Appeasement: A Road to War

You are the President of the U.S. during the

1930s. Your country is stooped in a policy of

neutrality & isolationism. You have the delicate

task of preparing your country for war without

tipping your hand to the world. Let’s test your

decision making abilities to see whether or not

you can juggle all of these variables while

preventing alienation of your allies but still

maintain peace with these totalitarian regimes.

Weigh Factors Public Opinion

95% opposed to any war

Isolationists: “they’re problem not ours”

Millions trace ancestry to Germany

Economic Report 33% unemployment

Massive deficits

Low manufacturing capacities

Military Report German Military in the millions

U.S. in the thousands

Weapons: Germany 1800 bombers > U.S. 80 bombers

Powerful Navy

Foreign Relations Report Neutrality Acts will not permit sale of weapons to warring nations

Britain, France in desperate need of weapon assistance

Great fear of U.S.S.R. Must use Germany as a buffer anti-communism state

The Game: In groups of 3-5 people you will be competing against

the rest of the class in the race to WWII

The class will start off in 1933, in the role as “FDR”

Given the event, and key players, as a group you must decide how to respond.

You will be given 8 choices in your course of action per event (shown on handout). Chosen courses of action may be used more than once.

After deciding as a group what action to take, bring your paper up to your teacher.

If you are correct, you will receive the following advancement. (stamp) –worth one point

If you are incorrect, you will be sent back to your group to re-think the proper response by FDR.

You and your group, cannot and will not advance until the correct, (and actual) decision is made.

It is a race, it is a competition – may the best FDR win!

Courses of ActionCourses of Action may/will be used more than once.You can only choose 1 course of action per event.

#1 No formal action Do nothing, besides issuing a protest or expression of concern.

#2 Invoke Neutrality Laws

Announce that the relevant laws governing U.S. neutrality apply.

#3 Revise Neutrality Laws

Ask Congress to alter the current neutrality laws to reflect to current situation.

#4 Expand Armed Forces

Ask Congress for increases in the size of the army and navy.

#5 Send aid to the Allies

Ask Congress to authorize sending economic and/or military aid to those fighting against Germany.

#6 Expand Escort Zone

Instruct U.S. warships to move further out into the Atlantic to escort merchant vessels.

#7 “Shoot-on-Site” Order

Instruct U.S. Naval Forces to fire on any German submarines they see.

#8 Declare War Ask Congress for a declaration of war against Germany.

How did you do?

If you selected:

#1 No formal action

Do nothing, besides issuing a protest or expression of concern.

YOU ARE RIGHT!

Although Hitler’s actions were disturbing to Americans (not to mention the French), the German government was under no legal obligation to participate in disarmament talks. Moreover, since the United States was not a part of the League of Nations, U.S. diplomats could hardly criticize Germans for leaving that organization.

**If correct, you would then move onto the next round/event of WWII in Europe.

**If incorrect, you would have to reconvene with your group to determine where you went wrong; and chose a different course of action

Let the race begin!

Now that you are in groups of 3-5

people, you should have in front of you

the second event of this game.

Read the event.

Decide the course of action.

See your teacher (determine the outcome)

Move on/re-think.

Courses of ActionCourses of Action may/will be used more than once.You can only choose 1 course of action per event.

#1 No formal action Do nothing, besides issuing a protest or expression of concern.

#2 Invoke Neutrality Laws

Announce that the relevant laws governing U.S. neutrality apply.

#3 Revise Neutrality Laws

Ask Congress to alter the current neutrality laws to reflect to current situation.

#4 Expand Armed Forces

Ask Congress for increases in the size of the army and navy.

#5 Send aid to the Allies

Ask Congress to authorize sending economic and/or military aid to those fighting against Germany.

#6 Expand Escort Zone Instruct U.S. warships to move further out into the Atlantic to escort merchant vessels.

#7 “Shoot-on-Site”Order

Instruct U.S. Naval Forces to fire on any German submarines they see.

#8 Declare War Ask Congress for a declaration of war against Germany.

Event #1: 1933

Courses of ActionCourses of Action may/will be used more than once.You can only choose 1 course of action per event.

#1 No formal action Do nothing, besides issuing a protest or expression of concern.

#2 Invoke Neutrality Laws

Announce that the relevant laws governing U.S. neutrality apply.

#3 Revise Neutrality Laws

Ask Congress to alter the current neutrality laws to reflect to current situation.

#4 Expand Armed Forces

Ask Congress for increases in the size of the army and navy.

#5 Send aid to the Allies

Ask Congress to authorize sending economic and/or military aid to those fighting against Germany.

#6 Expand Escort Zone Instruct U.S. warships to move further out into the Atlantic to escort merchant vessels.

#7 “Shoot-on-Site”Order

Instruct U.S. Naval Forces to fire on any German submarines they see.

#8 Declare War Ask Congress for a declaration of war against Germany.

Event #2: 1935

Event #3: 1935

Event # 4: 1936

Event #5: 1938

Event #6: 1938

Event #7:1938

Event #8: 1939

Event #9: 1939

Event #10: 1940

Event 11: 1940

Event #12: 1940

Event #13: Italy invades Greece

Event #14: 1941

Event #15: 1941

Event #16: 1941

OUTCOME: