CHAPTER 34

I. Roosevelt and foreign policy

A. London Economic Conference to attack global depression stabilize national currencies fearing that the conference might hurt

Roosevelt’s gold policies because of an international agreement he urges delegates to concentrate on more basic economic ills.

this will cause the conference to be a failure -- demonstrates the strength of U.S. position in the world

B. Soviet Recognition

The government was firmly in control the other major countries had recognized them our cold shoulder treatment had not caused

the Soviet Union to collapse some Americans felt that a recognition of

Moscow might bolster Russian against Japan. U.S. might be able to enrich trade with Soviet

Union

C. Soviet Promises

Soviets promise to refrain from revolutionary propaganda in America.

they will break that pledge trade will never develop because Russia

is denied a loan.

D. 1934 Congress passes a program for Filipino freedom

after 10 year period naval bases were kept

E. Good Neighbor policy

possible because there were fewer dollars to be protected by the rifles of the Marines.

retreat from economic imperialism. War in Europe causes U.S. to want to

encourage Latin America to line up with U.S. to defend Western Hemisphere

F. What did the plan implement?

U.S. renounce armed intervention marines leave Haiti in 1934 Platt Amendment relieved in Cuba

except for Guantanamo U.S. received high praise and best

relations with Latin America

G. Cordell Hull’s Reciprocal Trade Agreement

Trade is a two way street Purpose was to help America out of the

Depression by opening up markets Pacts with 21 countries Trade does increase Lower tariff rates by 50% provided that

the other countries respond with similar action

II. ISOLATIONISM

POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST THE TOTALITARIANISM OF EUROPE

A. Totalitarianism in Europe

Communism in Russia with Stalin as dictator

Mussolini in Italy in 1922 (fascist) Hitler in Germany 1933 (fascist) Militarism in Japan and the military

controls the Emperor

B. Rome Berlin Axis

German people followed Hitler because they see no other way out of the economic chaos and national disgrace

Mussolini takes over in Italy for the same reasons – They attack Ethiopia in 1935

As these events take place in Europe, Isolationism increases in America

We had learned lessons from WWI – we had a mote lets use it.

The depression was in the minds of most Americans

III. Congress and Neutrality

Neutrality acts of 1935, 36, 37

A. When the President proclaims the existence of a foreign war

No American could sail on a belligerent ship

We could not sell or transport munitions to a belligerent

We could not make loans to a belligerent

This was an example of our – STORM CELLAR NEUTRALITY

This fails to recognize our power to control international events.

It tends to overbalance in favor of the dictators because we fail to use our great strength to help our democratic friends.

We will decline to build up our armed forces to deter aggressors

B. SPANISH CIVIL WAR

Franco is helped by Hitler and Mussolini Loyalist are helped by the Soviets Washington continues official relations

but applies the Neutrality legislation to both sides which condemns the Spanish Democracy to death as we appease the dictators.

C. Japanese Appeasement

1937 Japan invades China Roosevelt declines to invoke neutrality to keep

from cutting off needed materials Gives a Quarantine Speech in fall of 1937

asking for “positive endeavors to quarantine aggressors” (economic embargos)

Causes isolationists to protest that a “moral quarantine would lead to a shooting quarantine.”

D. JAPAN BOMBS THE PANAY

No reaction at home like the Maine Apology of Japan is accepted,

indemnities were paid and Americans were relieved

E. Germany

Hitler flouts the Versailles treaty and moves into the Rhineland 1936

Hitler builds the most devastating military machine the world had ever known -- blitzkreig

Early1938 Hitler Annexes Austria Then he takes the Sudetenland in 1938 and

the Munich Agreement is signed 1939 takes the rest of Czechoslovakia Aug of 39 he signs the Nazi – Soviet Pact

which allows Hitler to attack Poland Britain and France declare war

F. 1938 he begins the process of liquidating the Jews 1935 Nuremberg laws denied German Jews

Citizenship 1938 German Jews were barred from attending

Concerts, plays, schools, universities, and they had to register their property.

When a Jewish youth assassinated a German official in Paris--Hitler levied a fine against all Jews of 400 Million Dollars

Kristallnacht Nov. 9 1938

G. Neutrality Act of 1939

To avoid loans and war debts Avoid torpedoing of American carriers Solves the unemployment crisis France falls in 1940 with Mussolini’s

Help Hitler then takes Denmark, Norway,

Holland, and Belgium

H. Americans begin to wake up

Congress appropriates 37 billion in 1940 Builds an Air Fleet and a two Ocean

Navy This was more than the total cost of all

of WWI Begins the FIRST PEACE TIME DRAFT

I. Loans to Europe

Surplus arms go to Britain Sept. 2, 1940 -- U.S. transfers 50 old

model destroyers to Britain for bases in Newfoundland and other islands

This was done by Presidential Executive Order to avoid Congressional Debate

J. Isolationists

Numerous and sincere Organize the America First Committee Let Hitler “try” to come over here The Yanks are not coming Most effective spokes person Col.

Charles Lindberg Page 811

K. Election of 1940

Roosevelt the Demo. 3rd term Willkie the Rep. Both were anti war Roosevelt Wins In his inaugural address he outlines his

four freedoms – Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear

IV. Going to War

A. Lend Lease Act

An act to further promote the defense of America

A device to keep us out of war America would send a limitless amount

of arms and settle at the end of the war by returning weapons

Aimed at the axis powers

B. Hitler recognizes the lend lease act as an unofficial act of war.

Tried to keep American favor by not sinking American ships

Turns to sinking American ships in 1941 – sank the Robin Moor.

American begins to convoy shipments – destroyers Kearney and Reuben James sunk

Fears of the isolationists are realized With the collapse of France and the

Netherlands, Japan moves south

C. Atlantic CharterRoosevelt 14 points

Atlantic conference is held in Aug. 1941 – between Roosevelt and Churchill

No territorial changes contrary to the will of the inhabitants

Right to choose government Call for a new league of nations 8 points in all

D. Pearl Harbor

1940 Japan and Germany form the Rome Berlin Tokyo axis

Japan depends on U.S. oil, steel, gas and scrap iron

Mid 1941 U.S. embargos oil shipments to all nations except Western Hemisphere and Britain.

September – A Japanese Imperial Conference approves an attack in Hawaii

November -- Japan presents their final proposal to Secretary of State Cordell Hull

E. Final U.S. ultimatum – Japan must move out of China to resume

getting Oil Japan attacks Pearl Harbor Dec. 7,

1941 Most American commanders felt the

attack would come in the south Pacific

7:53 AM 2 hours long 3 out of 8 battle ships sunk the others badly

damaged 19 ships sunk or disabled 150 planes destroyed 2400 Americans die