From Isolation to Intervention
America’s Road to World War II
It’s the 1930s, and you are one of many Americans who are suffering in some form from the
horrible economic crisis of the Great Depression. There are many changes going on with FDR’s
New Deal. You have heard of the problems developing in Europe, and you are unsure if the United
States should get involved in the growing conflict across the Atlantic.
In this activity, you and your partner will be examining America’s response to the growing war in
Europe and their eventual entry into World War II. Using the material on your desks and the
video clips, complete the activities step by step…. And come up with some questions of your own!
Move quickly!
STEP #1 – Why Isolationism?
Watch the video on “American Isolationism” and read the document and editorial
cartoon in the packet. After you have done each, make a list of the various reasons
why Americans supported isolationism in the 1930s.
In your mind, what are some possible problems with America remaining isolated
during the 1930s?
STEP #2 - Neutrality Laws
You have been told that Congress has passed a series of neutrality laws, but you are
unsure about the specifics in each. Read the documents in the packet to summarize
the basic points of the Neutrality Acts in the space below.
Would you support the Neutrality Acts? Why or why not?
ANY
QUESTIONS?
STEP #3 – Building America’s Defense
You have heard that, even though the United States is not joining either side of the
war and has chosen to remain neutral, the country has agreed to build up the
country’s military. Why are they doing so?
In what ways are they strengthening their armed forces?
What do you think this may do to the economy?
STEP #4 – Cash and Carry
You have heard rumblings in the news about Congress possibly changing its neutral
ways and trading with nations at war by passing the “Cash and Carry” Plan. What is
the “Cash and Carry” Plan?
What are the arguments for and against the plan?
Would you support the plan? Why or why not?
STEP #5 – The America First Committee
What was the AFC, and what were their arguments against involvement in the War in
Europe?
Why did some American oppose the AFC?
Would you have supported the AFC? Why or Why not?
ANY
QUESTIONS?
STEP #6 – The 1940 Election
It is 1940 – an election year! What is the result of the election of 1940, and why?
What is your reaction to this result? Do you think the nation made the right choice?
Why or why not?
STEP #7 – The Arsenal of Democracy
Not long after his re-election, President Roosevelt held another of his fireside chats
on the radio. There was no hope of negotiating a peace with Hitler. He told you and
the nation, "No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by strangling it." He also warned
that if Britain fell, the Axis powers would be left unchallenged to conquer the world,
at which point, he said, "all of us in all the Americas would be living at the point of a
gun," To prevent such a situation, the United States had to help defeat the Axis threat
by turning itself into "the great arsenal of democracy." What do you think he
means by this?
What is this “Lend Lease” Act that Congress has now passed, under the pushing of
FDR?
Will this act lead the US closer to war? What do you think?
ANY
QUESTIONS?
STEP #8 – The Atlantic Charter
You have found out that FDR and the new Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston
Churchill, have met in Newfoundland to discuss the future relationship between the
two countries. While they haven’t made any alliance, they have agreed on something
called “The Atlantic Charter”. What is it?
ANY
QUESTIONS?
In the charter, each nation agreed to …
(1) seek no _____________________ expansion
(2) pursue no territorial changes without the consent of the _____________________
(3) respect the right of people to choose their own form of_____________________
(4) promote _____________________among nations
(5) encourage international _____________________ to improve peoples' lives
(6) build a secure peace based on freedom from want and fear
(7) work for _____________________ of aggressors
(8) establish a "permanent system of general _____________________"
What do you think this Atlantic Charter will do for the relationship between the US
(FDR) and England (Churchill)?
STEP #9 – Trouble with Japan
The US has been focusing on helping the British and French in Europe, but there are
problems with the Japanese. What is going on with them?
What did the Japanese do in response to American actions? (That’s something you
will learn about tonight!)
DO YOU SEE HOW THE US MOVED FROM ISOLTION TO INTERVENTION? ANY
MORE QUESTIONS?