16.4 America Moves toward War

Notes

1. How did the US shift away from neutrality and why?
1. Cash & Carry was passed Sep 39

                                                               i.      Nations may buy arms IF they pay CASH

1.      no credit

2.      must provide their own transport

3.      not risking letting subs sink our ships (again)

2. England is the Last Democracy!

                                                               i.      If they fall- who will help save us??

1.      “..we will be living at the point of a gun.”

2. What did we do to help during the ‘Battle of Britain’?
1. Destroyer Deal – summer 40
2. 50 used destroyers traded for leases on 8 British military bases in our hemisphere
3. Lend-Lease- Fall 40
4. We will lend arms & supplies to any nation whose defense is vital to the US

                                                               i.      They can return these things later

                                                             ii.      Like a garden hose after a fire

5. June 41: Germany invades USSR

                                                               i.      We ‘lend’ supplies to the USSR too

3. How did we keep our supplies safe from U-Boats?
1. Convoys & Radar

                                                               i.      Lone subs will not attack a cluster of destroyers

                                                             ii.      Radar & Sonar will help detect presence of subs

4. How did FDR plan for war?
1. Met with Churchill, secretly – on ship off coast
2. Newfoundland, summer 41: Atlantic Conference

                                                               i.      US shows commitment

1.      set up Joint War aims- Atlantic Charter

2.      Collective Security- (peace keeping agency to replace League)

3.      Disarmament

4.      Self-Determination- no colonies; no taking land after war

5.      economic cooperation- lower tariffs, no trade barriers

6.      Freedom of the Seas

5. How did we wind up waging war at sea prior to any declaration of war?
1. FDR orders navy to ‘shoot on sight’
2. 3 more US ships sunk
3. Ban on armed merchant ships lifted

                                                               i.      Undeclared naval war

6. What was going on in the Pacific Theater of war?
1. Japan invaded China; all European colonies there – 1937
2. Japan pushes southward – 1941
3. Captured French Indo China (Vietnam)

                                                               i.      Rubber, tin, oil: vital to war effort

4. We embargo Japan- no US oil

                                                               i.      Effect increased their motive for conquering oil rich Dutch East Indies

1.      Is Australia next??

7. How did the US enter the war?
1. Prime Minister Hideki Tojo readies Japanese Navy for an attack
2. 7 points, including Dutch East Indies & HI

                                                               i.      We knew an attack was imminent but where?

3. FDR knew the US would never end isolationism unless directly attacked
4. Dec 7, 41: Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor

                                                               i.      2 waves

                                                             ii.      8 am, 9:30 am

1.      2400 + Americans died

2.      21 ships sunk or damaged

3.      300+ planes destroyed on the ground

4.      Also hit: Malaya, Dutch East Indies

a.       We were hit to keep us from having a fleet that would interfere with their other plans

5. Dec 8: Congress approves Declaration of War on Japan
6. Dec 11: Italy & Germany declare war on US

                                                               i.      We are in a 2 front war!!