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Chapter 33
Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Shadow of War, 1933–1941
KEY TERMS AND PEOPLE TO KNOW London Economic Conference
Good Neighbor policy
Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act Rome-Berlin Axis
Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936, and 1937 Abraham Lincoln Brigade
Quarantine Speech Appeasement Hitler-Stalin pact Neutrality Act of 1939 Kristallnacht
War Refugee Board Lend-Lease Bill Atlantic Charter Pearl Harbor Benito Mussolini Adolf Hitler Francisco Franco Wendell L. Willkie
CHAPTER THEMES
Theme: In the early and mid-1930s, the United States attempted to isolate itself from foreign involvements and wars. But by the end of the decade, the spread of totalitarianism and war in Europe forced Roosevelt to provide more and more assistance to desperate Britain, despite strong isolationist opposition.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
Roosevelt’s early foreign policies, such as wrecking the London economic conference and establishing the Good Neighbor policy in Latin America, were governed by concern for domestic recovery and reflected America’s desire for a less active role in the world. America virtually withdrew from all European affairs, and promised independence to the Philippines as an attempt to avoid Asian commitments.
Depression-spawned chaos in Europe and Asia strengthened the isolationist impulse, as Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts designed to prevent America from being drawn into foreign wars. The United States adhered to the policy for a time, despite the aggression of Italy, Germany, and Japan. But after the outbreak of World War II in Europe, Roosevelt began to provide some aid to the Allies.
After the fall of France, Roosevelt gave greater assistance to desperate Britain in the destroyers-for-bases deal and in lend-lease. Still-powerful isolationists protested these measures, but Wendell Willkie refrained from attacking Roosevelt’s foreign policy in the 1940 campaign.
Roosevelt and Winston Churchill issued the Atlantic Charter, and by the summer of 1941, the United States was fighting an undeclared naval war with Germany in the North Atlantic. After negotiations with Japan failed, the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor plunged the United States into World War II.
*When it became evident that both Japan and Germany were marching toward militarism, FDR (and Europe) made it clear they wanted peace. This effectively gave the dictators a “go-ahead” sign.
*After watching Hitler go on the move, he finally broke a pledge to not attack Poland. England and France went to war. The U.S. still wanted to stay out.
The London Conference
Know: London Economic Conference
1. What were the results of Roosevelt's decision not to help stabilize currencies?
Freedom for (from?) the Filipinos and Recognition for the Russians 2. What was the reason for America's decision to free the Philippines?
Becoming a Good Neighbor Know: Good Neighbor Policy
3. Was the United States serious about the Good Neighbor policy? Explain.
Secretary Hull's Reciprocal Trade Agreements
4. Were reciprocal trade agreements a good idea? Explain.
Storm-Cellar Isolationism
Know: Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini, Rome-Berlin Axis, Fascism 5. What were the reasons for American isolationism?
Congress Legislates Neutrality
Know: Gerald Nye, Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936, 1937
America Dooms Loyalist Spain
Know: Francisco Franco, Spanish Civil War
7. How did the Spanish Civil War contribute to WWII?
Appeasing Japan and Germany
Know: Quarantine Speech, Munich Conference, Appeasement
8. What actions were taken by fascist governments that showed that they were a threat?
Hitler's Belligerency and U.S. Neutrality
Know: Hitler-Stalin pact, Neutrality Act of 1939, Cash and Carry
9. How did the United States respond to the start of WWII in Europe?
The Fall of France
Know: Blitzkrieg, Winston Churchill
10. What further steps did the United States take after the fall of France?
Refugees from the Holocaust
11. Why did America not make more room for European Jews in the 1930's?
Bolstering Britain
Shattering the Two-Term Tradition
13. Interpret the results of the 1940 election.
A Landmark Lend-Lease Law Know: Lend-Lease
14. What was so controversial about Lend-Lease?
Chartering a New World Know: Atlantic Charter
15. What was the reaction in America to the Nazi attack on the Soviet Union?
U.S. Destroyers and Hitler's U-Boats Clash
16. How did America's implementation of the Lend-Lease policy bring us closer to war?
Surprise Assault on Pearl Harbor
17. Why did the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor?
America's Transformation from Bystander to Belligerent
18. Was United States entry into WWII sudden or gradual? Explain.
1. Why did the neutrality laws fail to prevent America’s growing involvement with the military conflicts in Europe and Asia?
2. How did the process of American entry into World War II compare with the entry into World War I? 3. Would it have been more straightforward of Roosevelt to have openly called for a declaration of war
against Hitler rather than increasing involvement gradually while claiming that he did not want war? 4. Would the United States have entered World War II even if the Japanese had not attacked Pearl
Harbor?
5. President Franklin Roosevelt was naïve and ineffective in his conduct of foreign policy from 1933 and 1941. To what extent and in what ways do you agree or disagree with this statement.
6. The term “isolationism “ does not adequately describe the reality of either United States foreign policy or America’s relationships with other nations during the period from Washington’s Farewell Address 1796 to 1940. Assess the validity of this generalization. (AP ‘76)
7. Prior to American involvement in both the First and Second World Wars, the United States adopted an official policy of neutrality. Compare the policy and its modifications during the period 1914-17 to the policy and its modifications during 1939-41. (AP ‘82)
8. What were the causes and effects of America’s isolationist policy in the 1920’s and 1930’s? (AP ‘98)
Analysis Question Outline for Question # ____
HISTORIC NOTES
The Spanish Civil War is a prelude to WWII in that the two major fascist powers, Germany and Italy, provide economic and military aid to help General Franco defeat Spain’s Loyalists. The Loyalists get assistance from the Soviet Union and volunteers from many countries. Western governments, however, remains aloof to the plight of the antifascist forces.
To forestall another bloodbath like WWI, Britain and France adopt a policy of appeasement in dealing with German, Italian, and Japanese aggression and territorial expansion. In the summer of 1939, the world is stunned to learn the ideological archenemies Germany and USSR have signed a nonaggression pact.
To assist Britain, which stood alone against Germany after the fall of France in 1940, FDR circumvents the neutrality acts, giving the British destroyers in return for British military bases. The next step in providing much needed aid to Britain is the Lend-lease Act.
