America Moves Toward War
Chapter 24 – Section 4
FDR & War

Although FDR gave in to the American
public’s desire to abstain from war – he
knew that there could be no peace in a
world controlled by dictators.

Winston Churchill became prime minister
in Britain and wrote many letters begging
FDR to join in the war effort.
Cash-and-Carry

In 1939, FDR persuaded Congress to pass
this plan which allowed the US to sell
arms to Britain & France so long as they
transported the supplies in their own
ships.

This was FDR’s way of helping France &
Britain without sending American troops.

By 1940, France had fallen and Britain was
under siege.

The “cash-and-carry” policy had come a
little too late… Britain was on the ropes.

On September 27th, Americans were
jolted by the news that Germany, Italy, and
Japan had signed a mutual defense treaty
– these three nations were now the Axis
Powers.

This was a plan to keep the US out o the
war – they knew the US did not want to
fight a two-ocean war.
Building US Defenses

FDR began asking Congress to increase
national defense spending in 1940.

Nazi victories in Europe alarmed the
American public and helped FDR win
support for the increased spending…
Congress approved
The Selective Training and Service
Act

This was the US’s first peacetime military
draft.

Effects:
-Registered 16 million men (ages 21-25)
for potential service
-Immediately recruited 1 million men into
service for one year
Roosevelt’s Third Term

FDR did not want to leave office while the
US was in the middle of preparing for what
seemed like an inevitable war.

He decided to run for a third term, breaking
from the tradition started by George
Washington of two terms.

FDR won because his opponent was not
very different from him (not an isolationist)
and also FDR was still very popular. 55% of
vote
A New Tone
After he won, FDR changed his tone even
more…
 “If Britain falls, the Axis Powers will be left
unopposed to conquer all of Europe, Asia,
and Africa.”

The Lend-Lease Plan
By 1940, Britain had run out of money
and could no longer by the supplies it
needed.
 FDR proposed this plan to allow Britain
to borrow money and supplies from the
US.
 He used the analogy of lending a garden
hose to a neighbor whose house is on fire
– doing so stops the fire from spreading
to your house.

Hitler Goes Back on His Word

Crucial turning point in war: Hitler sends
German forces to invade the S.U. in 1941
– breaking the agreement he made with
Stalin in 1939.

Acting on the policy of “the enemy of my
enemy is my friend” FDR included the
Soviet Union in the Lend-Lease Plan.
German Submarines

In order to prevent supplies from
reaching his enemies, Hitler ordered his
submarines to sink any ships thought to
be carrying supplies.

This eventually led to attacks on
American ships (who had actually been
selling, transporting, and escorting
supplies the entire time)… FDR gave
permission for US ships to return fire
Submarine Warfare

FDR met in secret with Churchill to
discuss plans: He said that although he
could not openly declare war he would
continue to support Britain and the
Soviet Union against Hitler.

FDR said he would “do everything to
force an incident” between the US and
Germany
FDR gets his “incident”

The sinking of an American warship Kearny
(11 lives lost) gave FDR his reason to order
military action against Germany.

“The shooting has started – And history has
recorded who fired the first shot.” –FDR

However, the US is still not officially involved
in the war against the Axis Powers.
Japan needs oil

The US responded to Japanese seizure of
French-Indochina (now Vietnam,
Cambodia, and laos) by cutting off trade.
Japan now had no way of getting oil –
which it needed to fight the war.

Negotiations ensued between Hideki Tojo
(military leader) and the US – Tojo
promised the emperor that he would
conserve peace.
Japan prepares an attack
The US breaks Japan’s secret communication
codes in 1940 and starts listening
 November 5th, 1941 Tojo ordered the
Japanese Navy to prepare for an attack
against the US
 December 6th, 1941 – FDR sent out a
warning to the military commanders in
Hawaii, Guam and the Philippines.
 The “warning” stated that “the US desires
that Japan commit the first overt act.”

A Day That Will Live in Infamy
December 7th, 1941:
In the early morning, Japanese bombers
flew in and launched an attack on Pearl
Harbor.
The attack is unopposed for an hour and a
half before the first US plane lifts off.

The US loses almost all of its Pacific Fleet /
A greater naval loss in one day than in all
of WWI.
Results of the Attack
2,403 Americans dead
 1,178 wounded
 21 ships sunk or damaged (8 battleships)
 300+ Aircraft destroyed
 The US finally enters the war

Activity: Timeline
Use your notes and book (phone is okay) to
create a timeline of the significant events in
WWII thus far.
 Be sure to include:
 Hitler’s initial 3 phases/steps
 Japanese seizure of French Indochina
 The “phony war”
 The Fall of France, Formation of Axis Allies
 Battle of Britain
 The events that brought the U.S. into the
war
