HST 102 1nd Edition Lecture 14 Outline of Last Lecture II Turmoil III Part 1 Voices of Protest IV Part 2 The Second New Deal V Part 3 Critics and Coalitions VI Part 4 End of the Line VII What does it all mean Outline of Current Lecture VIII Previously IX Part 1 Isolationism and Escalation a Hitler and Mussolini X Part 2 Rumblings of War a 1940 Election b Lend Lease Act XI Part 3 Pass the Ammunition a Atlantic Charter b Pearl Harbor Current Lecture Lecture 3 3 15 The Coming of War Previously o World War 1 reluctance to go to war strong reservations about international entanglements o Great Depression and New Deal domestic focus economic issues predominate Part 1 o Beyond Our Borders Japan adopts an expansionist military agenda These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Sino Japanese War begins in 1931 when Japan invades the Chinese province of Manchuria But Japan remains a valuable trade partner for the United States o The Rise and Reign of Fascism Growing Fascist regimes in Germany and Italy Germany led by Adolf Hitler fueled by resentment over peace terms in World War 1 increasingly aggressive military stance Italy led by Benito Mussolini invade Ethiopia in 1935 By 1936 Germany and Italy formally align o An Isolationist Response A majority of Americans demand a purely domestic focus for their political agenda Widespread belief that World War 1 was a long term failure and the result of manipulation by bankers and businesses Congress passes several Neutrality Acts from 1935 39 Restricts American travel they don t want a repeat of the Lusitania Restrict on loaning credit to other countries Establish Cash and Carry provisions on nonmilitary goods countries could not buy food w credit and they had to provide their own travel o Escalation By 1937 38 international warfare is growing Japan In summer of 1937 launch massive invasion of Chinese provinces December 1937 sink a US gunboat in the Yangtze River o FDR was convinced by Isolationists to accept the Japanese apologies and believe it was an accident Germany In 1938 Hitler conquers Austria and annexes part of Czechoslovakia In 1939 Hitler takes the rest of Czechoslovakia and conquers Poland War formally begins in 1939 In 1940 Germany has taken most of Europe and formed the Axis Powers w Japan and Italy o American First By 1940 America is drawing closer to engaging in the conflict Prominent isolationists organize the America First Committee Designing to advocate against warfare Significant and anti Semitic element Part 2 Rumblings of War o Off the Sidelines FDR begins to position the country for greater involvement in Europe and shifts focus from the economy to military readiness Begin appropriating money for military construction programs FDR takes additional steps to provide military aid to Britain o 1940 Election In 1940 FDR makes the decision to run for a 3rd term Opposed by moderate Republican Wendell Willkie Supports most of New Deal programs and FDR s beliefs Similar political platforms FDR wins w a smaller margin of victory but still a substantial one Further escalates preparations for war o Arsenal of Democracy Fireside chat in December 1940 FDR proclaims the US as the Arsenal of Democracy Defense budget increases 10x from 1940 41 Massive federal spending causes the unemployment rate to drop Dropped 5 eventually drops into single digits the first time in more than a dacade Spurs economic recovery o Lend Lease By December 1940 GB is nearly bankrupt and can no longer purchase arms In 1941 FDR initiates the Lend Lease policy allowing GB to borrow military supplies Some believed this guaranteed what would lead the US to war Ties the US more firmly to Britain and sets the stage for an inevitable entry into the war Seen by many as the end of the Post WW1 isolationist thrust of American foreign policy Two decades of remaining out of international affairs ends 1941 US freeze Japanese assets and cuts off oil supplies o Building an Army In the 1939 the US Army had 175 000 men small FDR institutes the first peace time draft in American history in the summer of 1940 1 4 mill men are inducted by the summer of 1941 US begins building an Army before they are even in war Part 3 Pass the Ammunition o A war of Ideals FDR sets the tone for what is at stake Frames the conflict as one over the future of democracy in the world Totalitarianism vs Freedom Establishes some broad principles for American internationalism o Four freedoms FDR s 1942 State of the Union Address includes a statement of Four Freedoms Freedom of speech worship from want and from fear o Atlantic Charter A series of meetings between American and British officials in 1941 lays the groundwork for American entry into war In august 1941 FDR meets with British PM Winston Churchill Create the Atlantic Charter Statement of common principles and objectives Pledge to protect principles of self determination free trade and non aggression o A Day That Will Live in Infamy December 7th 1941 Japanese planes launch a surprise attack on the naval base at Pearl Harbor Hawaii the first attack on US soil since 1812 Massive loss of life more than 2 000 dead Japan simultaneously bombs American bases in the Philippines Guam and Wake Island Didn t believe the Japanese were capable of launching an attack this far racial superiority o To war Days after Pearl Harbor Germany and Italy declare war on the US 3 reasons o 1 Naval warfare existed unofficially for a long time o 2 Hitler believed the racial superiority of the Germany people could not lose o 3 Hitler believed America would be preoccupied with Japan so Germany could attack US America is now in the middle of a massive war on two fronts Churchill began to fully believe American involvement would guarantee the Allies a victory