FDR and World War II Flashcards
US Entry into WWII
1930s Aggression and Neutrality Acts:
German and Japanese aggression in the 1930s presented war and peace dilemmas for the U.S.
Congress passed neutrality acts banning arms sales and loans to belligerent nations
President Roosevelt endorsed a neutral stance to avoid entanglement in European and Asian crises
Appeasement and Nazi Expansion:
Europe, particularly France and Britain, refrained from challenging Germany’s violations of the Versailles treaty through rearmament and remilitarization
British and French adopted appeasement, recognizing German sovereignty over the Sudetenland in 1938
Allied appeasement failed to deter Nazi expansion, leading to the occupation of Czechoslovakia and the start of World War II in Europe
U.S. Move Toward Intervention:
Roosevelt’s interventionist posture amid Hitler’s aggressions
Repeal of arms embargo in 1939, trade of destroyers for bases in 1940, and Lend-Lease supplies to Britain in 1941
Roosevelt’s third term election with the promise not to send American boys to foreign wars
U.S. Entry into World War II:
U.S. naval convoys escorting cargo ships to Iceland by September 1941
Japanese expansion into China viewed as a threat to world order, leading to protests but efforts to avoid war
U.S. embargo on shipments of scrap iron and steel to Japan and freezing Japanese assets in response to Japanese aggression in French Indochina
Surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, prompting U.S. declaration of war on Japan on December 8 and Germany’s declaration of war on the U.S. on December 11
Debates and Questions:
Historians’ debates on the significance of the threat posed by German, Italian, and Japanese militarism to the U.S.
Disagreements over President Roosevelt’s handling of the crisis and the timing of U.S. intervention
Exploration of moral consequences of policy options given Hitler’s racism and Axis disregard for human rights
Relevance of questions to the U.S.’s contemporary position as a world leader traced back to the late 1930s and early 1940s
Planning the Peace: WWII
Formation of the Grand Alliance:
U.S., Great Britain, and the Soviet Union formed the Grand Alliance after American entry into World War II
Allied leaders Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin shaped military strategy and postwar plans through extensive correspondence and summit meetings
Transformation of the International System:
War decisions and outcomes transformed the international system
Power shifted, economies were battered, decolonization eroded empires, political instability emerged, new world organizations were established, and the atomic bomb altered the global landscape
Emergence of the Cold War:
Grand Alliance splintered after defeating the Axis, leading to the Cold War
Legacy of distrust and opposing ideologies persisted among the Allies
Divergent Allied Goals:
Britain sought to salvage its empire and direct European affairs
The Soviet Union aimed for the Baltic states and friendly communist governments in Eastern Europe
The United States anticipated new influence, especially in the Pacific, sought capitalist expansion, and considered itself the leading postwar power
Allied Disagreements and Debates:
Disagreements over war strategy, Lend-Lease program, and suspicions of separate peace arrangements
Political positioning in liberated countries and debates over the colonial question
Creation of the United Nations, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund with subsequent competition for influence
Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy:
Roosevelt’s foreign policy at the center of Grand Alliance discussions
Favorable views emphasize his grasp of political realities, alliance management, progressive anticolonialism, and skill in global war conduct
Criticisms include military decisions without considering long-term political impact, responsibility for Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe, and shortcomings in summit conferences
Controversial Aspects of Roosevelt’s Leadership:
Criticisms for not using American power to counter Stalin’s aggression
Challenges to Roosevelt’s spheres-of-influence approach, accused of trampling on weaker nations
Allegations of failure to adequately prepare the American people for their postwar global role
Claims of deception and ignoring advisers, prompting questions about “What if he had lived?”
