Period 7 ( World Wars)

US: Failure to join League of Nations

• formed at Paris Peace Conf.

• no international organization to prevent fighting - league fell apart

spread of totalitarianism

after WW1

• Axis Powers:

  • Hitler, Mussolini, Emperor Hirohito, France (Spain - civil war, less fighting)

Hitler

• blames Treaty of Versailles for economic depression

  • lost territory, military restrictions, had to pay reparations

Start of War

• GB and FR declare war on Germany after invasion of Poland (1939)

US debate over war

• tension: isolationism vs econ growth (war = increased production) vs democratic values

Phases of US involvement

Neutrality Acts (1935-37), Cash and Carry (1939), Lend Lease Act (1941), Atlantic Charter (1941)

Neutrality Acts

• 1935-1937

  • Us isolated, but takes some action

Cash and Carry

• 1939

• EU countries can buy weapons in cash (no loans) and transport on ships; helps US econ. Eu democracies

Lend Lease Act

• 1941

• send weapons to nations “vital to defense of US” (returned after war) if no $ to pay

Atlantic Charter

1941

• Churchill and FDR set out common principles and war goals (pre-war)

• self-determination, free trade, disarmament of Axis powers

Japan Embargo

• US places embargo on JP over aggression to China and islands in 1941

Pearl Harbor

• 12/7/41: Japan bombs naval bases @ Pearl Harbor (HI)

• first attack on US soil

• unites US in a way that FDR couldn’t (politically, ideologically, for revenge)

• US declares war on JP, Italy and Ge declare war on US (

  • things you can only do if you’re officially @ war (change for US)

US Econ during WW2

• govt spending: 321 billion (x2 spending in last 150 years)

  • paid for by war bonds (civilians loan $ to government), incr. income tax

Office of Price Administration

control wartime inflation by setting price ceiling (froze rent, rationed meat and gas)

War Production Board

managed war industries, rationed essential materials

Total war

• unrestricted in terms of:

  • weapons

  • territory

  • combatants

  • objectives

  • laws of war disregarded (civilians attacked)

D-Day

• invasion of Occupied France (Allied Naval, Air, and Land assault)

• created 2nd front for Germany (fight on both sides)

Pacific key events

• island hopping to advance closer to JP (bypass heavy JP positions and capture islands)

• Iwo Jima: costliest battle in US history (Marines)

• Firebombing killed > 100k civilians in Tokyo (densely populated areas - wood, break morale)

• 2 atomic boms - Hiroshima, Nagasaki (8/6 and 8/9) → Japan’s surrender