Agenda

 Isolationism vs. Neutrality
 Dr. Seuss
 Technology & Scientific advancements of WWII
Objectives: Students will be able to...
(1) identify key details from images on American
Isolationism
(2) define Isolationism and Neutrality
(3) speak and listen within a small group setting.
Isolationism vs.
Neutrality?

 What do they mean?
 What’s the difference?
American Neutrality

 Sacrifice of WWI
seemed pointless
with rise of
Dictators…
 Americans began
to support
Isolationism
Nye Committee

 Isolationists got stronger
in 1930s
 Committee investigated
if America was ‘tricked’
into joining the
war…Tricked by who?
 European countries
refused to pay back debts
 Made isolationism
stronger.
Senator Gerald P. Nye [R-ND]
Legislating Neutrality

 Neutrality Act of 1935 – Made it illegal to sell arms to
any country in war
 Spanish Civil War – America had to stay neutral
 Anti-Comintern Pact – Japan, Germany, Italy become
AXIS POWERS
 Neutrality Act of 1937 – Warring countries could buy
nonmilitary stuff on “cash and carry” basis (Think
WWI)
FDR and Internationlism

 FDR wasn’t isolationist
 Internationalism – Idea
that trade between
countries creates prosperity
and helps prevent war
 Loophole in the Neutrality
Act (China vs. Japan)
Neutrality Acts: 1935,
1936, 1937


5 When the President proclaimed the existence of a foreign war,
certain restrictions would automatically go into effect:
Prohibited sales of arms to belligerent nations.
 Prohibited loans and credits to belligerent nations.
 Forbade Americans to travel on vessels of nations at
war [in contrast to WW I].
 Non-military goods must be purchased on a “cash-andcarry” basis  pay when goods are picked up.
 Banned involvement in the Spanish Civil War.
5
This limited the options of the President in a crisis.
5
America in the 1930s declined to build up its forces!
1939 Neutrality Act
5
In response to Germany’s invasion of Poland.
5
FDR persuades Congress in special session to allow
the US to aid European democracies in a limited way:

 The US could sell weapons to the European
democracies on a “cash-and-carry” basis.
 FDR was authorized to proclaim danger zones which
US ships and citizens could not enter.
5
Results of the 1939 Neutrality Act:
 Aggressors could not send ships to buy US munitions.
 The US economy improved as European demands for
war goods helped bring the country out of the
1937-38 recession.
5 America becomes the “Arsenal of Democracy.”
Lend-Lease Act

 the Lend-Lease Act was the principal means for
providing U.S. military aid to foreign nations during
World War II.
 This act permitted Britain to obtain all U.S. arms it
needed on credit; FDR said it would be like lending a
neighbor a garden hose to put out a fire.
“Lend-Lease” Act (1941)
Great Britain.........................$31 billion
Soviet Union...........................$11 billion
France......................................$ 3 billion
China.......................................$1.5 billion
Other European.................$500 million
South America...................$400 million
The amount totaled: $48,601,365,000

Freedom from Fear

“When an epidemic of physical disease starts to spread,
the community . . . joins in a quarantine of the patients
in order to protect the health of the com- munity
against the spread of the disease. . . . War is a contagion,
whether it be declared or undeclared. . . . There is no
escape through mere isolation or neutrality. . . . “
 Analyze this quote
Dr. Seuss Political
Cartoons

 Look through the PowerPoint, and download the Dr.
Seuss comic collection. Write down major details and
summarize each cartoon.
 Then, write 3-4 sentences on whether you think Dr.
Seuss agreed with US neutrality or was making fun
of/criticizing it.
 Think-Pair-Share- compare your answers with your
neighbors





Its effects on the Home Front
Science, Technology & Economics
Before WWII

 President FDR planned ahead.
 Even though we were not at war, he increased
production of war supplies for the US military and
our Allies.
What Supplies did we
Need?
Our nation and our
allies needed
Ships
Airplanes
Ammunition
How did this Effect
Industry?
Most industrial
plants were affected.
They were changed
over to ones that
produced military
supplies for war.
(Tank Factory)
What Other Industries
were Affected
The farming
industry had great
demands placed
upon them.
They had to provide
for the US citizens
They also had to
provide for the
Allies.
How Much were we
Really Producing?
By 1932
The US was
producing
As many wartime
products
As Germany, Italy
and Japan
combined!!!!
By 1944……
The US was
producing
TWICE as much as
the Axis Powers!
What were we making?
THOUSANDS OF….
Planes
Armored Cars
Tanks
Artillery and
Millions of rounds of
Ammunition
Was this good for
America’s economy?
All of the
production cause
jobs!
Americans were
back to work!
The depression was
ending!
Results….

 Our economy was on the rise!
 But what about Science and Technology?
WWII Technology
WWII required that
we become more
technologically
advanced
What did we improve?
Radar
Sonar Devices and
Rocket Weapons
Were other countries
also working on
technology?
 Albert Einstein, a
Jewish Refugee
 Informed FDR that
Nazi Scientists were
building atomic
weapons!!!!
 http://www.fdrlibrary.
marist.edu/archives/p
dfs/docsworldwar.pdf
The Manhattan Project
Was a secret
mission.
The US developed
the Atomic bomb
The Manhattan Project

“In just 27 months, America accomplished
what other nations thought impossible. How
did the United States achieve this
remarkable feat when Germany, Italy and
Japan failed? To Bulgarian-born journalist
Stephane Groueff, the Manhattan Project
was an outstanding example of the
"American way": a combination of creativity,
courage to try unorthodox approaches, and a
relentless determination to succeed. “
What were some other
advances in Technology
& Science?
Space Technology
grew.
Wanted to stop the
V-2 rocket used by
Germany
(Long range missiles
that are launched
into space)
Other productions to aid
efforts
Televisions
And computers
were being
developed to aid the
military effort.
ENIGMA CIPHER
MACHINES (Sent
coded messages)
Laboratories were
busy….
Making synthetics
such as nylon or
plastic for military
supplies
In the medical field…
Penicillin
Sulfa
New treatments for
disease…

Research 3 new wartime inventions to
scientific and technological
advancements in the civilian world.