US involvement in World War II

1. US INVOLVEMENT IN WWII

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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”

7. 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.

8. 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?

9. 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?

10. 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

11. ISOLATION VS. INVOLVEMENT
FDR
- 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?

12. 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?

15. 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.

21. 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.

23. 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?

24. 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.

25. 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 posters
 Propaganda films
 Hollywood cooperation

26. 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?

27. TAKEI!
http://www.ted.com/talks/georg
e_takei_why_i_love_a_country_th
at_once_betrayed_me?language=
en