WARMUP (in notebook)
How were the policies of Hitler,
Mussolini, and Hirohito similar?
 Why would these leaders be classified
as fascists?
 What is the difference between an
authoritarian government and a
totalitarian government?

Unit 7: WWII
Essential Question
Why did the US enter WWII?
Italy
- Benito Mussolini:
Dictator who
strengthened the military
& took control of Italy
Germany
- Adolf Hitler
Gained power in 1933;
violently anti-Semitic
leader of the Third Reich
Totalitarianism
Governments that restrict personal
freedoms and political opposition
Japan
Emperor Hirohito & military leaders take power;
Japan takes over Chinese territory of Manchuria
Event
Response/Effect
Mussolini & Italy
invade Ethiopia
League of Nations imposes
sanctions; no real effect
Germany annexes the
Rhineland, Austria, &
the Sudetenland
Appeasement – Giving in
to demands in order to
avoid future conflicts
Munich Pact – Germany
promises not to capture
any more territory
Germany signs
Non-Aggression Pact
with the Soviet Union
Germany plans to attack
France; Germany & USSR
will split Poland
FDR stated neutrality, but at the
same time he knew action would
eventually have to be taken.
Timeline of Events leading to US
entrance into WWII
 September
8, 1939
 FDR calls Congress into a special session to revise
the Neutrality Acts.
 The Neutrality Acts had been passed in 1935 which
outlawed sales of arms or loans to nations in war or in
civil war.
 At this time, FDR asked to allow American arms to be
sold to warring nations if they paid cash and shipped
them in their own ships (cash and carry)
 After six weeks, Congress passed FDR’s request.
“ I do not believe that we can become an
arsenal for one belligerent without becoming
a target for another.”
-Senator Arthur Vandenberg
What steps would the US take in the
next few months to make it less
neutral?
Event
Response/Effect
Germany’s war technique
“blitzkrieg” – lightning war
rapid air & land strikes,
overpower enemies
Germany captures most of
Europe, including France
Battle of Britain
Germany bombs Britain
almost daily
(July-Oct 1940)
Leadership of P.M.
Winston Churchill helps
Great Britain win,
Germany calls off attack
Timeline of events leading to US
entering WWII

Spring to Summer 1940
 Even with cash and carry in effect, allied
forces continue to fall in Europe.

September 1940
 Japan, Germany, and Italy signed a mutual
defense treaty, known as the Tripartite
Pact, and are referred to as the Axis
Powers.
 This pact was similar to the alliances of
WWI.
This meant that if the US decided
to enter WWII, it would have to
fight on two fronts, not just one.
Timeline of events leading to US
entering WWII

November 1940
 FDR re-elected to a third term with
55 % of the vote.
 Shortly afterward, the President
begins to prepare the nation for war,
stating that we would need to be the
“great arsenal of democracy.”
Didn’t we learn our lesson from WWI?
What made it different this time?
Timeline of events leading to US
entering WWII

Winter 1940
 Britain runs out of money to purchase arms
from the United States.
 FDR proposes a new program, known as
lend-lease.
 Under this provision, the US would lend or
lease arms and other supplies to any
country “whose defense was vital to the
United States.”
Timeline of events leading to US
entering WWII

Winter 1940
 FDR steps up his aid of military equipment to
Britain.
 Under “Lend-Lease”, the US gave Britain
ships to borrow in exchange for leases on
their bases in other parts of the world.
 At the same time, FDR asks congress to
increase defense spending, which they
approve in addition to instituting a draft.
Timeline of events leading to US
entering WWII

Spring 1941
 Although isolationists fought lend-lease,
Congress passes the provision with an initial
appropriation of $7 billion, eventually spending
$50 billion.

June 22, 1941
 Hitler ignores peace treaty with Soviet Union
and invades with 3 million troops. Lend-lease is
eventually extended to the Soviet Union as well
due to their scorched earth policy of warfare.
Timeline of events leading to US
entering WWII

Spring 1941
 To stop shipment of arms, the Germans once again
deploy U-Boats into the Atlantic Ocean, usually in
groups of 15-20 known as Wolf Packs.
 In five weeks alone in 1941, the Germans
successfully sank 1.2 million tons of British shipping.

June 1941
 FDR orders the US navy to protect lend-lease
shipments as far as Iceland and to attack U-Boats in
necessary for self-defense.
Timeline of events leading to US
entering WWII

August 1941
 Congress authorized the draft for another 18
months, with high isolationist opposition.
 FDR and Churchill meet secretly off of
Newfoundland and agree to the Atlantic
Charter.
 The document spelled out what the goals of
Britain and the US would be after the end of
WWII.
Atlantic Charter Provisions

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No territorial expansion
No territorial changes without consent of inhabitants
People should be allowed to choose their form of
government
Free trade among nations
Encourage international cooperation
A secure peace based on freedom from want or fear
Disarmament of aggressors
A permanent system of general security
 DOES
THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
THINK BACK!
How was this similar to Wilson’s
14 points?
- Lend-Lease Act (1940)
US can send aid to any
nation whose defense
was vital to US national
security (i.e. Allies)
The US Moves
Towards Intervention:
- Atlantic Charter (1941)
FDR meets with Churchill,
strengthens alliance
Timeline of events leading to US
entering WWII

September 4, 1941
 German U-boats fire on the USS Greer, and FDR
responds by commanding that US shoot German
ships on sight.
 This move essentially started the naval war between
the US and Germany

Fall 1941
 26 nations sign the Atlantic Charter, now known as
the “Declaration by the United Nations.” These 26
nations become known as the Allies, counterpart to
the Axis.
Timeline of events leading to US
entering WWII

Fall 1941
 As shipping incidents increase, the US
senate repeals the ban against arming
merchant ships, making us one step closer
to war.
What was happening on the other
side of the ocean?
While the US seem preoccupied with
Germany, Japan was increasing to build up
its war machine.
 By July of 1941, Japan had invaded
Manchuria (1931), China (1937), Indochina
(1941), and many of the outlying islands
except for those occupied by the United
States.
 By now, tensions were mounting between
these two nations.

Timeline of events leading to US
entering WWII

July 1941
 As the Japanese entered Indochina, the US responded by
cutting off trade with Japan, imposing an embargo.
 At the heart of this embargo was oil, which Japan needed for
its war machine.
 Japanese Navy informs government that oil reserves will be
exhausted within two years.
 Japanese begin planning invasion of Southeast Asia to take oil
fields in Dutch East Indies.

October 1941
 Japanese general Hideki Tojo becomes prime minister of
Japan, promising to attempt peace with the Americans, but to
go to war if they failed.
Timeline of events leading to US
entering WWII

Japan fears an attack on British and Dutch
colonies will cause the U.S. to enter the war.
 Begins planning for attack on Pearl Harbor to
neutralize U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Goals of the attack
 Destroy or disable the Pacific Fleet battleships.
 Destroy or disable the Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers.
 Destroy fuel storage and repair facilities at Pearl
Harbor.
Hirohito approves plan for war against U.S.,
Holland, and Britain on Nov. 5, 1941.
 Attack planed for early December if diplomatic
solution not reached.

Timeline of events leading to US
entering WWII

November 5, 1941
 Japan sends a peace envoy to Washington, but at
the same time orders the Japanese navy to prepare
for an attack on the US.

Late November, 1941
 US intelligence breaks Japanese code, discovering
that an attack was likely on the United States by
Japan, but it was unknown when or where this would
occur.
 FDR issues a war warning to forces in Hawaii,
Guam, and the Philippines while peace talks
continued.
The Plan of attack
Japanese will attack harbor with three
waves of planes from their aircraft
carriers.
 First two waves will destroy battleships
and airfields, third wave will destroy fuel
storage and repair facilities.
 5 midget subs will sneak into harbor and
torpedo ships.

U.S. Preparedness
Planes at airbases parked in the open,
close together to protect against sabotage.
 Battleships moored side by side in rows for
the same reason.
 U.S. radar station picks up approaching
Japanese planes, but report is
misinterpreted.
 Attack begins at 7:48a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7,
1941

 U.S. Fleet caught totally by surprise, most
sailors asleep below deck.
Timeline of events leading to US
entering WWII

December 6, 1941
 US intelligence intercepts another Japanese
message that instructed the peace envoy to reject all
American peace proposals.
 FDR fears war is likely

December 7, 1941
 Japanese air forces attack Pearl Harbor.
 After about two hours, Japan lost 29 planes while
the US lost 2 battleships (and 16 ships damaged),
188 planes (159 damaged), and about 2400
soldiers.
Japan’s Push to Intervention:
- US/Japan Prior
to the Attack:
US trade embargo;
trying to halt
Japanese expansion
- Tripartite Pact
Military alliance between
Germany, Italy, & Japan
- Japan attacks
Pearl Harbor:
Dec. 7, 1941
2,400 killed,
188 aircraft destroyed;
US declares war on Japan
http://www.time.com/time/video
/player/0,32068,1313122074001
_2101696,00.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Sv1niwxQgoY&safe=active
Consequences
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3rd wave not launched, Japanese fail to
destroy fuel storage and repair facilities.
U.S. aircraft carriers not at Pearl Harbor on
Dec. 7th
Japanese surprise attack causes American
public to instantly change isolationist views.
The next day, FDR addressed a joint session
of Congress, asking for a resolution of war
against Japan.
U.S. declares war on Japan on Dec. 8, 1941.
Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S. on
Dec. 11, 1941
1942 Newsreel

http://archive.org/details/NewsPara1942