Student Name

Great Britain AP US History

Japan
Nazi Germany USSR U.S.A. Period 2
Italy February 7, 2008
World War II Flags Chapter 27: The Global Crisis
DQ #2: Describe and explain the process by which American public opinion gradually shifted
from a policy of neutrality in 1935 to one of intervention in 1941.
I. 1935~1938 -“Isolationism” --- Policies of Neutrality
A. Neutrality Act of 1935,1936,1937---elimination of “protection of neutral rights” as excuse to enter
war
1935 1936 1937
mandatory arms embargo; forbade extension of loans & Cash-and-Carry Policy-
prohibition of traveling rights credits to warring nations belligerents purchase only
on belligerent ships by nonmilitary goods and ship it out
American citizens with their own ships
B. Public Hostility towards “Quarantine” Speech (October 1937)
o Roosevelt’s speech warning of dangers of Japanese aggression on world peace---Japan should be
“quarantined” by international community to prevent contagion of war from spreading
C. Response of “Appeasement”- no militant actions against Japan, Germany, & Italy, only renewed
determination of American people to exclude America from European instability:
o (1937) Japanese Assault into China [ deliberate Japanese attack on American gunboat Panay-
America, persuaded by isolationists to see it as an accident, accepted Japan’s apology]
o (1936~1937)reinforcement of isolationism during Spanish civil war [b/w fascists(Francisco
Franco) & republicans(a.k.a. Loyalists)]
D. Moral Embargo against Soviet Union (1940)-after USSR overran small Baltic republics (Latvia,
Estonia, Lithuania); invade Finland
E. America First Committee (1940)— fierce opposition towards war & Roosevelt’s pro-British policies
o included Charles Lindbergh, Hearst, Nye, Chairman of Committee Robert E. Wood—support of
Rep. party, Nazi sympathizers, anti-Semites
II. 1939~1941 Change of Tide---Road to Entrance of WWII
A. Fall of France
o 1940---Germany launched invasion in western EuropeSequence of attacks: Denmark, Norway,
Netherlands, & Belgium, France
o Futile defense against Blitzkrieg---strongholds fell against German army
o June 10- Mussolini attack from South, Hitler from North
o June 22- France fell into German hands
B. Public Opinion
o w/ France defeated & Britain threatened-shift -66% of public believed Germany posed a direct threat
to U.S.A.
o Congress more willing to pass pro-war legislations---Burke-Wadsworth Act (1940)---first peacetime
military draft in Amer. history
C. “Interventionists”- those who advocate expansion of Amer. involvement in war
o Committee to Defend America- Chairman: William Allen White---want increased Amer.
assistance to Allies; oppose actual intervention
o Fight for Freedom Committee-dissident group who urge from immediate declaration of war
D. Increased Aid & Participation to Allies
o September 1939 Revision to Neutrality Act- permit belligerents to purchase arms on cash-&-
carry basis
o May 16- Roosevelt asked Congress for $1 billion for defense; received it quickly
o Destroyers-for-bases Deal- on request of Winston Churchill fro weaponry, Roosevelt circumvented
cash-&-carry policy by trading 50 left-over destroyers for right to build military bases in British
FDR Caribbean Islands
E. Third-Term Election—Roosevelt’s Victory
o FDR=coy, never publicized intention; just before Democratic convention (July), announced he would
accept nomination
o Republican candidate- Wendell Wilkie; a competition of “wit” and “charm”; public magnetism|
political issues: similar position
o Election Results: FDR- 55% popular vote, 449 electoral; Wilkie- 45% percent, 82 electoral
III. Policies of Intervention
1. Lend-Lease Act---March 1941- end cash-&-carry requirements, let Britain obtain all military
equipment through credit
2. Convoy Vessels containing “lend-lease” materials to G. Britain in Western Atlantic - hemisphere
defense” (July 1941)
 3. Atlantic Charter---FDR met secretly w/ Churchill- affirmation of peace objectives after war- (1)self-
determination for all, (2)no territorial expansion, (3)free trade
4. Soviet-American alliance- America extend “lend-lease” privilege to USSR after German violation of
1939 Nazi-Soviet pact
5. Severed Trade Embargo on Japan-b/c Japanese violation of Open Door Policy, cut off oil shipment
(vital to Japan)
o Change of Japanese gov’t- Prince Konoye overthrown in Oct. 1941 General Hideki Tojo &
implantation of war gov’t in Japan—willing to negotiate but not compromise about China
6. Shoot-on-Sight- September 1941- Nazi submarines attack American destroyer Greer; October: U-
boat hit two and sunk Reuben James---enraged Congress approve measure allowing U.S. to arm
merchant vessels & sail into warring nations’ ports---undeclared naval war
7. Pearl Harbor- 7:55 AM December 7, 1941Jap. Bombers attack U.S. Hawaiian base; no precautions
o lost 8 battleships, 3 cruisers, 4 vessels, 188 planes, 2000 soldiers; unified American people to
commitment of war- Dec. 8th war against Japan; Germany & Italy, b/c of loose defensive
alliance(Tripartite Pact), declare war on U.S. (Dec. 11)
CONCLUSION: Due to the existing post-WWI fear of disaster and devastation, the American public
initially opposed American involvement with international conflicts. Yet, despite many of the
isolationists’ efforts, America, at the fall of 1941, was pushed into the war that they had previously
fought to avoid intervention at all costs. Roosevelt, who had gradually enacted pro-Allies policies
through America’s years of neutrality, was inevitably entangled into foreign affairs due to his
friendship with Britain and the growing aggression of Germany, the Axis, and Japan. The final spark
was the attack on Pearl Harbor, which ultimately united the American public under the commitment of
entering World War II.