SSUSH19A, B & D

The Approaching Storm of War

The Approaching Storm of War Rise of New Dictators

• The Rise of Anti-Democratic Governments around the world developed due

to two key influences: Unfair WWI Treaties & Global Economic Depression

Adolf Hitler

Joseph Stalin

Benito Mussolini

Communist Fascist Nazis Militarist Fascist

Emperor Hirohito

Francisco Franco

The Approaching Storm of War

• 1934: Nye Committee Investigated Impact of

Business and Banking activities on U.S.

Involvement in World War I

U.S. Attempts at Isolation

Connections made between profits in munitions

industry and U.S. entry into WWI promoted New U.S. Isolationism.

Neutrality Act of 1935

Neutrality Act of 1936

Neutrality Act of 1937

Neutrality Act of 1939

Embargo on all Arms Trade with Nations at War

Renewed Previous Provisions of for 14 more months

Renewed Previous Provisions of w/o Expiration Date

Amended Previous Provisions with

Cash & Carry Policy

Oct 1935

Italy Invaded Ethiopia

Jul 1936

Spanish Civil War Begins

Jul 1937

Japan Invaded Mainland China

Sep 1939

Nazis Invaded Poland

The Approaching Storm of War European Attempts at Avoiding War

November 1936

Anti-Comintern Pact created by Germany,

Italy and Japan

Intended to Protect against Communists

September 1938

Britain and France meet with Germany at the Munich Conference

Britain and France make Concessions

Formed Axis Powers Policy of Appeasement

September 1939

Nazis and Soviets both Interested in

Poland

Nazis and Soviets still trying to avoid war

Non-Aggression Pact

U.S. Begins Making Concessions S E P

1 9 3 9

M A R

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Cash and Carry Policy Adopted Lend Lease Act Approved

Trade of War Supplies approved if buying Nation

provides own transport and makes purchase with cash

Loan and/or Sale of War Materials to All Allied Nations during the duration of the War

Officially Ended U.S. Neutrality

The Approaching Storm of War

U.S. Pre-War Policies

• 1941: U.S. & Britain Meet in Newfoundland

Known as the “Atlantic Charter”

President Roosevelt & Winston Churchill

Agreement for Postwar World Democracy

Founded on Eight Key Principals:

No Territorial Gains by U.S. or U.K.

Right to Self Determination by all People

Lowering of Global Trade Barriers

Advancement of Global Social Welfare

Strive to Maintain World Peace

Establish Freedom of the Sea

Disarmament of Aggressor Nations

The Approaching Storm of War

U.S. Pre-War Policies in the Atlantic

• 1941: Hemispheric Defense Zone Established

Encompassed the Western Atlantic Ocean

President ordered U.S. Naval Patrols

U.S. Navy revealed German Submarine

locations to the British Royal Navy

• Two key U.S./German Incidents Occurred:

• Sep 1941: USS Greer Incident

German Sub fired on U.S. Destroyer

President issued “Shoot on Sight” Policy

• Oct 1941: USS Reuben James Incident

U.S. Destroyer providing Convoy Escort

German Torpedo Sank ship (115 die)

The Approaching Storm of War

U.S. Pre-War Policies in the Pacific

• By 1940: 80% of Japanese Oil came from the U.S.

• Jul 1937: Japan Invaded Mainland China

• President Roosevelt was concerned about possible Japanese

plans to attack British and French Colonies in Indo-China.

• Jul 1940: Congress passed the Export Control Act.

Power to restrict the sale of Strategic Materials to aggressive nations.

To discourage Japanese attacks in Indo-China

To encourage Japan to withdraw from China

• 1941: Congress approved Lend Lease aid to China.

U.S. initiated Oil Embargo against Japan

U.S. froze all Japanese assets in America

Gen. Douglas MacArthur sent to the Philippines

The Approaching Storm of War

War Comes to the United States

• U.S. was the largest threat to

Japanese Expansion in the Pacific.

• Admiral Yamamoto of the Japanese

Navy devised plan to destroy the U.S. Fleet in Pearl Harbor (Hawaii)

• 7 Dec 1941: Japanese Airplanes conducted a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

It was a Sunday: Traditionally a Day of Rest

Ships & Planes grouped together to protect against sabotage by suspected enemy spies

Delay in reporting the sighting of an enemy submarine near the harbor entrance (6:37)

Failure to take precautions when incoming planes were indicated on new Radar System

• 8 Dec 1941: President’s “A Date which will live in Infamy” Speech to Congress

Building an Military

• The German Invasion of Poland in 1939 and France’s surrender to Germany

in 1940 signaled to the United States the need to prepare for war.

• June 1940: Congress passed the Selective Service and Training Act.

First Peacetime Draft in American History

Initial Enlistments were for 12 months only

Draftees were to be kept in the U.S.

Conscientious Objectors (Due to Religious

Beliefs) could apply for exemption

• New Draftees were sent to Army

Reception Stations

Received Physicals and Shots

Issued Clothing labeled “G.I.”

Began Physical Training

The Approaching Storm of War

Building an Military

• At the beginning of WWII, The U.S.

Military was completely Segregated.

Reflecting America’s “Separate But

Equal” Policies

With African-Americans in Separate

Units commanded by White Officers

• Many African-Americans opposed serving because they felt Disenfranchised.

Due to white restrictions on their freedoms and voting

• African-American leaders started the “Double V” Campaign.

To support the U.S. war effort and achieve two goals:

Defeat Hitler’s Fascism and America’s Racism

The Approaching Storm of War

Building a Military

• May 1942: The U.S. Army established the Women’s

Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).

• Later to be renamed the Women’s Army Corps.

• Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby became the first

women officer to command the WAC’s.

• Aug 1942: The U.S. Navy established its own

branch of WAVES (Women Accepted

for Volunteer Emergency Service)

• Lieutenant Commander Mildred McAfee became

the first women officer to command the WAC’s.

• Women in both branches served mostly as Nurses, Clerks, and Secretaries.

The Approaching Storm of War

Building a Military

• Feb 1942: The Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor

caused the U.S. Government to Categorize ALL

Japanese Americans 4C (Alien Enemies).

• All Japanese Americans and their families were

forced into Relocation and Internment Camps.

• However, new generation Japanese Americans

(known as Nisei) wanted to serve their country

and prove their loyalty to the United States.

• Jun 1942: U.S. Army formed an all

Nisei Regiment (442nd

Regimental Combat Team)

The Approaching Storm of War

The Approaching Storm of War

Mobilizing the American Home Front

• A War against Japan and Germany required the United States to Mobilize the Nation’s Economy.

• America’s Automobile Industry was uniquely suited to Mass Produce Trucks, Jeeps, & Tanks.

• Henry Ford created an Assembly Line to build the large B-24 Bomber (known as the Liberator).

• Shortages of White Male Workers led Industries to hire Women and Minorities as Factory Workers.

Women Factor Workers were nicknamed “Rosie the Riveter” after a popular song.

The Approaching Storm of War

Mobilizing the American Home Front

• Industrialist Henry J. Kaiser became the Father of Modern American Shipbuilding when he developed Liberty Ships.

Ship Hulls were Welded instead of being Riveted.

• These Cargo Ships were cheaper and quicker to make (1 completed in 5 Days) and harder to sink.

• Employment of African Americans in the Defense Industry during World War II occurred due to:

African American Civil Rights Activist A. Philip Randolph

The “March on Washington Movement”

Planned a Mass March on Washington (1 Jun 1941)

Presidential Executive Order 8802 (25 Jun 1941)

Prohibited Racial Discrimination in Defense Industry

The Approaching Storm of War

Mobilizing the American Home Front

• 1942: U.S. Government started the Bracero Program.

To Overcome Labor Shortage of farmworkers in Southwest

Over 200,000 Mexican came to help harvest crops in U.S.

• Labor Shortages in Industry sparked the Second Great Migration of African Americans to urban areas in the North, Midwest, and West.

• These migrations led to new Housing Development Issues

• Increased Racism and Violence

• Several Large Race Riots

• Belle Isle Beach Riot (Detroit)

• Zoot Suit Riot (Los Angeles)

The Approaching Storm of War

Mobilizing the American Home Front

• Organizations were created to Stabilize Wages and the Prices of Goods during the War’s Economic Boom.

• The Office of Price Administration (OPA):

• Regulated Rent and Commercial Pricing of Goods

• The Office of Economic Stabilization (OES):

• Regulated Farm Production and Wages

• The War Labor Board (WLB):

• Arbitrated Wages to prevent Strikes in Industry

• Demands for Raw Materials and Supplies for the War Effort created Shortages:

• The OPA Issued War Ration Books:

• Blue Coupons = Processed Foods • Red Coupons = Meats, Oils, Fats

• War Bonds were used to raise Funds for the War Effort