•692-694
• Evaluate primary source documents
related to American entrance into World
War II following the Pearl Harbor attack.
• Describe the strategy adopted by the
United States during the Second World
War.
Primary Source Document Analysis:
“To Enter or Not to Enter World War II”
Document 1: President Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms
Speech to Congress, 1/6/1941.
Document 2: University of Chicago President Robert
Hutchins radio address, 1/20/1941.
Answer questions 1-5 when you’ve finished reading.
Factors leading to U.S. Involvement in
WWII
Japan attacks U.S. Naval Base at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii – 12/7/1941
 Six Japanese aircraft carriers
launched 351 planes on a surprise
bombing attack.
 American losses included 2,403
lives and 19 U.S. Navy ships.
th as “a
 FDR proclaims December 7
date which will live in infamy”.
The next day, Roosevelt declared war
on Japan, and Germany and Italy
declared war on the U.S. on December
11.
FDR’s “Day of Infamy” Speech
Factors leading to U.S. Involvement in
WWII
Japan attacks U.S. Naval Base at Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii – 12/7/1941
The next day, Roosevelt declared war
on Japan, and Germany and Italy
declared war on the U.S. on December
11.
WHY?
 Japan hoped the attack would shock
the U.S. into letting them have
their way in Asia.
 Admiral Yamamoto
U.S. War Strategy
• World War II was
fought on six battle
fronts:
•
North Africa
•
Eastern Front
•
North Atlantic
•
China
•
Southeast Asia
•
Central Pacific
• War Strategy?
•
Defeat Germany
FIRST!!!
U.S. War Strategy
• War Strategy?
•
Defeat Germany FIRST!!!
• Germany was far stronger than
Japan.
• This strategy focused on winning
on the Eastern Front
• Battle of Stalingrad 9/1942
• Heavy house to house
fighting in the streets of
Stalingrad along with the
severe Russian winter forced
Germans to retreat.
U.S. War Strategy
• War Strategy?

The Battle of the Atlantic 193942
Germany used U-boats in
“tonnage warfare” to cut off
British supply lines.
Began rationing supplies.
Britain developed the “convoy”
system in response.

The Battle of El Alamein 10/1942
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s
German and Italian forces were
threatening the Suez Canal in
Egypt.
British General Bernard
U.S. War Strategy
• War Strategy?

In the Pacific Japan had
pushed out the last American
foothold on the island of
Corregidor in Manila Bay.

The Battle of the Coral Sea
5/1942
U.S. aircraft carriers
stopped a Japanese
advance towards Australia.

The Battle of Midway 6/1942
Japanese attacked the
island of Midway to
destroy U.S. carriers.
Admiral Chester Nimitz
U.S. War Strategy
• War Strategy?

The Battle of Midway 6/1942
Japanese attacked the
island of Midway to
destroy U.S. carriers.
Admiral Chester Nimitz
located the Japanese
force and crippled 3
aircraft carriers in less
than five minutes.
This ENDED Japanese
expansion in the Pacific!
Kamikaze threat.