FDR and the Shadow of War

1. FDR and the Shadow of War 1933-1945

2. The Versailles Treaty • Germany • Blamed for war • Lost colonies • New countries formed out theirs • Paid (war debts) reparations

3. A Weak League of Nations

4. Japan Invades Manchuria 1931

5. 1931 into Manchuria • 1937 into China and starts WWII in Asia • 1937, U.S. refuses trade with Japan until they withdraw from China….. • 1940 invades Indochina • US froze Japanese assets, refused to trade oil, gasoline and steel.

6. American Isolationism • Causes: The Great Depression & Disillusionment after WWI- Treaty of Versailles (Germany’s humiliation) Examples: • London Economic Conference (1933)- a hoped for global attack on the global depression. • Stabilization of world currencies- a goal • FDR had begun his gold buy back & inflationary policies • FDR withdrew the US from the Conference * Plunged world into deeper economic crisis= global trend to nationalism= solidified grip of dictators? 2. Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934)- provided independence for Philippines (in 1946); US ends army bases there- allowed to possibly have naval bases in future. • US abandons a major Pacific possession = resolve of Japanese militarists strengthened? 3. 1933--US Formal Recognition of the USSR- Hoped for a buffer & counterweight to Germany & Japan.

7. America’s “Good Neighbor” Policy • Orchestrated by Sec. of State Cordell Hull & FDR • Great Depression –cooled US enthusiasm for economic aggressiveness in Latin America • FDR hoped to get Latin America to help defend the Western Hemisphere- if needed • 1933- US adopted non-intervention policy- renounced armed intervention & Roosevelt Corollary. • 1934- US Marines left Haiti- most of Platt Amendment ended in Cuba (US retained naval base there) • 1934- Philippines have independence- not part of Latin America • 1936- US relaxed grip on Panama • 1938- Mexican government seized US oil businesses= US reached a peaceful settlement in 1941 (oil co. lost most)

8. Reciprocal TradeAgreements 1934 • Went hand in hand with the “Good Neighbor" Policy • orchestrated by Sec. of State Cordell Hull & FDR • encouraged lowering of trade barriers= encourage trade= globalization. • negated most of Hawley-Smoot & gave Pres. Power to lower more • 21 nations signed on by 1939 Significance- improved relations between US & Latin America= reversed high protective tariff policies, paved way for free trade system to emerge after WWII. = FREE TRADE & GLOBALIZATION

9. Dictators Rise to Power Causes: Chaos after WWI, Great Depression= totalitarianism (state over self). • fascism- aggressive nationalism • Joseph Stalin (USSR-1926)- takes over after Lenin’s death (1924) • 8-10 million people died during Stalin’s rule.

10. 2. Benito Mussolini (Italy-1922)- • Former school master- became a sort of role model for Adolph Hitler • Attacked Ethiopia in 1935- League of Nations did nothing • After Italy surrenders- Mussolini & wife are executed by Italians

11. 3. Adolph Hitler • Adolph Hitler (Germany 1933 by election)- gained popularity by using humiliation of Versailles Treaty & Depression. • 1933- Withdrew Germany from League of Nations • Rearmed Germany • 1936- Hitler & Mussolini became allies= Rome-BerlinAxis

12. Militarists Arise in Japan Emperor Hideki Tojo (Japan- 1930) assassinated; EmperorHirohito (1926-1989). • demanded additional living space (because Japan is an island nation) • 1934 terminated Washington Naval Treaty • Increased naval build up • 1935- quit the League of Nations • 1940- joined Germany & Italy as allies= Tripartite Pact= (Axis Powers)

13. American Neutrality !! Why?? • Felt a sense of distance from the happenings in Europe & Asia • Anger at debt defaults after WWI ** The Nye Committee Report (1934) • headed by Sen. Gerald Nye (ND) to investigate “blood business” of WWI. • placed primary blame of US entry into WWI on munitions makers & bankers. • Remember- munitions makers & bankers were making money BEFORE U.S. entry!! ** Significance- American ISOLATIONNISM ; AND a series of Neutrality Acts were passed.

14. **The Neutrality Acts • all stipulated that WHENthe President proclaimed the existence of a foreign war… • Neutrality Act (1935)- general embargo on selling arms to nations at war & warned US citizens not to travel on ships of nations at war. * passed after Italy invaded Ethiopia 2. Neutrality Act (1936)- forbade loans to nations at war (excluded the Spanish Civil War) 3. Neutrality Act (1937)- extended provisions of the previous neutrality acts & forbade US ships from transporting belligerents or articles of belligerents & forbade US citizens from traveling on ships of belligerents.

15. Consequences of Neutrality ? • The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)- Gen. Francisco Franco (aided by Germany & Italy) defeated the elected government (aided by USSR)= 1ST Fascist Dictatorship. • The elected government of Spain = no help from US • Ethiopia(1935)- Mussolini takes control of African nation (NO AID FROM US TO ETHIOPIA) • Asia- (1937) Japan’s further invasion of China- FDR refused to call it a war = Japanese continued to buy oil, scrap metal, & other supplies.

16. **FDR’s “Quarantine Speech”- 1937 • Speech given in Chicago the UNOFFICIAL “isolationist capital” of US • proposed economic “quarantine” of aggressive nations. • UPSET & alarmed isolationists (fear a “moral quarantine” would lead to a “shooting quarantine”) ** Dec. 1937- The Panay Incident- Japanese planes sank a US gunboat in Chinese waters (2 killed-30 wounded). * Japan apologized & paid indemnity.

17. Hitler’s European Grab • 1935- Hitler announced mandatory military service • 1937- marched into the Rhineland • 1938- “Anschluss” – reunification with Austria • 1938- Hitler announced claims on the Sudetenland (area of Czechoslovakia). • * 1938- **Munich Conference- British Prime Minster Neville Chamberlain & other western democratic leaders met with Hitler- gave in to his demand (APPEASEMENT) for the Sudetenland (Hitler promised that was all he wanted). • March 1939- Hitler’s war machine invaded all of Czechoslovakia. • September 1939- Hitler invaded Poland

18. *The Nazi-Soviet Pact 1939 • Agreement between Hitler & Stalin • Hitler’s goal- take the USSR out of the war as a threat- then focus all his efforts on defeating France & Britain. • the agreement contained a secret deal- Hitler would invade Poland & the country would be divided by USSR & Germany. • Hitler now demanded Poland • September 1, 1939- German military launched “blitzkrieg” into Poland= Britain & France declare war on Germany= WWII is on in Europe! • WORLD WAR II STARTS IN EUROPE--US stated neutrality- most Americans hoped democracy in Europe would win!

19. **The Neutrality Act 1939 • KNOWN AS “CASH & CARRY” • A change in neutrality for the US • Britain & France –ill-prepared for war (needed US planes etc.) • Previous neutrality acts prevented US help • FDR calls joint session of Congress (6 week debate) **The Neutrality Act 1939 • US could sell goods on a “cash & carry” basis • favored European democracies (allowed Britain & French to patrol Atlantic) • Hurt China (Japanese blockade) • Spurred US trade= economic upswing= helps solve unemployment= LEADS TO END OF GREAT DEPRESSION FDR given power to declare “danger zones” into which US ships could not go

20. “The Phony War” • Oct. 1939—to—April 1940 • Britain & France waited as Hitler sent troops from Poland to France • USSR invaded Finland • April 1940- Hitler invaded Denmark & Norway • May 1940- Netherlands & Belgium • NEXT- FRANCE

21. The Fall of France • June 1940- France surrenders to Germany • ** SHOCKS THE US INTO ACTION… The Miracle at Dunkirk • British & French troops were cornered in Dunkirk (part of Belgium) • Hitler surrounded them- could have finished them off but… he PAUSED! • OVER 300,000 British, French, Belgian, Canadian troops evacuated by @ 850 boats launched from Britain. * Launches Winston Churchill as Prime Minister of Britain

22. America Awakens • If Hitler conquered Britain= he would shops, shipyards, & slave labor of western Europe. • US Congress Acted: • Billion Defense Bill: $37 Billion (5 times larger than any New Deal annual budget.) • Sept. 6, 1940- Conscription (Draft) Act • 1st peace time draft in US history! 3. Havana Conference (1940) US & Latin American nations agree to use Monroe Doctrine to keep Hitler away from Caribbean.

23. The Battle of Britain • August 1940- Hitler launched “Operation Sea Lion” • Nightly air attacks on Britain to prepare for a ground invasion. • RAF defended Britain from German Luftwaffe using radar • Americans were sympathetic to Britain “Fortress America” or Aid Britain • Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies: advocated aid to all democracies short of war • America First Committee: (isolationists) Charles Lindberg greatest orator.

24. FDR & Destroyers for Bases • By Sept. 1940- Britain was low on destroyers= threat of starvation by Germany. • Destroyer for Bases Deal (Sept. 1940)- FDR transfers to Britain 50 old US destroyers & Britain gave the US 8 defensive base sites from Newfoundland to South America. • FDR bypassed Congress (presidential agreement used) • Criticized by America First isolationists & some Republicans

25. Election of 1940 Republicans nominated Wendell Willkie • Former democrat, novice in politics, honest • Republican Platform: condemned FDR’s dictatorship, costly New Deal • FDR announced a break with the 2 term tradition. • Democrats met in Chicago & nominated FDR • * both promised to stay out of the war & strengthen US defenses. • FDR reelected to a 3rd term

26. **The Lend Lease Act • Late 1940- Britain was running out of money. • Bill #1776 • US would lend or lease US arms to allies (taken over in allied ships) & when the war ended any unused materials would be returned to the US. • Like a neighbor who loans a water hose to a neighbor • Passed by both houses of Congress • $50 Billion worth of equipment & arms sent by 1945= economic declaration of war by the US. • Ended any pretense of neutrality by US • Started US war factories • Germany sank the Robin Moor (US merchant ship in May 21, 1941)

27. The Assault on the USSR • June 1941- one year after the fall of France • 1939 Soviet-Nazi Pact- UNEASY- Soviets disagreed with Germany control of Balkans • Hitler decided to invade USSR & take oil supplies then focus on destruction of Britain. • Good news for democracy- let them kill each other. • FDR gave military supplies to USSR, extended $1 Billion in lend-lease ($11 Billion total)

28. *The Atlantic Charter (1941) • Secret meeting of FDR & Churchill off coast of Newfoundland The Atlantic Charter • Called for a “14 Points like” post-war world • Opposed annexations, promoted- Self determination, disarmament. • * called for a new league of nations (later the UN) • Stalin agreed one year later also

29. The US convoy system • July 1941- FDR used commander in chief powers to have navy escort lend-lease supplies as far as Iceland. • Sept. 1941- US Greer attacked without damage • FDR declared “shoot on sight” policy • Oct. 7- US Kearney attacked & lost 11 men • Oct – US Reuben James torpedoed & sunk off SW Iceland (100 officers & enlisted dead) • Nov. 1941- US Merchant ship could be armed & enter combat zones with supplies for Britain.

30. Japan • Sept. 1940- Japan and Germany were formal military allies. • Japan still at war with China (stalemate) • Japan dependent on resources (oil, steel, scrap iron, aviation gas) from the U.S. • Late 1940- U.S. imposed an embargo on supplies bound for Japan. • FDR froze Japanese assets $$ in the US, gas shipments, & other supplies of war. • Nov. & early Dec. 1941- U.S. & Japanese officials negotiated= “GET OUT OF CHINA” & limited trade will resume • U.S. Code breakers knew the Japanese decision was for war– U.S. cannot shoot first • FDR expected a blow at British Malaya or Philippines

31. The attack on Pearl Harbor • **Dec. 7 1941 • 3,000 U.S. casualties- 8 U.S. SHIPS DESTROYED or immobilized, MANY U.S. Planes destroyed- 3 U.S. aircraft carriers outside Pearl saved. • Dec. 8- Congress declared war on Japan • Dec. 11- Germany, Japan, Italy declared war on the U.S. • Significance- U.S. Pacific fleet destroyed or immobilized, U.S. citizens angered • American isolationists silenced • AMERICA IS AT WAR!!