Interwar Foreign Policy 30s-40s Flashcards
give 5 main reasons the US entered WW2
-rapid nazi occupation of Europe
-Japan’s actions against China
-Conflict in the Atlantic
-Sympathy towards the British
-Lend Lease 1941
explain how the rapid nazi occupation of Europe encouraged the US to enter WW2 (2)
-June 1940 Nazis controlled Norway Denmark, Holland Belgium and France
-nazi control of Europe threatened American trade and defence
how did the US react to growing nazi control of europe(2)
-passed Selective Serving Training Act to conscript men aged 21-36
-committee set up to research new weapons
explain why Japan’s actions against China caused the US to enter WW2/ help China
-1931 Japan broke League of Nations agreement by invading Manchuria
-1937 Japan took advantage of China’s Civil War
why was the US reluctant to help China initially
-did not want to go into War with Far East especially after Panay Incident
how did the US help China
-loaned $25million then $250mil to China
-closed Panama Canal to Japan and banned oil exports in 1940 so Japan could only fight for another 18 months
explain why conflict in the Atlantic caused the US to enter ww2 (4)
-1941 west Atlantic =neutral zone
-German U boats fired at US ships, US retaliated doing the same
-1941 US ship sunk so neutrality acts repealed to let merchants arm themselves
-affected trade and direct attacks
explain why sympathy towards the British caused the US to enter ww2(2)
-US clearly supportive of Britain
-journalists reported on British battles and suffering
how did the US try to help the British (2)
-Congress passed acts to help brits by US goods
-FDR traded 50 ww1 destroyers for naval bases in colonies
explain how lend lease 1941 caused the US to enter ww2
-despite US public not wanting involvement this war was clearly different
-Lend Lease Act did not extend to Britain initially
what was the Lend Lease Act and how did it extend
-let US lease arms to nations whose defence was necessary for America’s defence
-extended to Britain
what was the predominant trigger that caused the US to enter ww2
Pearl Harbour 1941
explain the events of Pearl Harbour
-1941 Japan attacked USA without warning
-over 2,000 died and aircrafts/ vessels destroyed
why did Japan attack Pearl Harbour?
-to stop their military aid to China after the $25/250 mil loans and ban on Canal and oil exports
give 4 reasons why the US would have joined the war even if Pearl harbour never happened
-if Britain failed the US was likely the last line of defence
-Selective Service and Training Act conscripted to prepare for war
-FDR’s quarantine speech knew it was necessary
-needed to protect trade/interests
give 2 reasons why the US would not have joined the war of Pearl Harbour never occurred
-likely would have traded for a lot longer
-lack of public support without personal cause
what was D Day and when was it
-July 1944
-Allies invaded Normandy, start of Germany being pushed back
how did the US contribute to D Day (3)
-in 2 weeks 1 million men landed in Normandy
-provided men, ships and weapons
-in charge of D Day
give 2 other examples of the US pushing back invading countries
-pushed Germany out of North Africa and Italy
-naval strength pushed back Japanese pacific island hopping
give 3 other examples of the significant US involvement in the War
-invention of radar/sonar reduced effectiveness of German U Boats
-large economic force
-bombed Dresden 1 month before war was over
what bomb did the US invent and when and where was it set off
-first atomic bomb
-Hiroshima and Nagasaki Aug 1945
how many were estimated dead with Hiroshima
-237,000 directly/indirectly killed by effects
how many were estimated dead by Nagasaki
-80,000
who developed the bombs and how much was spent
Manhattan project spent $2 billion
how many days between Hiroshima and Nagasaki
3 days
give 4 arguments why the atomic bomb was necessary
-only way to end japan’s brutality/ never give up attitude
-message to USSR
-land invasion would be costlier and longer
-retaliation for PH
give 4 arguments why the atomic bomb was unnecessary
-too many civilian casualties
-two was excessive
-war crime
-could have fire bombed infrastructure instead
how many were killed in ww2 and how many refugees were there
30 million dead
20 million refugees
what was the immediate aftermath of WW2 like
-USA joined United Nations
-had to redraw borders
-Europe bankrupt and starving
economically how was the US after ww2 and give a stat
-economy grew unlike after ww1
-agricultural land value inc by $2 billion
give 2 percentages about the US’ production after ww2
-50% world steel and 60% of world oil prod by US
how many tanks and aeroplanes prod in ww2
-86,500 tanks
-300,000 aeroplanes
how many US men and women served in ww2
-15 million
