US INVOLVEMENT IN WWII

CONTEXT

Isolationism: A policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries

US has a strong isolationist interest group after WWI.

The Depression turned Americans inward – focus on domestic affairs.

Challenged by events abroad.

ABROAD

Hitler’s rise, invasion of Czechoslovakia, Poland, and the USSR leads to mounting tensions in Europe.

UK declares war on Germany on September 3, 1939 – two days after Germany invades Poland.

FDR wants to assist allies – can’t violate neutrality acts.

NEUTRALITY ACTS

Neutrality Acts of 1930’s arise after WWI in order to prevent US from entering another European conflict.

Each act curbs US ability to aid “belligerents” in war – until 1937, introducing cash-and-carry provision.

A LONG SLIDE TOWARD WAR

Roosevelt maintains neutrality while supplying allied forces with materials for war.Cash and Carry (1939): Allowed sale of materials to allied forces, so long as they took responsibility for payment and transport.

US: the “Arsenal of Democracy” or the “Weapons Locker of Liberty” or the “Gun Rack of Republicanism”

A LONG SLIDE TOWARD WAR

Lend Lease Act (1941): US supplies Free France, Great Britain and USSR with food, oil, and other materials during the war.

Ends US neutrality – begins era of intervention.

THE DEBATE OVER ISOLATION Free Write: When does the US intervene in foreign affairs with the military? Provide some examples. When should the US intervene in foreign affairs?

What are the “Freedoms” currently guaranteed by the United States?

WASHINGTON’S FAREWELL ADDRESS Read through the excerpts selected from Washington’s Farewell Address, write down the following notes.What does Washington claim is the greatest threat to a republican government?

What is the context in which Washington is speaking? (THINK WAY BACK!!)

Do you believe Washington’s claim that “Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none?” Are we totally separate from European interests?

What, then, is Washington’s foreign policy? Apply it to the modern world. What would Washington think about present alliances?

FDR SPEECH AT UVA

Such an island may be the dream of those who still talk and vote as isolationists. Such an island represents to me and to the overwhelming majority of Americans today a helpless nightmare of a people without freedom—the nightmare of a people lodged in prison, handcuffed, hungry, and fed through the bars from day to day by the contemptuous, unpitying masters of other continents.

It is natural also that we should ask ourselves how now we can prevent the building of that prison and the placing of ourselves in the midst of it.

Let us not hesitate—all of us—to proclaim certain truths. Overwhelmingly we, as a nation—and this applies to all the other American nations—are convinced that military and naval victory for the gods of force and hate would endanger the institutions of democracy in the western world, and that equally, therefore, the whole of our sympathies lies with those nations that are giving their life blood in combat against these forces.

ISOLATION VS. INVOLVEMENTFDR

- Why does FDR claim that the most useful role “is to act as an arsenal for [England]?”

- What does FDR consider the “Four Freedoms?” What other freedoms would you include?

- How does FDR apply the Four Freedoms to the rest of the world? What would Washington think about this?

- Speculate: Has FDR’s dream been realized? Are the “Four Freedoms” sufficiently spread?

Charles Lindbergh

- How does Lindbergh incorporate Washington’s Farewell Address in to his speech?

- How does Lindbergh describe Germany during his speech? In a positive or negative light?

- Speculate: What would have happened if Charles Lindbergh was successful in keeping the US out of war? What could have happened?

THE FOUR FREEDOMS

As you look at the following posters, write down the following:What “freedom” does each poster represent?How is that freedom represented?What do you find interesting, or surprising, about the poster?

What is potentially troublesome about the poster?

THE BEGINNING OF WAR

http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/249620/an-original-newsreel-about-the-bombing-of-pearl-harbor/

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Empire launched a surprise attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor.

Meant to prevent US interference in the Pacific; concurrent attacks occur in the Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

By the end of the attack, 2,400 servicemen and women are killed and an additional 1,000 are wounded.

AFTERMATH OF PEARL HARBOR December 8, 1941: The US declares war on Japan.

By December 11, Germany declares war on the United States.

After Japanese victory at the Battle of the Philippines, Japanese army begins moving troops. Known as the Bataan Death March, 60-80k set out – 40k make it.

IBOOK ACTIVITY – MONDAY TO WEDNESDAY Over the next three classes, we’ll be working with the iBook, “Why We Fight,” which looks at the ways in which the US government marketed the war to the American people.

Using the iBook, you will craft an outline of a paper using five primary sources and your analysis to answer the following question. You will have time in class to work on analysis; at home, all you’ll need to do is type out your work.

Question: In what ways did the United States government work to bring the war to the home front during World War II? What strategies did they use?

US HOME FRONT IN WWII

Take out your outlines.

Get together in groups of three – share your theses along with the sources you analyzed.

Introduce each source and explain it briefly, then explain how it related to your thesis.

Rinse and repeat for each group member.

WAR’S EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY

In 1939, the unemployment rate stands at 17.2% - by 1945, it’s down to 1.9%.

Redefines the role of women in the work force – women now taking jobs that typically belonged to men.

Women’s roles also rise in importance – nursing becomes a prestigious job.

Advertising relies on patriotism to drum up demand.War Bond postersPropaganda filmsHollywood cooperation

REFLECTION – JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNMENT For ten minutes or so of class, answer the following questions in your notebook.Marilyn talked about the need to pack everything you own in to a suitcase. What would you carry in your suitcase to a relocation center?

What impressions did the documents you read, the images you saw, and the talk you heard from the Nikkei Center leave? Why?

Did the wartime justifications of the US government make sense to you looking back? If not, why? If so, why?

What was the most interesting thing you heard from Marilyn’s talk?

TAKEI!

http://www.ted.com/talks/george_takei_why_i_love_a_country_that_once_betrayed_me?language=en