World War II (September 1, 1939)
The United States joined World War II after the attack at Pearl Harbor in December 8,1941.
The relationship with the rest of the world at the outbreak of the war?
Germany invaded Poland. So the U.S saw this a warning and business opportunity as Britain and France was going to need all the help they could get. A warning because although US wasn't in the war they saw war coming to them.
WWII broke out in Europe! (September 1st 1939)
Germany with the help of Italy and japan wanted to control the world. England was beginning to get bombed by Germany and France was overthrown so the allies, for the moment, were just trying to defend against the attacks.
The attitude of the U.S. related to the outbreak of the war.
They were on high alert because they knew they would eventually be dragged into the war so they started building war machines and promoting war generals. America was prepared for war and they got a better economy.
The Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936 and 1937, lastly 1939.
1935: imposed a general embargo on trading in arms and war materials with all parties in war. 1936: renewed the provisions of the 1935 act for another 14 months 1937: outlawed trading weapons with Spain and other countries in a civil war without an expiration date. People couldn't trade with countries in war time. Then in 1939, allowed for arms trade with belligerent nations on a cash and carry basis and ending the arms embargo. It really allowed for people to trade weapons with other countries as long as the buyer had their own transportation and payed in cash upfront.
Destroyers for Bases deal (September 2, 1940)
Britain Prime Minister Winston Churchill needed to borrow Destroyer ships because German submarines had been bringing them down, so Churchill asked Roosevelt from the U.S. to lend him some Destroyers. Britain fended off the German invaders. Thanks to the alliance of the U.S.
The Lend-Lease Act (December 1940)
United States would be able to lend or lease arms to any country considered “vital” to the defense of the United States. The act meant that the United States could send weapons to Britain if Britain promised to return or pay rent for them after the war. ($40 billion in weapons) Eventually the Soviet Union help aid Britain too. In June 1941, was a violation of the Nazi-Soviet pact, Hitler launched an invasion on the Soviet Union.
Hemispheric Defense Zone
The Lend - Lease Act did not solve the problem. It was part of protecting the western Europe defense.
The Atlantic Charter Incident
Roosevelt and Churchill met face to face at Newfoundland, to agree on the Atlantic Charter. The agreement committed the two leaders to the postwar world of democracy, nonaggression, free trade, economic advancement, and freedom of the seas. Churchill said that the FDR pledged to “force an ‘incident,’ which would justify opening hostilities” with the German’s. It made the Japanese angry.
Export Control Act (July, 1940)
Giving the President to restrict the sale of strategic materials (important materials for fighting the war) Blocked the sale of materials of airplane fuel and iron to Japan. Japan got mad, and signed the treaty. Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
Attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) 7:49am
The Japanese want to Attack Hawaii because of resources and to have control of all around the Pacific. Killed 2,403 Americans and 1,178 were injured. United States joins WWII and goes war against Japan a day later. United States goes to war against Japan on December 8, 1941. Japan had alliance with Germany. Germany did not have to declare war on the U.S, but the terms of the alliance.
The Allied Forces and The Axis
US, Britain, Italy and France were part of the allies and Germany and Japan were the axis. In 1943 Italy was beginning to have increased hatred after more and more arguments broke out between the nations and when America landed in Italy they quickly surrendered and a month later joined the Allies in hope of getting back at their former partners. Italy switched sides weakening the axis powers and giving a tactical advantage over Germany and surrounding them in their own homes.