Reasons for U.S. Involvement in Wars

Why did the United States enter into World War I?

• Japanese warplanes had bombed American ships at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

• German submarines were attacking American ships in the Atlantic Ocean.

• American leaders hoped to annex new territories as a result of the war.

• The United States had a defensive alliance with Britain and France.

Why did the United States enter World War II?

• Americans feared Nazi Germany might conquer the world.

• The United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by Japan.

• The United States came to the defense of its ally, the Soviet Union.

• Germany had unleashed unrestricted submarine warfare against American merchant ships.

Why did the United States become involved in the Korean War?

• to free Korea from occupation by Japan

• to stop the North Korean invasion of South Korea

• to prevent the Soviet Union from taking over Korea

• to protect oil reserves found on the Korean Peninsula

Why did the United States invade Afghanistan in 2001?

• Its leaders refused to sell their oil to Americans.

• Its leaders had issued threats against the United States.

• Its leaders had seized the staff of the American Embassy as hostages.

• Its leaders were protecting members of al-Qaeda responsible for the attack on the World Trade Center.

Why did the United States send its troops into Iraq in 2003?

• American leaders feared that Iraq was about to fall under Communist rule.

• American leaders believed Iraq’s dictator was hiding weapons of mass destruction.

• American leaders had promised to free the Iraqi people from the grip of a ruthless dictator.

• American leaders suspected Iraq’s dictator was behind the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center.

The excerpt below is from President Harry Truman’s address to Congress on March 12, 1947. "I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures." Which U.S. foreign policy was adopted based on this speech?

• intervention in Iraq

• the containment of Communism

• American entry into World War II

• humanitarian aid to developing nations

The newspaper headline below identifies an event in U.S. history. "DAILY NEWS Dec. 8, 1941 U.S. ENTERS INTO WORLD WAR II" What event does this headline refer to?

• The attack on Pearl Harbor

• The signing of the Treaty of Versailles

• The start of the Vietnam War

• The assassination of President John F. Kennedy

What led to the event described in this newspaper headline?

• Communist North Korea had invaded South Korea.

• Students in Tehran had seized the staff of the U.S. Embassy as hostages.

• Japan had launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

• Vietnamese Communists had attempted to topple the government of South Vietnam.

President Roosevelt gave the speech below to Congress in 1941. "Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan." Which of the following occurred in consequence of this event?

• The United States entered World War I.

• The United States entered World War II.

• The United States signed the Atlantic Charter.

• The United States signed the United Nations Charter.

In October 1962, American spy planes discovered that the Soviet Union was about to install nuclear missiles in Cuba, 90 miles from Florida. How did President John F. Kennedy respond to this crisis?