Chapter 42

1. Chapter 42 Going to War Again: America and the World 1933–1942

2. New Deal Foreign Policy • FDR and Hitler both come to power in 1933 • Opposite character and values • Both effective using modern media • Americans accept responsibility for depression • Germans blames Jews and Versailles Treaty • Secretary of State Cordell Hull • Follows Herbert Hoover’s guidelines • Use foreign policy to strengthen economy • Good Neighbor • FDR removes Marines from Latin America • FDR refuses to intervene in Cuba • FDR seeks reconciliation with Mexico • Good Neighbor policy pays off in World War

3. New Deal Foreign Policy (cont.’d) • Stimson Doctrine • U.S. wants to maintain Open Door in China • Japanese aggression threat to China • Hoover crafts Stimson Doctrine; FDR follows • Refuses to accept gains made by force as legal • Japanese aggression in Manchuria 1931 • Soviet Union • FDR places U.S. economy over international cooperation • FDR recognizes Soviet government • FDR hopes Soviets will buy U.S. goods • Soviets too poor to buy much

4. New Deal Foreign Policy (cont.’d) • International policy • Hull negotiates treaties to reduce tariffs • FDR wants stronger role in foreign affairs • Most Americans isolationist • Americans fear another world war • Neutrality Acts, 1935 to 1937 • Warned against travel on warring nations’ ships • Required warring nations to pay cash for goods • Required warring nations to transport own goods • Forbids warring nations to buy arms, borrow money in U.S. • U.S. does not help Republican government in Spain in Civil War

5. The World Goes to War • 1934: Hitler rearms Germany • 1935: Italy invades Ethiopia • 1936: Franco launches rebellion in Spain • 1937: Japan invades China • 1938: Hitler annexes Austria • 1938: Hitler demands Sudetenland • 1938: France and Britain agree to Hitler’s demands • 1939: Hitler seizes rest of Czechoslovakia

6. The World Goes to War (cont.’d) • Aggressor nations • Japan has economic motivations • Japanese divided on policy • U.S. uses economic power • 1940 cuts off aviation fuel and scrap iron sales • 1941 cuts of sell of oil • Italy, Mussolini no real threat • Germany, Hitler want to dominate Europe • All anti-Democratic • All exalt totalitarianism, one leader • All militaristic • Nazi racism is criminal • Nuremberg laws of 1935 strip citizenship from Jews

7. The World Goes to War (cont.’d) • War • Germany invades Poland, September 1939 • France and Britain declare war • USSR invades Poland, Baltic States • German blitzkrieg defeats France in 1940 • British Prime Minister Winston Churchill • Churchill inspires British, Americans • Hitler orders aerial bombardment of Britain

8. The United States and the War • Fall of France, defense of Britain shifts American opinion • France, Britain last democracies in Europe • By July 1940, 80% of Americans sees Germany as a threat • FDR believes force needed to stop Hitler • FDR unwilling to move ahead of public opinion • Congress allows war goods sold on cash-and-carry basis • 1940 FDR gives destroyers to Britain • Burke-Wadsworth Act begins war preparations

9. United States and the War (cont.’d) • FDR decides to run for third term • Republicans run Wendell Wilkie • Wilkie differs little with FDR’s policies • Republicans say FDR trying to be dictator • Undeclared war • Lend-Lease Act makes U.S. “arsenal of democracy” • U.S. provides assistance in defending seas • Churchill, FDR define war aims in Atlanta Charter • Germans sink USS ReubenJames • Germany invades USSR in June 1941 • FDR still does not ask Congress to declare war • Opposition includes pro-Germans, pacifists, isolationists • American First Committee says war would be mistake • FDR waits for dramatic incident to unite country

10. America Goes to War • Japan invades Indochina • Japanese “peace party”: seeks settlement with U.S. • Tojo heads Japanese “war party” • Tojo becomes premier, October 1941 • Pearl Harbor: December 7, 1941 • Japan, U.S. realize reconciliation impossible • Japan instructs Yamamoto to prepare to attack • Pearl Harbor attack destroys much of the U.S. Pacific defense • Attack fails to destroy aircraft carriers

11. America Goes to War (cont.’d) • U.S. reaction • Congress almost unanimous in declaring war • Americans rush to volunteer for military • Some accuse FDR of keeping Peal Harbor unprepared • Accusations unfounded • Only Japan celebrates going to war • Americans have grim determination • Organizing for victory • 15 million American serve in war • Most American troops drafted • Exemptions for disabled, vital jobs, “sole sons” • War cost over $300 billion

12. America Goes to War (cont.’d) • Big Business • Most businesses cooperated with government policies • Many businessmen assisted government • G.M. President William Knudsen worked without pay • War Resources Board plans for military production • New Alphabet Agencies • Supplies Priorities and Allocation Board • Office of Price Administration • National War Labor Board • Office of War Mobilization most important

13. America Goes to War (cont.’d) • Federal government grows rapidly • Senate War Investigating Committee keeps waste down • Little production of civilian goods • Americans successfully produce for war • Workers • Economy has full employment • Population shifts to west coast • Many African Americans work in factories • Many women work in factories • Prosperity • Shortage of consumer goods; high wages • Office of Price Administration keeps inflation moderate • Americans save wages, buy war bonds • Americans confident they are in the right

14. Discussion Questions • Explain and discuss Roosevelt’s foreign policy before World War II. What were his goals? Was he successful? • What were the Neutrality Acts? Did they have an effect on the situation of Europe at the time? • What events led to the start of World War II? Did diplomacy actually facilitate the war? • Examine United States policies with Japan prior to the war. Why did the Japanese attack? Was there a viable solution other than war?