WWII

• World War Two


  America had not joined the League of Nations, an international peace- keeping organisation, at the end of WWI. Instead it focused on

  building up its economy and trade links. Isolationism carried on well into the 1930s.
• 1935


  the Neutrality Act banned the loan of weapons to countries at war.
• 1937


  A law stopped the sales of weapons to any countries involved in a conflict.

  FDR made a famous ‘Quarantine’ speech where he said peace-loving nations should stand up to aggressive nations. He said that he would break off relations with nations that were threating over nations.
• 1939


  WWII breaks out.

  America declares support for Britain and France. FDR persuades congress to change the neutrality laws to allow the USA to help Britain and France. The USA sold high quality weapons to Britain and France.

  Nov – Britain and France began to buy US weapons, warship and planes, known as the ‘Cash and Carry Plan’. This created valuable production jobs.
• 1940


  Germany defeated France. Britain stood alone against Hitler. When the British government ran short of money, FDR gave Britain 50 warships.
• March 1941


  FDR agreed the Lend Lease deal. Instead of selling weapons to Britain America would lend $7000 million worth of weapons.
• Relationships


  After a strained relationship between Japan and America throughout the 1930s over Japan’s invasion or China and America’s refusal to sell Japan oil and steel (which they needed as they used millions of tons each year) the relationship grew worse. Japanese military leaders planned a secret attack on US ships at a naval base.
• December 7th 1941


  Japanese bombers attacked Pearl Harbour. 177 US planes were destroyed, 2000 men were killed. The next day America and Britain declared war on Japan. Three says later Germany and Italy declared war on America.