America and World
War II
APUSH
Mr. McElhaney
AP Outline







21. The Second World War
The rise of fascism and militarism
in Japan, Italy, and Germany
Prelude to war: policy of neutrality
The attack on Pearl Harbor and
United States declaration of war
Fighting a multi-front war
Diplomacy, war aims, and wartime
conferences
The United States as a global
power in the Atomic Age







22. The Home Front During the
War
Wartime mobilization of the
economy
Urban migration and demographic
changes
Women, work, and family during
the war
Civil liberties and civil rights during
wartime
War and regional development
Expansion of government power
























Treaty of Versailles
Good Neighbor PolicyBuenos Aires
Conference, 1936
Washington Naval Conference, 1922
Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928
Stimson Doctrine
Trade Agreements Act
Election of 1940
Axis Alliance, Mussolini, Hitler
Appeasement/Munich Agreement
Lend-Lease Act, 1941
German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
Selective Training and Service Act
Tripartite Pact
Maginot Line
Battle of Britain/ Operation Sea Lion
Atlantic Charter, 1941
Hideki Tojo/Japan, China, Embargo
War Powers Act
Charles A. Lindbergh (1930s)
America First Committee
Reciprocal Trade Agreements, 1934-1940
Europe then Japan
Mobilization, National War Labor Board
Japanese-American Internment, Korematsu v.
US
Terms to Know










War in the Pacific
War in Africa, Europe
Eisenhower, Second Front, D-Day, Battle of
the Bulge
Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (G.I. Bill)
Neutrality Acts, 1935-1940
Four Freedoms Speech
Rosie the Riveter, War Production Board
African Americans in War
Tuskegee Airmen, Phillip Randolph
Holocaust and Jewish
Wartime Conferences













Casablanca
Cairo
Teheran
Quebec
Yalta
Potsdam
Manhattan Project
Robert Oppenheime
Los Alamos, Alamogordo
Harry S. Truman
Decision to drop bomb, Nagasaki
Marshall Plan
Iron Curtain
Questions- Pre-World War II





Basic questions you should be able to answer:
How does the US public respond to Japanese, Italian,
and German militarism and aggression in the 1930’s?
Was it inevitable that the United States was going to
join the War?
How does the Roosevelt administration try to stay out
of the growing conflicts in Europe and Asia and what
finally pushes the US into the conflict?
How was FDR’s “Good Neighbor” policy a departure
for American politicians since the 1890’s?
Quiz 3-13

1.
2.
3.
Respond to two of the following:
How did FDR reinforce the policy toward
Latin America begun by the Hoover
administration?
Explain how the Stimson Doctrine is applied
in relation to China.
What action does Congress take in an effort to
support American neutrality?
United States Status After WWI


After WWI US is considered Isolationist by many,
because of the desire to stay out of international politics
(not a member of League of Nations…Wilson and
Republicans)
Few international treaties:






Washington Naval Conference-limits naval armaments
Kellogg-Briand Pact-outlaws war
Dawes Plan- reorganizes German WWI debt payments
Trade drives American motives
Reduction of interference in Latin America (Good Neighbor)
Above all- popular opinion in US is to stay out of foreign
wars!
FDR and Foreign Affairs

Similar to Wilson, FDR wanted to use power to
maintain order




Moral and just principles
However, must abide by public opinion which is Isolationist
Appoints Cordell Hull as Secretary of State
Basic views:




Isolation is not a lasting policy
Technology impacts distance of oceans
Important to maintain American interests
Reciprocal Reduction of Tariffs- will help the
economy= countries that reduce tariffs, US will also
reduce tariffs= more trade for both partners
“Good Neighbor” Policy




FDR wanted to continue the cordial relations with the
world and Latin America in particular
Continued attempt begun with Hoover
Cooperation and non-interventionist
Example: 1933 Montivideo International ConferenceUruguay




Repudiated the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe
Doctrine
Withdrew troops from Haiti
Did not send troops to Cuba
1936 FDR visited Buenos Aires, arranged meeting of
LA nations supporting peace movement
Mussolini-Italian Right Wing
Dictator






Came to power in 1922
Right Wing, anti-Socialist and Communist
Wanted greatness like the Roman Empire for
Italy
Repressive but not too extreme- (no
concentration camps)
Nationalist
Invades Somalia (1935) and Ethiopia in 1936
Haile Selassie



Ethiopian Emperor- Condemned the
invasion of his country in the League of
Nations
This was a perfect example of the failure
of the League- no way to enforce peacebeyond economic sanctions
Haile Selassie is regarded as the Messiah
of the African race by followers of the
Rastafarian movement. The word
''Rastafarian'' comes from Selassie's precoronation name, Ras Tafari.
Hitler Rises to Power




Germany has problems
Economic Depression
Conflict with Socialist/Communists against
Right Wing Groups- Nazis are one group
Nazis gain significant power in Reichstag
(German legislature) 1933 and Hitler ascends to
Chancellor (similar to Prime Minister-executive
branch)
Factors that Contributed to Hitler’s
Rise


Economic depression
Treaty of Versailles (Peace Treaty Germany and Allies
World War I)







Striped Germany of land (East Prussia, Danzig and empire)
Striped Germany of military, navy, air force
Allies had a right to intervene (Saar Basin Rhineland, many
resources)
German had to take explicit blame for the war
Pay War Repartitions
Socialists/Communists vs Right Wing groups were
fighting for control
Created conditions for popularity of Nazis for some
German voters
Hitler and Hindenburg

New Chancellor and Old President of Weimar
Republic
Hitler-Once in Power




Hitler vows to make Germany great again
To “Claim its rightful place in the Sun.”
Reichstag fire = Hitler has emergency powers
Hitler begins to implement his plan- (found in his book
Mein Kampf)




Rearm Germany
Unite the German people in one country (all German speaking
people; 1938 Anschluss- political unity between Austria and
Germany, later (Sudetenland) Czechoslovakia and East Prussia
(part of Poland)
Ethnically Cleanse German Territory (all non-Aryan…Jews,
Gypsies)
Expand East “Lebensraub”- into Russian lands, Destroy
communists
European Appeasement





One of the huge lessons of World War II that is brought up
again and again is the idea of Appeasement (giving in to
demands as an expedient to avoid a conflict or difficult struggle)
The powers of France, Great Britain and others in Europe have
been accused of appeasing Hitler when they should have
stopped his early demands.
The idea is that perhaps Hitler could have been stopped. Before
he was too powerful.
By giving in to Hitler’s demands, it encouraged him to push
further and brought another Global War
British Prime Minister Nevielle Chamberlain will always be
remembered for his appeasement of Hitler. (“Peace in Our
Time”) Munich Agreement
Why did the Allies appease Hitler?








Treaty of Versailles- Peace was too harsh
All consuming desire for peace
Rearmament
Nationalism- create one nation, racial, ethnic
homogeneity, with strength and a traditional spiritual
location
AnschlussChamberlain and Munich= Sudetenland,
1939 Poland and the Polish Corridor-Danzig- NaziSoviet Non-aggression Pact
1941 Lebensraum and Operation Barbarossa-
Failure of the League of Nations






Recall the League of Nations was designed to prevent
war
Problems: US is not part of
It did not have an enforcement capability- especially
could not use force
Only weapon was economic embargo and public
pressure
When Japan, then Italy, and later Germany pursue
aggression invading other countries (Manchuria,
Somalia, Ethiopia, Spanish Civil War, and
Czchoslovakia)
The international body will have little or no effect
China Still Weak



After WWI China remains weak
“Open Door” Reinforced
Nationalists (Kuomintang) Sun-Yat Sen and
Chiang Kai-shek- Friendly to United States
Fighting over control with Communist forces of
Mao Tse Tung
Japan




Wanted to expand it’s empire similar to France, Britain,
and the US.
Want to control China’s abundant natural resources
Japan was angry regarding the Washington Naval
Conference (1921- Harding Admin, set limit for
Japanese Navy, subordinate position to US and Britain,
reinforced the “Open Door” policy, all nations can
trade with China.
Japanese nationalists rise in power and asserted that
power in Manchuria
Japan invades Manchuria 1931




Russo-Japanese War- begins Japanese interest in
Manchuria (Rivals of Russians, and economic
interests, raw materials)
Japanese military asserted rights to Manchuria
Military- incident with Chinese forces is an
excuse for full takeover of Manchuria, new
name is Manchukuo.
Later to further weaken China, Japan will bomb
Shanghai- over a boycott of Japanese goods
Results of Japanese invasion of
Manchuria








US President was Hoover (1932)
Hoover responds with the Stimson Doctrine- (Secretary of
State under Hoover) refusing to acknowledge results of gains
made by aggressionUS will not recognize territorial changesLeague of Nations condemns the attack on China
Japan subsequently withdraws from League of Nations (League
is essentially ignored)
No country wants war and China will suffer greatly when Japan
attacks full scale invasion 1936(caution very graphic see Rape of
Nanjing)
200,000 civilians killed
Japan proclaims new order in Asia, and essentially closes the
“Open Door”
Chinese Fight

Chiang Kai-shek resists the Japanese and moves
capital to Chunking and even unites with the the
Communists- Mao Tse Tung for the duration of
the war.
American Neutrality







The Neutrality Act of 1935- members of congress, wanted to
keep America out of war
Popular idea, US entered WWI because of bankers and
industrialists
Imposed an embargo on warring nations
Forbade American sale of war goods and ships from
transporting munitions to belligerent countries
Gave president power to prohibit Americans traveling on
belligerent ships
Neutrality Act 1936- forbade loans to belligerent countries
Neutrality Act 1937- response to the Spanish Civil War
 Goods from the US to warring nations had to be paid for in
cash (2 years only)
More Neutrality




Many groups in America wanted Isolation
Irish, German- Americans
Midwesterners, Anti-Communists, Anti-Semites, liberals
who wanted continue reform, and pacifists
Ludlow Amendment- Isolationist support was so
great that- an amendment to Constitution was
proposed, that only in case of attack or invasion could
US declare war. (not approved)
Spanish Civil War





Loyalists-Democratically elected Socialists are attacked by
Francisco FrancoInsurgents- Generalissimo Francisco Franco- Nazis and Italian
Fascists support with 50,000 troops, planes, and tanks.
Loyalists are supported by Soviet Union and International
Brigades (Foreign volunteers- For Whom the Bell Tolls)
American Neutrality Acts – hurt the loyalist
cause
FDR wanted to help but was hampered by
isolationist law makers
Picasso’s painting of German bombing of
ancient city of Gurenica, during Span Civ War-
German-Soviet Non Aggression Pact





August 23, 1939- Hitler and Stalin sign a secret
agreement to partition PolandGermans invade Poland in the West
Russians invade Poland in the East
World War II in Europe begins- France and
Britain had guaranteed Polish sovereignty
US responds with a renewed Neutrality act
1939- “cash and carry” would aid allies alone
Non-Aggression Pact
Non Aggression Pact
Germans and Soviets share
Poland-1939
The “Phony War”









Refers to the period between Poland’s Surrendar and
the attack on France and Britain.
September 1939-April 1940
Germany rapidly beat Poland “Blitzkrieg”
France and Britain mobilized and waited for attack
April 1940 Denmark, Norway,
May 1940 Belgium and France
Dunkirk- 300,000 British troops escape the continentChurchill now in charge
Paris Falls June 1940
England stands alone “Battle of Britain”
Battle of Britain



Brits were alone as of June 1940
Winston Churchill, the new prime minister summed up the
British attitude:
“We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall
fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we
shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the
air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We
shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on
the landing grounds, we shall fight in the
fields and in the streets, we shall fight in
the hills; we shall never surrender.”
What will

“…in God's good time, the New World, with all
its power and might, steps forth to the rescue
and the liberation of the old."
United States Reacts to War
Debate 1940:
Isolationist or Internationalist




Isolationists
America First Committee
Charles A Lindberg
“Intervention is
detrimental to American
interests”




Internationalists
Committee to Defend
America
Best way to keep US out
of war is to Help allies
fight the Germans
Roosevelt is sympathetic
FDR Aids the Allies


Summer 1940 FDR asks congress to allow trade
of 50 destroyers in exchange for 99 year leases
for bases in the Atlantic
Although population does not want to enter the
war, 73% support aid to Britain.
1941 Lend Lease






1941 Lend Lease:
Program to offer aid to Brits
FDR in a “Fireside Chat” “If a neighbor’s home were
on fire…”
“lease, lend or otherwise dispose of ” any items not vital
to the nation’s defense.
US is closer to the War- (US Ships secretly were
supporting the British Navy by searching and reporting
on U-boat locations)
Hitler afraid to attack American Ships
Atlantic Charter AUGUST 14, 1941









The President of the United States of America and the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill,
representing His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, being met together, deem it right
to make known certain common principles in the national policies of their respective countries on
which they base their hopes for a better future for the world.
First, their countries seek no aggrandizement, territorial or other;
Second, they desire to see no territorial changes that do not accord with the freely expressed
wishes of the peoples concerned;
Third, they respect the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they
will live; and they wish to see sovereign rights and self government restored to those who have
been forcibly deprived of them;
Fourth, they will endeavor, with due respect for their existing obligations, to further the
enjoyment by all States, great or small, victor or vanquished, of access, on equal terms, to the
trade and to the raw materials of the world which are needed for their economic prosperity;
Fifth, they desire to bring about the fullest collaboration between all nations in the economic field
with the object of securing, for all, improved labor standards, economic advancement and social
security;
Sixth, after the final destruction of the Nazi tyranny, they hope to see established a peace which
will afford to all nations the means of dwelling in safety within their own boundaries, and which
will afford assurance that all the men in all lands may live out their lives in freedom from fear and
want;
Seventh, such a peace should enable all men to traverse the high seas and oceans without hindrance;
Eighth, they believe that all of the nations of the world, for realistic as well as spiritual reasons must come to the abandonment of
the use of force. Since no future peace can be maintained if land, sea or air armaments continue to be employed by nations which
threaten, or may threaten, aggression outside of their frontiers, they believe, pending the establishment of a wider and permanent
system of general security, that the disarmament of such nations is essential. They will likewise aid and encourage all other
practicable measure which will lighten for peace-loving peoples the crushing burden of armaments.
Election of 1940 then the Draft


FDR decides to Run for a third term
The Nation Needs emergency situation:



War in Europe
Problems in Asia
Wants to protect New Deal reforms

Ran against Wendell Willkie

FDR Wins- then begins the process
Prepare for War:



Draft
Armament build up
FDR Wins Unprecedented 3rd Term
Selective Service Act Sept. 1930





TIME
(September 23, 1940)
Last week Congress passed the conscription bill. This week the President
sighed it. A new thing had entered U.S. life: although the U.S. had conscripted
its citizens in two wars, never before had it conscripted them in peace. Some
16,500.000 men, aged 21 to 36, forthwith became liable to compulsory
military service. How, when, whether conscription would actually touch them
was prescribed in 1) the bill, and 2) the selective system which the Army &
Navy had long since prepared against a martial day.
The Bill laid down the general philosophy, rules, scope of conscription:
No more than 900,000 conscripts can be called in any one year
(the Army plans to call 800,000 a year). They will be kept in training for one
year, will then enter an enlisted reserve where they will be subject to recall for
emergency service for ten years or until they are 45. They will not be subject
to periodic recalls for further training. But if Congress finds the nation in
peril before their initial year's service ends, they can be held under arms
indefinitely.
Roosevelt’s Four Freedom’s Speech
January 1941





To congress, State of the Union, focus on war preparedness
“…the future of all the American Republics is today in
serious danger.
That is why this Annual Message to the Congress is unique
in our history.
The need of the moment is that our actions and our policy
should be devoted primarily-almost exclusively--to meeting
this foreign peril. For all our domestic problems are now a
part of the great emergency.
Just as our national policy in internal affairs has been based
upon a decent respect for the rights and the dignity of all
our fellow men within our gates, so our national policy in
foreign affairs has been based on a decent respect for the
rights and dignity of all nations, large and small. And the
justice of morality must and will win in the end.
Four Freedoms Continued




“The first is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in
the world.
The second is freedom of every person to worship God in
his own way--everywhere in the world.
The third is freedom from want--which, translated into world
terms, means economic understandings which will secure to
every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitantseverywhere in the world.
The fourth is freedom from fear--which, translated into world
terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a
point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a
position to commit an act of physical aggression against any
neighbor--anywhere in the world.”
Significance of “Four Freedoms”
Speech

Represents FDR’s view that America needs to
prepare for war and support Britain.

FDR Prepares for War
Increased Military appropriations
 Aliens are fingerprinted
 Peace time draft to raise 2 million troops

Big Questions: Winning
the War
 To what extent was the mobilization for
war a key factor in the American victory?
 How is the American home front and
mobilization in WWI similar to the home
front and mobilization in WWII and how
are they different?
Key Ideas: America’s
Response to Pearl Harbor
and War




US had started to prepare 1940
Airplane production/design
Draft/Selective Service-1940
Build the “Arsenal of Democracy”-Harness the
Industrial and Economic power of the US- and focus it
toward War.
 Focus on building War material- Speficially Air power,
Bombers, B17, B24, B29
 Germany was the biggest threat, Focus of first phase
of War
 Then Japan
Meeting Before the War

Before US enters War: August, 1941
Newfoundland
Secret, FDR and Churchill meet to coordinate
 Create the Atlantic Charter (a statement of
principles agreed upon)

Condemned Aggression
 Endorsed National Self Determination

Pearl Harbor




American Reaction to Pearl Harbor
American reaction to Pearl Harbor was swift and
violent.
Immediate calls for war and revenge were heard
throughout the country.
Congress declared war and thousands of
soldiers volunteered to fight.
Americans were mad and they would never
forget the treachery of the Japanese.
Japan Offensive




Hitler and Mussolini both declared war on the United
States as a sign of support for the Japanese.
Japan Attacks Polynesian Asia
Immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor
Japanese forces began a systematic invasion of the
Pacific. Malaysia, Singapore, Burma, French Indochina,
and the Philippines were overrun. American forces in
the Philippines were outnumbered and overwhelmed by
Japanese forces.
12,000 American prisoners were taken in the fall of the
last Philippine strong hold called Bataan.
“Bataan Death March”
American “Arsenal of Democracy”






America Mobilizes for War= (WPB)
War Production Board- goal is to transform industrial
production to War production, organize all industrial
output
Board had much power to control resources:
Limited civilian goods- Rationing of food, fuel…
Cars stopped being produced
Conservation and recycle movement, rubber, metal,
grease,
“Arsenal of Democracy”


$320 Billion government spending- 1940-1945
Huge amount was 6 times that of Roosevelt’s
first two terms.
Financing the War


Taxes increase
Income
1941 7 million people file taxes
 1944 42 million people file taxes
 Government starts a withholding $ from workers


Loans/War Bonds

$100 billion in bonds sold
Problem of Inflation





Prices rise with full inflation
Full employment: GDP Doubles 1940-1945 to
$211.9 billion
Office of Price Administration is created to
manage prices
Freezes prices
Rations- Gas, tires, meat, sugar, shoes, coffee,
canned goods (Ration books-needed coupons to
purchase goods)
The Size of Government Explodes




Hundreds of agencies created:
National War Labor Boards- to manage labor
practices and prevent strikes
Office of War Mobilization- to help coordinate
agencies
Local Draft Boards
Internment of Japanese Americans


Japanese immigrants had increased in the United
States with the since early 1900
When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor a great
backlash was directed at Japanese Americans
Japanese Relocation






120,000 Japanese lived on the West coast
Were accused of potentially aiding Japanese
espionage
Some people, racist, and wanted to use the
opportunity to take Japanese land
February 1942 FDR signed an executive order
“Remove any and all persons who might pose a
threat to national security.”
Camps (Manzanar) were set up in the deserts of
Japanese Internment Camps





Japanese were relocated in
Camps:
Some Japanese sued for their
rights:
Korematus v. the United
States
Supreme Court upheld the
Internment of the Japanese
Japanese internment
In
the entire course of the war, 10 people were convicted of
spying for Japan, all of whom were Caucasian.
Roosevelt interned 120,000 Japanese
2/3 were American citizens and had never shown disloyalty
Japanese American Heroes




33,000 Japanese Americans served
Volunteers
442 Combat Regiment Team
The 442nd received more medals than any other
unit in US military history. Some survivors swear
it's because they were kept in combat longer
than white units.
War in Europe









Allies agreed that Europe was first priority
North Africa-November 1942
1942 Bombing campaign against Germany begun
1942- SicilySeptember 1943 Italy Surrenders (German Army occupies and
holds Northern Italy)
1944 Rome Falls
June 6, 1944 D-Day- Allied Invasion of Normandy France, the
Second Front is opened.
December 16, 1944 Battle of the Bulge (German counter attack
in the Ardennes Forrest, 200K Germans attack Allies)
May 7, 1945 Germany Surrenders (Hitler is dead, Russians
conquer Berlin)
War in the Pacific



Strategy of Island Hopping: bypass some islands
controlled by Japanese and attack specific
islands, to obtain air bases in an effort to bomb
Japan more efficiently and to build up forces in
an effort to invade Japan.
1942 Major victory at Midway Island US takes
out Japanese aircraft carriers
Timeline of WWII (everything you wanted to
know and more)
African Americans and the War



A. Phillip Randolph
Segregation in Military
End of segregation in War Industries,
Presidential Executive Order 8802
Women and the War


Rosie the
Riveter:
Women go to
work in
munitions
factories, other
jobs, and the
military
Propaganda



Did the US engage in propaganda during this
war?
How and who was involved?
Can you cite some examples?
Wartime Conferences






FDR (and later Truman) will coordinate the effort with Allied
leaders Churchill, and later Stalin
Casablanca-1943 FDR, Churchill, agreed on war aims: Sicily
invasion, Unconditional Surrender- of Japan and Germany
Cairo-1943- FDR and Churchill, Chiang Kai-shek- discussed war
aims in Asia, Japan will lose all islands acquired, Korea
independent
Teheran-1943 The “Big Three” discussed 2nd front in Europe
(France), Postwar Germany,
Yalta-February 1945 “Big Three” Discussed the fate of Poland,
Stalin asserted need for “Buffer Zone” and sphere of influence;
Stalin promised to allow free elections; planned for the division
of Germany after the war; Stalin promised to declare war on
Japan in exchange for Japanese land/Kurile Islands; (FDR is
dying and will be criticized for being manipulated by Stalin and
“selling out” Eastern Europe to the Russians.
Potsdam- Germany, July 1945, FDR dead, Truman, Churchill
gone, new Brit- Clement Atlee, Stalin- discussed boundaries for
Germany, German resources would pay for the war,

Casablanca 1943

Teheran 1943
“GI Bill of Rights”



GI is the term used for American soldiers in
WWII. (G.I. means General Issue)
The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act
Provided veterans a series of benefits:
Low interest loans for homes, business, and farms
 Aid for education

FDR Dies April 12, 1945





FDR dies and Harry Truman takes over
FDR was elected to an unprecedented 4 terms
He was a extremely beloved leader.
“Roosevelt had filled their lives through
depression and war for more than a dozen years,
allying their years and giving them hope. Now
he was gone…”
Election of 1944 running mate Harry S.
Truman, from Missouri, a Democratic Senator,
becomes President.
Atomic Bomb Production





Better Summarize:
FDR authorized a secret program code named
“Manhattan Project”
1943, J. Robert Oppenheimer, led the team of
physicists to develop and atomic weapon, to spit the
atom
Los Alamos, New Mexico
July 1945, the bomb was ready (Truman had no idea
any bomb like this was being worked on, when he took
office)

Harry Truman
German Atrocity…