WWII
NEUTRALITY

What was historic about the Spanish Civil War?
A = planes were used to drop bombs on cities for the 1 st time in history.
How did the US govt. respond to the Spanish Civil War?
A = the govt. did nothing for fear of being pulled into another war but about 3,000 US citizens formed the Abraham Lincoln
Brigade and went to fight for the Republicans on their own.
What was the European diplomatic conference in 1938 where
Britain and France conceded to Hitler’s demands for part of
Czechoslovakia so as to avoid war?
A = Munich Conference.

What was the term used for giving into Hitler to avoid war?
A = appeasement
What is the name of this painting?
A = Your mom

Many Americans felt that the United States’ involvement in WWI had been a mistake.
Nye Commission –Blamed bankers & arms manufacturers for America’s entry into the war.
Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts that were designed to keep America from being pulled into another European war.

ST
Laws (1935-1937) that prohibited:
• A. The sale of weapons to nations at war.
• B. US citizens from sailing on ships belonging to warring nations.
• C. Loaning $ to nations at war.
The 1 st set of neutrality Acts did allow for non-military goods to be sold to belligerents on a cash and carry basis.

As Hitler began to take over more and more of Europe, many Americans began to think that the US should not be neutral and should supply England & France. They feel it is the moral duty of the US to help and to preserve democracy from aggressive dictators.
These people are called Interventionists.
Still, others think that Europe has nothing to do with the US and want to remain neutral ( Isolationists ).
The Isolationists form the America First Committee .

What are some reasons for the U.S. to remain neutral (not get involved) in WWII?
What are some reasons for getting involved?

What are some reasons that Lindbergh is against getting involved in the war?
What are some arguments that the New York Times puts forth against isolationism?

What was the name of the government commission that said that the reason that the US had entered WWI was because of the influence of bankers and arms manufactures?
A = Nye Commission
What actions did the US government take during the 1930s to try to avoid having the US being pulled into another
European war?
A = passed the Neutrality Acts.

Once the war broke out, who were the people that thought that we should try to help the Allies?
A = interventionists
Who were the people who felt that the war was none of our business?
A = isolationists
What was the name of the organization formed by the isolationists?
A = America First

What was historic about the Spanish Civil War?
A = planes were used to drop bombs on cities for the 1 st time in history.
How did the US govt. respond to the Spanish Civil War?
A = the govt. did nothing for fear of being pulled into another war but about 3,000 US citizens formed the Abraham Lincoln
Brigade and went to fight for the Republicans on their own.
What was the European diplomatic conference in 1938 where
Britain and France conceded to Hitler’s demands for part of
Czechoslovakia so as to avoid war?
A = Munich Conference.

What was the term used for giving into Hitler to avoid war?
A = appeasement
What is the name of this painting?
A = Guernica

After the Nazi invasion of Poland.
US amends Neutrality Acts to allow for the Cash-and-Carry sale of arms .
This was to help the Allies (England & France).

Delivered in the heartland of isolationism —Chicago.
In response to Japanese aggression in China (and Hitler’s in
Europe).
Called on democracies to embargo aggressors.

FDR felt that it was important to begin to build up the US military just in case.
In 1939, FDR created the War Resources Board to plan for mobilization.
In 1940, the US began spending 1.5 billion permonth on military production (planes, tanks, etc.).
The US has its 1 st peace-time draft (men 21-35).

FDR trades 50 old destroyers to
England in exchange for 99-year leases for air/naval bases in Brit.
Territories —Newfoundland,
Bermuda, and the Caribbean.

Because of the twin threats of the Depression and War, FDR decides to run for an unprecedented 3 rd term .
He defeats the Republican nominee Wendell Willkie.

In 1940, The Germans conquered:
Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands,
Belgium, & Luxembourg.
This left just France and England .
The French had a huge bunker and trench system on their border with Germany —
The Maginot Line .
The Germans simply came through
Belgium and attacked the French from behind.

England had soldiers in France to try and help, but the Germans drove them from the continent with the evacuation at Dunkirk .
The French surrendered on June 14, 1940.
This left just England alone to fight the Germans!

A puppet government is set –up in France.
They Collaborate with the Nazis.
They are called the Vichy Govt.
They are led by Marshall Petain .

After Hitler takes over France, he begins to use it as a base to Bomb England .
The English air force (the RAF ) is so good though, that Germany begins only to bomb at night.
The English refer to this bombing as “The
Many people send their children to the country-side for safety.

After FDR won reelection, he told Americans, “We must become the arsenal for democracy
.”
FDR proposes Lend-Lease .
Lend-Lease is a program in which the US can sell, lend, or lease military supplies to any nation deemed “vital to the defense of the US.”
FDR says its like “lending a hose to a neighbor whose house is on fire. When its over, they give it back.”
FDR does this because he wants to help England since they are the only country left fighting against Hitler .

Because of German sub “Wolf Packs,” FDR begins to send armed US ships to escort supplies across the Atlantic.
How could this draw the US into the war?
Eventually, the Germans attack a few US ships.

In August 1941, FDR met with British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill on a ship off of the coast of
Newfoundland.
They discussed war strategy and plans for the post-war world.
They issued their ideas in the Atlantic Charter .
It called for selfdetermination, FDR’s 4-freedoms, and international organization to ensure the 4-freedoms — the United Nations .

Freedom of speech
Freedom of religion
Freedom from Fear
Freedom from Want

Write a paragraph in which you explain how and why the US went from strict neutrality to basically giving weapons to
England.