America: Opportunity and Inequality - The impact of the Second World War Flashcards
1
Q
what is “isolationism”?
A
a policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries
2
Q
what Acts in the 1930s supported America’s policy of “isolationism”?
A
- the Neutrality Act of 1935 banned loans to countries at war
- a 1937 law stopped sales of weapons to any countries involved in conflict
3
Q
when was FDR’s famous “Quarantine Speech”?
A
October 1937
4
Q
what was FDR’s “Quarantine Speech”?
A
- he said that peace-loving nations should stand up to aggressive nations
- he said that countries should break off relations with nations that are taking over other nations and treat them as if they were “in quarantine” - like a person with an infectious disease
5
Q
who was FDR referring to in his “Quarantine Speech”?
A
- it was clear that he was referring to Germany, Italy and Japan, which had been taking over other nations in Europe, Africa and the Far East
6
Q
when did WW2 break out?
A
1st September 1939
7
Q
what did America declare when war broke out in Europe in September 1939?
A
- America immediately declared support for Britain and France against Hitler’s Germany and its allies
- FDR feared that if Germany defeated Britain and France, then America may soon come under attack
- he was also concerned about Japan’s aggressiveness in the Far East, where America did much trade and controlled large areas of land
8
Q
how did America’s neutrality come to an end in 1941?
A
- FDR persuaded Congress to change the neutrality laws and allow the USA to help Britain and France against Germany
- However, America didn’t send soldiers to fight against the Nazis - instead the USA sold high-quality, American-made weapons to Britain and France
9
Q
what was the “Cash and Carry” plan?
A
- in November 1939, Britain and France began buying US weapons, warships and planes, known as the “Cash and Carry plan”
- this created valuable production jobs at a time when unemployment was rising
- however, in June 1940, Germany defeated France. Britain stood alone as Hitler’s armies began invading most of the major European countries.
- when the British government ran short of money, FDR gave it 50 warships
10
Q
what was “Lend Lease”?
A
- in March 1941, FDR agreed to a Lend Lease deal with Britain
- instead of selling, America would “lend” Britain up to $7000 million worth of weapons
- most people knew that America would never get, or want them back
- the US struck a similar deal with Russia when Germany attacked it in June 1941
11
Q
how did Americans react to America’s support of Britain’s war with Germany?
A
- US organisations such as the Mothers’ Crusade and the America First Committee held big anti-war demonstrations because they feared America might get dragged into a European war
- but others soon began to see the benefits of the end to isolationism. As America began to rearm in case it was forced to enter the war, millions found jobs building fighter planes, battleships and tanks
- unemployed men became trainee soldiers, sailors and pilots
12
Q
what happened when FDR was voted in as president for the third time in 1940?
A
- unemployment was starting to drop
- in 1941, there were just 5.5 million unemployed compared to over 10 million just four years before
- to some, it seemed as if the Second World War, and not FDR’s New Deal, was now beginning to get Americans back to work
13
Q
what was the relationship between Japan and the USA in the 1930s?
A
- During the 1930s, Japan began to invade many of the surrounding countries including China
- Japan, a relatively small country with a large population, wanted the food and raw materials that these nations produced
- in protest at Japan’s aggression, FDR vowed not to sell any oil or steel to Japan
- this angered the Japanese; their industries used millions of tons of US steel and oil every year
14
Q
why did Japan choose to attack pearl harbour?
A
- Japan military leaders planned a secret attack on US ships at a naval base in the Hawaiian Islands called the Pearl Habor
- the Japanese thought that it would take the Americans a year to replace the destroyed ships
-during this time, Japan would have created a Southeast Asian empire that the US would not be able to take back
15
Q
what happened during the attack on Pearl Harbor?
A
- at 7:55 am on Sunday 7th December 1941, 183 Japanese bomber planes attacked Pearl Habor
- in just under 2 hours, 21 US warships were sunk or damaged, 177 US planes were destroyed and over 2000 men were killed
- the Japanese lost just 29 planes
- the next day, America and Britain declared war on Japan. Three days later, Germany and Italy, Japan’s official allies, declared war on America
