Ch. 34: Road to War

•The U.S. withdrawal from the London Economic Conference illustrates FDR’s determination not to associate his New Deal agenda with an international

attempt to combat the effects of global depression by stabilizing international currencies.

•To forestall another bloodbath like WWI, Britain and France adopt a policy of appeasement in delaing with German, Italian, and Japanese aggression and

territorial expansion. In the summer of 1939, the world is stunned to learn that ideological archenemies Germany and the Soviet Union have signed a

nonaggression pact.•To assist Britain, which stood alone against Germany after the fall of France in

1940, FDR circumvents the neutrality acts, giving the British destroyers in return for British military bases. The next step in provid much needed adi to

Britain is the Lend-Lease Act (See Map)•Six months after the German invasion of the USSR, Japan launches a surpise

attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor.

I. Eager Isolationism Post WWI

A. Europe, 19331. Tradition of laissez faire

a. Exception: Dawes Plan

2. London Conference3. Recognition of USSR

B. Asia1. Japan Invades coastal Asia 2. Jones Act, 19163. Tydings-McDuffie Act, 19344. Washington Naval Treaty expires, 1934

C. Latin America1. Good Neighbor Policy

a. Haiti, Cuba, and Mexico

2. Reciprical Trade Agreements Act, 1934

II. Cautious Interventionism

A. Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939

1. Nye Committee

2. Neutrality Actsa. “when the president…”

B. “China Incident,” 19371. Quarantine Speech

2. Panay Incident

C. Hitler Aggression1. Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression

Pact, 1939

2. Invasion of Polanda. Neutrality Act of 1939

(“Cash-and-carry”)

3. “phony war”

II. Cautious Interventionism (cont.)

A. Fall of France1. “Arsenal of Democracy”

2. Congressa. $37 Billion, 1939

b. Selective Service Act

c. Havana Conference

B. Battle of Britain1. America First v. Com to

Defend America by Aiding it’s Allies

2. Destroyers-Bases Deal

III. Undeclared War

A. Election of 19401. “Four Freedoms” (speech,

religion, want, and fear)

B. Europe 1. Lend-Lease, 19412. Shipping

a. American Neutrality Patrol (Ap)b. Convoys (July)c. Greer and “shoot on site” (Sep)d. Kearny and Reuben James

(Oct)

3. Fall of Soviet Uniona. Atlantic Charter (Aug)

C. Japan1. Embargos2. Pacific Fleet to Pearl3. Negotiations

Attack on Pearl Harbor

• Two waves of attacks (183 planes and 167 planes)

• Japanese sank or badly damaged 8 battleships including OK and AZ

• Damaged 10 other ships; destroyed 188 planes• Over 2,500 Americans killed (almost half from

AZ)• 1,100 wounded• 63 Japanese pilots died• December 8th Congress declares vote with 1

dissenting vote (Jeannette Rankin)