WWII 1939-1941: USA's neutrality policy

WWII 1939-1941: USA's Policy of Neutrality

WWII started 1939

USA immediately passed Neutrality Acts.

•Purpose of neutrality acts- prevent involvement in war

USA-> Minding our own business!

Our nation was let down by our involvement in WWI, our government announced that any country involved in a war ask us for help.   Neutrality laws, passed in the 1930’s, prohibited selling military supplies with any warring nations. The goal was to prevent the involvement of the USA in another foreign war.

Multiple Choice

During the 1930s, the United States was eager to get involved in international conflicts.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Congress passed several Neutrality Acts in the 1930's. What was the purpose of those acts?

• To prevent the USA from becoming involved in a war.

• To push the united States in to the war.

• To give women the right to vote.

'Cash-N-Carry' policy.

President Roosevelt spoke to Congress on September 21, 1939, 2 weeks after WWII started. The Neutrality Acts, would be replaced with the 'Cash n Carry' policy which nations could buy military supplies as long as they paid in cash and assumed all risk in transportation using their own ships. 

Multiple Choice

Why did the USA insist if a nation wanted to buy weapons that it would need to provide its own ship and sail at their own risk?

• The USA didn't have merchant ships that could carry large cargos

• The USA feared if they shipped the weapons, they would be attacked on the open seas

Nazi Domination

• Nazi Germany quickly dominated most of Europe

• Britain only key Allied Power to fight Germany.

By 1941, Germany has conquered most of Europe. The debate in the USA intensified between those who favored joining the war, who were called Interventionists and those who wanted to stay neutral, who were known as Isolationists. Roosevelt did what he could to nudge public opinion toward intervention. 

Multiple Choice

Americans opposed to joining the war were known as _____.

• war hawks

• Interventionists

• Isolationists

Lend Lease Act

In early 1941, Roosevelt got Congress to approve the Lend-Lease Program, which enabled him to transfer arms and equipment to Britain, and later the Soviet Union. Total Lend-Lease aid would amount to more than $50,000 million. America was now neutral in name only.

• FDR spoke to Congress & urged them to pass the Lend Lease Act.

• Lend-Lease Act- USA would give nations fighting Nazi's food, $, military supplies

Lend Lease Policy

• Famous Line from FDR ... we need to pass the Lend Lease Act to make the USA "an arsenal for democracy".

Multiple Choice

Why is it said that after the USA adopts its Lend-Lease Act, it is neutral in name only?

• Citizens were begging its government to stay out of the war

• USA is technically neutral by not actively fighting but is involved b/c it picked favorites to give military supplies

Multiple Choice

Why is it said that after the USA adopts its Lend-Lease Act, it is neutral in name only?

• Citizens were begging its government to stay out of the war

• USA is technically neutral by not actively fighting but is involved b/c it picked favorites to give military supplies

INFAMY!

• U.S.A. entered WWII neutrality ended in Dec. 1941.

• Japan attacked U.S. naval base, Pearl Harbor

"Remember Pearl Harbor'!

• FDR asks Congress to declare war on Japan.

• Declares December 7, 1941 will be a day that will live in infamy!

Multiple Choice

Why did the United States enter WWII?

• The USA was attacked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

• Britain’s Prime Minister asked the US for its help

• THe USA never fought in WWII

Allied Powers of WWII

• Britain

• Soviet Union (Russia)

• USA

• (France---sort of)

Multiple Choice

The Allies consisted of......

• Japan, Germany, and USA

• USA, France, and Australia

• USA, Soviet Union, and Britain