in an undeclared war U.S. was already in an undeclared war since Hitler’s submarines were already since Hitler’s submarines were already blatantly attacking American ships.blatantly attacking American ships.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill

U.S. Destroyers and Hitler’s U-Boats U.S. Destroyers and Hitler’s U-Boats

ClashClash ► To ensure that arms sent to Britain would reach there, To ensure that arms sent to Britain would reach there, FDR agreed that a U.S. convoy would have to escort them, FDR agreed that a U.S. convoy would have to escort them, but only as far as Iceland, and Britain would take over but only as far as Iceland, and Britain would take over from there. from there.

► There were clashes, as U.S. destroyers like the There were clashes, as U.S. destroyers like the GreerGreer, the , the KearnyKearny, and the , and the Reuben JamesReuben James were attacked by the were attacked by the German u-boats. German u-boats.

► By mid-November 1941, Congress annulled the now By mid-November 1941, Congress annulled the now useless Neutrality Act of 1939. useless Neutrality Act of 1939.

Surprise Assault at Pearl Harbor Surprise Assault at Pearl Harbor ► Japan was still embroiled in war with China, but when America Japan was still embroiled in war with China, but when America

suddenly imposed embargoes on key supplies on Japan in 1940, the suddenly imposed embargoes on key supplies on Japan in 1940, the imperialistic nation believed it had no choice but to either back off of imperialistic nation believed it had no choice but to either back off of China or attack the U.S. They chose the latter.China or attack the U.S. They chose the latter.

► The Americans had broken the Japanese code and knew that they The Americans had broken the Japanese code and knew that they

would declare war soon, but the U.S. thought that the Japanese would declare war soon, but the U.S. thought that the Japanese would attack British Malaysia or the Philippines since it was so much would attack British Malaysia or the Philippines since it was so much closer to Japan.closer to Japan. Wrong. Wrong.

BeforeBefore After

► Instead, the paralyzing blow struck Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941 Instead, the paralyzing blow struck Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941 (“a date which will live in infamy” as FDR famously declared the next day (“a date which will live in infamy” as FDR famously declared the next day in his declaration of war speech).in his declaration of war speech).

► Japanese air bombers suddenly attacked the naval base located there Japanese air bombers suddenly attacked the naval base located there (where a vast majority of the Pacific U.S. fleet was located), wiping out (where a vast majority of the Pacific U.S. fleet was located), wiping out many ships and planes and killing or wounding over 3,000 men.many ships and planes and killing or wounding over 3,000 men.

► The next day FDR asked Congress to declare war on Japan, and on The next day FDR asked Congress to declare war on Japan, and on

December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy reciprocated by declaring war on December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy reciprocated by declaring war on the U.S.the U.S.

► The United States had once again found itself in world war….. The United States had once again found itself in world war…..

Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle:First U. S. Raids on Tokyo, 1942Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle:

First U. S. Raids on Tokyo, 1942

Pearl Harbor MemorialPearl Harbor Memorial

America’s Transformation from Bystander to America’s Transformation from Bystander to

BelligerentBelligerent ► Up until the day of the Pearl Harbor Up until the day of the Pearl Harbor

attack, most Americans still wanted to attack, most Americans still wanted to stay out of war, but afterwards the event stay out of war, but afterwards the event sparked such passion that it completely sparked such passion that it completely infuriated Americans into supporting the infuriated Americans into supporting the war effort.war effort.

► This had been long in coming, as the This had been long in coming, as the

U.S. had wanted to stay out of war, but U.S. had wanted to stay out of war, but had still supported Britain more and had still supported Britain more and more as the Axis Powers had become more as the Axis Powers had become continuously aggressive.continuously aggressive.

► Plus, the U.S. had been against the Plus, the U.S. had been against the Japanese aggression in Asia all along Japanese aggression in Asia all along but had failed to take a firm stand on but had failed to take a firm stand on either side.either side.

► Finally, America had realized that Finally, America had realized that

appeasement would not work against appeasement would not work against “iron wolves,” and that only total war “iron wolves,” and that only total war against dictatorship and anarchy could against dictatorship and anarchy could make the world safe for democracy.make the world safe for democracy.

► And And Remember……Remember……