World War II

Reflection

The Road To

World War II

Lend Lease Act

A Date that will Live in Infamy

Foreign Affairs

US Neutrality as War Brews

Closer to War

Appeasement

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

• 1933 - London Economic Conference - to coordinate an international response to the global depression, but FDR didn’t want anything to interfere with his own plans for US recovery → collapse strengthened the global trend towards nationalism & “every man for himself”

• 1933 - Roosevelt formally recognized the Soviet Union, opening up trade and fostering a friendship to counterbalance the threat of German & Japanese power

• “Good Neighbor Policy” - America would not intervene or interfere with Latin American countries. All marines left Haiti in 1934. America also released some control over Cuba and Panama

• Reciprocal Trade Agreements - lifted some of the tariffs from Hoover leads to more free trade

• Appeasement in Europe as dictators seize land

Appeasement

US NEUTRALITY AS WAR BREWS

• Neutrality Acts (1935, 1937 & 1939) - illegal for Americans to sell arms to any country at war, banned loans to the nations that were fighting, allowed trade but prevented foreign entanglements by requiring warring nations to pay cash for non-military goods, and transport them in their ships ("cash-and-carry")

• The world is back at war: Japan invades Manchuria in 1937 & Hitler invades Poland in 1939

Limits to Neutrality

• Quarantine Speech - condemned Japan's invasion of China & called for Japan to be quarantined
• FDR backed off the aggressive stance after criticism, but it showed he was moving the country slowly out of isolationism.
• Lend-Lease Act - allowed sales or loans of war materials to any country whose defense the president deems vital to the defense of the U.S
• FDR decided to escort ships by convoy & “shoot on sight” policy after attack on the USS Greer
• Atlantic Charter - Pledge signed by FDR & British prime minister Churchill not to acquire new territory as a result of WWII & to work for peace after the war

Learn More

Land-Lease Act & The Edge of Neutrality

CLOSER TO WAR

• Atlantic Charter - Pledge signed by FDR & British prime minister Churchill not to acquire new territory as a result of WWII & to work for peace after the war

A Date which will live in Infamy

• The embargo - US imposed the first of its trade embargoes on Japan in 1940.

• The U.S. offered to lift the embargo if Japan ended its war with China. Japan did not agree to America's terms, and it continued to fight.

• After the US imposed an oil embargo & froze Japanese assets in 1941, Japanese bombers attacked Pearl Harbor, killing over 2000 people & destroying all 8 battleships struck

• Congress declared war December 11

Neutrality to War

Reflection

America has been characterized as “isolationist” and “neutral” during the 1920s & 1930s. Assess the extent to which this is accurate.

💥 A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY

Commentary: The attack on Pearl Harbor unified the American public and ended the debate over isolationism. It marked a clear turning point where the U.S. shifted from cautious involvement to full-scale global war participation. AP Insight (Turning Point): Pearl Harbor = immediate cause of U.S. entry into WWII Significance: This event launched the U.S. into a leading role on the global stage

🕊️ US NEUTRALITY AS WAR BREWS

Commentary: The Neutrality Acts reflect strong public pressure to avoid foreign wars, showing how democracy shapes foreign policy. However, neutrality laws also limited the U.S.’s ability to respond to growing threats. Continuity & Change:

• Continuity: Desire to avoid entanglement
• Change: Increasing awareness that neutrality may not be sustainable

Key Question: Can a global power remain neutral when democracy is under threat?

⚠️ APPEASEMENT

Commentary: Appeasement was driven by fear of another devastating war and the belief that some of Germany’s demands were reasonable. However, instead of preventing conflict, it encouraged further aggression by dictators like Hitler. AP Skill (Causation): Appeasement → emboldened expansion → increased likelihood of war Historical Thinking: Was appeasement a failure—or a necessary delay to prepare for war?

🧠 REFLECTION

Commentary: Although the U.S. is often described as isolationist in the 1920s–30s, this is only partially accurate. The country remained economically and diplomatically connected to the world and gradually increased its involvement. AP Argument (CEA Model):

• Claim: The U.S. was not fully isolationist
• Evidence: Trade agreements, Lend-Lease, diplomacy
• Analysis: These actions show a steady shift toward global engagement

Final Takeaway: U.S. foreign policy in this era is best described as “cautious internationalism” rather than true isolationism

🌐 FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Commentary: During the early 1930s, the United States appeared to focus inward due to the Great Depression, but it still remained strategically involved internationally. Policies like recognizing the Soviet Union and the Good Neighbor Policy show that the U.S. was trying to maintain stability without direct intervention. AP Insight (Contextualization): The trauma of WWI + economic crisis pushed Americans toward caution, not complete withdrawal. Big Idea: The U.S. was selectively engaged, not truly isolationist.

🚢 CLOSER TO WAR

Commentary: Policies like convoy escorts and agreements like the Atlantic Charter show that the U.S. was already functioning as an Allied partner before officially entering the war. AP Skill (Continuity & Change): Neutral in name → involved in practice Historical Pattern: Wars often begin with gradual escalation, not sudden decisions

⚙️ LEND-LEASE ACT

Commentary: The Lend-Lease Act marked a major turning point: the U.S. began actively supporting Allied nations while still officially neutral. This shows a shift from isolationism to indirect involvement in the war. AP Theme: WOR (America in the World), WXT Big Idea: The U.S. became the “Arsenal of Democracy,” using economic power to influence the war before sending troops.