US Steps to World US Steps to World War IIWar II

Road for the US…Road for the US…

► In the 1920s, US In the 1920s, US remained remained isolationist isolationist due to due to economic recovery economic recovery and the fallout of and the fallout of Wilsonian ideology.Wilsonian ideology.

► By the early 1930’s By the early 1930’s the goal for the US the goal for the US was to detach from was to detach from European politics and European politics and remain neutral. remain neutral. (“The America First Movement”)

► By 1940, due to By 1940, due to German and Japanese German and Japanese aggression, the US aggression, the US will become pro-Ally.will become pro-Ally.

Foreign Policy TensionsForeign Policy Tensions

InterventioniInterventionismsm DisarmamentDisarmament

• Collective Collective securitysecurity

• ““Wilsonianism”Wilsonianism”

• Business interestsBusiness interests

• IsolationismIsolationism

• NativistsNativists

• Anti-War Anti-War movementmovement

• Conservative Conservative RepublicansRepublicans

““America First” America First” CommitteeCommittee

Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh

Washington Disarmament Washington Disarmament ConferenceConference(1921-1922)(1921-1922)

5 Long-standing Anglo-Japanese alliance (1902) obligated Long-standing Anglo-Japanese alliance (1902) obligated Britain to aid Japan in the event of a Japanese war with Britain to aid Japan in the event of a Japanese war with the United States.the United States.

5 Goals Goals naval disarmament and the political situation in naval disarmament and the political situation in the the Far East. Far East.

Five-Power Treaty Five-Power Treaty (1922)(1922)5 A battleship ratio was achieved through this ratio:A battleship ratio was achieved through this ratio:

US Britain Japan France US Britain Japan France ItalyItaly 5 5 3 1.67 5 5 3 1.67 1.671.67

5 Japan got a guarantee that the US and Britain Japan got a guarantee that the US and Britain would stop fortifying their Far East territories would stop fortifying their Far East territories [including the Philippines].[including the Philippines].

5 LoopholeLoophole no restrictions on small warships no restrictions on small warships

Dawes PlanDawes Plan (1924)(1924)

Kellogg-Briand Pact Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)(1928)

5 15 nations dedicated to outlawing aggression and 15 nations dedicated to outlawing aggression and war as tools of foreign policy.war as tools of foreign policy.

5 62 nations signed.62 nations signed.

5 ProblemsProblems no means of actual enforcement and no means of actual enforcement and gave gave Americans a false sense of security. Americans a false sense of security.

Japanese Attack Japanese Attack Manchuria Manchuria (1931)(1931)

5 League of Nations condemned the League of Nations condemned the action.action.

5 Japan leaves the League.Japan leaves the League.

5 Hoover wanted no part in an American military action Hoover wanted no part in an American military action in the Far East.in the Far East.

Hoover-Stimpson Hoover-Stimpson DoctrineDoctrine

(1932)(1932)5 US would not recognize any territorial US would not recognize any territorial

acquisitions that were achieved by force.acquisitions that were achieved by force.

5 Japan was infuriated because the US hadJapan was infuriated because the US hadconquered new conquered new territories a few territories a few decades earlier.decades earlier.

5 Japan bombed Japan bombed Shanghai in Shanghai in 1932 1932 massive massive casualties.casualties.

FDRFDR’’s s ““Good NeighborGood Neighbor”” PolicyPolicy

5 Important to have all Important to have all nations in the Western nations in the Western Hemisphere united in Hemisphere united in lieu of foreign lieu of foreign aggressions.aggressions.

5 FDR FDR The good The good neighbor respects neighbor respects himself and the rights himself and the rights of othersof others..

5 Policy of non-Policy of non-intervention and intervention and cooperation.cooperation.

FDR Recognizes the FDR Recognizes the Soviet UnionSoviet Union

(late 1933)(late 1933)

5 FDR felt that FDR felt that recognizing Moscow recognizing Moscow might bolster the US might bolster the US against Japan.against Japan.

5 Maybe trade with the Maybe trade with the USSR would help the US USSR would help the US economy during the economy during the Depression.Depression.

US NeutralityUS Neutrality

Neutrality Acts: 1935, 1936, Neutrality Acts: 1935, 1936, 19371937

5 When the President proclaimed the existence of a foreign war, When the President proclaimed the existence of a foreign war, certain restrictions would automatically go into effect:certain restrictions would automatically go into effect:

Prohibited sales of arms to belligerent nations.Prohibited sales of arms to belligerent nations.

Prohibited loans and credits to belligerent nations.Prohibited loans and credits to belligerent nations.

Forbade Americans to travel on vessels of nations Forbade Americans to travel on vessels of nations at war [in contrast to WW I].at war [in contrast to WW I].

Non-military goods must be purchased on a “cash-Non-military goods must be purchased on a “cash-and-carry” basis and-carry” basis pay when goods are picked up. pay when goods are picked up.

Banned involvement in the Spanish Civil War.Banned involvement in the Spanish Civil War.

5 This limited the options of the President in a crisis.This limited the options of the President in a crisis.

5 America in the 1930s declined to build up its forces!America in the 1930s declined to build up its forces!

1939 Neutrality Act1939 Neutrality Act5 In response to Germany’s invasion of Poland.In response to Germany’s invasion of Poland.

5 FDR persuades Congress in special session to FDR persuades Congress in special session to allow the US to aid European democracies in a allow the US to aid European democracies in a limited way:limited way:

The US could sell weapons to the European The US could sell weapons to the European democracies on a “cash-and-carry” basis.democracies on a “cash-and-carry” basis.

FDR was authorized to proclaim danger zones FDR was authorized to proclaim danger zones which US ships and citizens could not enter.which US ships and citizens could not enter.

5 Results of the 1939 Neutrality Act:Results of the 1939 Neutrality Act:

Aggressors could not send ships to buy US Aggressors could not send ships to buy US munitions.munitions.

The US economy improved as European demands The US economy improved as European demands for war goods helped bring the country out of the for war goods helped bring the country out of the 1937-38 recession.1937-38 recession.

5 America becomes the “Arsenal of Democracy.”

FDR Recognizes the FDR Recognizes the Soviet UnionSoviet Union

(late 1933)(late 1933)

5 FDR felt that recognizing Moscow might bolster the US against Japan.

5 Maybe trade with the USSR would help the US economy during the Depression.

Showdown with Japan…Showdown with Japan…

►During the 1930s During the 1930s Japan had increased Japan had increased its empire by its empire by invading China and invading China and parts of Southeast parts of Southeast AsiaAsia

► 1937-1937-PanayPanay incident incident► 1940 Tripartite Pact 1940 Tripartite Pact

signedsigned

► As a response to an As a response to an increase presence increase presence in the pacific, the in the pacific, the US freezes Japanese US freezes Japanese Assets and place an Assets and place an oil embargo.oil embargo.

Showdown with Japan-The Attack on Showdown with Japan-The Attack on Manchuria (1931)Manchuria (1931)

5 League of Nations condemned the League of Nations condemned the action.action.

5 Japan leaves the League.Japan leaves the League.

5 Hoover wanted no part in an American military action Hoover wanted no part in an American military action in the Far East.in the Far East.

Panay Incident (1937)Panay Incident (1937)5 December 12, 1937.December 12, 1937.

5 Japan bombed Japan bombed USS USS PanayPanay gunboat & three gunboat & threeStandard Oil tankers onStandard Oil tankers onthe Yangtze River.the Yangtze River.

5 The river was an The river was an international waterway.international waterway.

5 Japan was testing US resolve!Japan was testing US resolve!

5 Japan apologized, paid US an indemnity, and Japan apologized, paid US an indemnity, and promised no further attacks.promised no further attacks.

5 Most Americans were satisfied with the apology.Most Americans were satisfied with the apology.

5 ResultsResults Japanese interpreted US tone as a license Japanese interpreted US tone as a license for for further aggression against US interests. further aggression against US interests.

Examples…1940Examples…1940

►Destroyer for Bases Deal Destroyer for Bases Deal ►Lend LeaseLend Lease►Burke-Wadsworth ActBurke-Wadsworth Act

Showdown with Japan-1941Showdown with Japan-1941

► October- Prime October- Prime Minister Konoye is Minister Konoye is replaced with more replaced with more militant General militant General Tojo.Tojo.

► By November 1941, By November 1941, Japanese propose Japanese propose “false negotiations”“false negotiations”

► Nov. 25Nov. 25thth Japanese Japanese fleet sails from the fleet sails from the Kurile Islands Kurile Islands heading east.heading east.

►November 27-29November 27-29thth, , US intelligence US intelligence decodes messages, decodes messages, but did not know but did not know location of attacklocation of attack

► Attacked on Attacked on December 7December 7thth 1941 1941