America and the World World War II The New Deal cont o Social Security Act of 1935 Pensions for elderly unemployment and disability US never developed welfare system prior unlike most others Elderly financed by tax on employer and worker no gov contribution Unemployed financed by state and federal through worker and payroll tax Federal grants for disabled o Labor Legislation 1935 Wagner Act Creates National Labor Relations Board o Presides over labor management relationships o Allow Union to engage in collective bargaining Key Provision When workers voted for union representation management is compelled to negotiate with the Union Revitalize labor movement and changes labor boss relationship o Minorities Great Depression hit blacks especially hard 50 unemployed Never tried to confront prejudice but helped blacks Harry Hopkins WPA helped blacks find work FDR appointed 45 blacks in executive agencies Eleanor Roosevelt spoke against racial discrimination supported helping blacks Women declined in the workforce women fired before men lower wages Eleanor Roosevelt active in finding wrongs for president to help Frances Perkins 1st female cabinet member Secretary of Labor o NEW DEAL DID NOT END THE GREAT DEPRESSION Noninvolvement o Isolationism Retreat from global policy in 1920 lead to isolationism in 1930 Causes Great Depression war remoteness from Europe o Germany Italy and Japan Germany Adolf Hitler comes to power in 1930 elected as Chancellor Head of the Nazi Party der Fuhrer the leader Charismatic leader brought Germany back economically Capitalizes on German defeat in World War I Blames Jews and Commies for Germany s faults Leaves the League of Nations and denounces treaty of Versailles Created a Totalitarian Dictatorship Italy Benito Mussolini comes to power in 1922 Hitler s success gave him confidence Invades Ethiopia calls for help for League of Nations o League does not help Ethiopia Has tough foreign policy Japan Military domination by mid 1930 s Japan left League of Nations 1937 Japan begins invading China WW2 Pacific Phase These countries undermine Treaty of Versailles and Threaten the World 1937 Berlin Rome Tokyo Pact creates the Axis Powers o 1934 College Pacifism Memories of WW1 contributed to noninvolvement idea College students did not want to repeat mistakes of elder Students and Professors to attend anti war rally Signed pledges to not support any war US might conduct o 1935 Neutrality Act Banned selling arms to nations at war o 1936 Neutrality Act Banned loaning money to nations at war o 1937 Neutrality Act Required that all trade other than arms be conducted on cash carry basis If someone wanted cotton they had to pay cash and go collect it o FDR In private was against isolationism in public for it 1937 denounces epidemic of world lawlessness and wanted to quarantine it Makes exception to neutrality act allows Chinese to buy arms from US Uses influence to block proposal before declaring war had to ask nation o War in Europe America s continuing neutrality plays into hands of Hilter 1938 Hitler seizes Austria in a bloodless coup 1938 Hitler demands part of Czech that s heavily German Sudentenland 1938 Munich Agreement French and UK to avoid war at any cost Neville Chamberlain believed Hitler only wanted that part back FDR agrees to this form of appeasement Sudentenland goes to Germany agreement help in Munich Germany breaks promises and takes all of Czechloslovakia FDR promotes neutrality revision for all trade to be on cash carry basis The House rejects this proposal 1 September 1939 Hitler invades Poland has small military and no tanks Britain and France had alliance with Poland and enter the war 3 Sept Russia signed nonaggression treaty with Germany Aug 1939 Russia awarded a slice of Poland o Could The US Remain Neutral FDR publically confirms neutrality Americans come to realization that democracy and security will be threatened The Road to War o Beginnings of the Allies and the Axis US attempted to remain at peace while Europe was at war Americans felt for Allies didn t like Axis 1939 Anti German Coalition France Poland GB and British Commonwealth 1936 Anti Comintern Pact Germany and Japan 1937 Italy added under Pact of Steel Rome Berlin Axis o o o o Axis primarily Italy Germany and Japan and other minor countries Roosevelt prefers allied victory moves slowly and stealthily to aid Allies 1939 special session of congress to convince them to revise neutrality regulations Replace embargo on arms with cash carry regulations Congress passes revised policy in Nov 1939 Series of dramatic German victories scare Americans April 1940 German seizes Denmark and Norway 1940 May June Blitzkrieg Netherlands Belgium and France lightning attack fast surprise attack with all forces British forced off continent in 3 weeks Churchill becomes Prime Minister refuses defeat Dunkirk British French and Belgium soldiers trapped on English Channel Fleet of Ships from destroyers to row boats sent to saves these troops 358k saved heavy equipment left in France 200 vessel sunk by Germans 1 7 men were captured by Germany Battle of Britain 1940 Germany wanted to gain Air superiority over Britain First major campaign fought entirely by air forces First targets for bombing were ports then air fields then factories Then large cities using terror bombing Germany failed First major German defeat o Heavy cost to Britain o Stopped future German invasion September 1940 Aid for the Allies Now have support for the Allies Those dissenting involvement created America First Committee Supporting involvement Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies American people saw that Allied loss was a security threat to US 1940 FDR runs for unprecedented 3rd term Gains agreement of 10 billion defense budget peacetime draft Calls for America to become Great Arsenal for Democracy 1941 Lend Lease Congress authorizes president to give weapons to any country 7 billion credit to loan ended cash necessity British ships still sunk by German U boats after purchase US agrees to escort British ships as far as Iceland USS Kearny damaged and USS Reuben James sunk by Germany Sinking caused congress to end the carry regulations The Pacific Theatre Japan offensives Japan took advantage of European war to expand in Asia Japan depended heavily on US for Iron Petroleum and Steel July 1940 FDR bans selling aviation fuel to Japan and limit sales of resources Japan occupied key strategic locations in Pacific Sept 1940 Tripartite