Chapter 33: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Shadow of War (1933-1941)

London Economic Conference

International meeting of 66 nations

• address global economic crisis during Great Depression → try to stabilize currencies and exchange rates

  • FDR withdrew US support → inability of world power cooperation

Good Neighbor Policy

Shift U.S. relations w/ Latin America

• non-intervention / cooperation > military force in Latin America

  • response to rising tensions → create hemispheric solidarity

  • departure from Monroe Doctrine and Roosevelt Corollary

Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act

FDR attempt to boost international trade → allow president negotiate tariff reductions w/o direct congressional approval

• move U.S. away from isolationism → open up trade and relations

Neutrality Acts (1935, 1936, 1937)

Laws to prevent U.S. involvement in foreign conflict

• restrict trade + financial interaction → isolationism

  • hindered Britain and France, indirectly helped Germany

Quarantine Speech

Speech by FDR

• response to aggression of Germany, Italy, and Japan

  • “quarantine” these nations → economic sanctions → neutrality dying

  • strong criticism (isolationists)

Neutrality Act of 1939 (Cash and Carry Policy)

Revision of past Neutrality Acts

• U.S. can sell arms to warring nations as long as they

  • pay in cash + transport w/ their own ships → isolationism dying

    • aided the Allies!

War Refugee Board

Board by FDR to assist Jews + Nazi victims

• activist response to Holocaust → evacuations + relief (saved ~200,000 lives)

  • criticized for being slow process

Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies (CDAAA)

Pro-interventionist group advocating for U.S. support of Britain + Allies

• rally public opinion of indirectly helping Allies → promote Lend-Lease Act

  • provide crucial supplies to Britain + Soviet Union

America First Committee (AFC)

Isolationist organization opposing U.S. involvement in WWII

• avoid European conflict + focus on national defense

  • represented split feelings on WWII (before Pearl Harbor)

Lend-Lease Act

Act allowed U.S. to provide military aid to Allies w/o immediate payment (replace cash and carry)

• end of true U.S. neutrality → arsenal of democracy (weapons, food, supplies)

  • Germany saw this as unofficial declaration of war

Eight-Point Atlantic Charter

Joint declaration between U.S. and Britain (FDR + Winston)

• outline vision for post-war world

  • self-determination, free trade, disarmament, reject territorial expansion (democracy > conquest)

    • Britain somewhat reluctant due to India’s existence

• shaped international diplomacy significantly in world order

Pearl Harbor

December 7, 1941 → Japanese surprise attack on U.S. naval base

• purpose is to cripple U.S. Pacific Fleet → allow Japan to expand in the Pacific

  • over 2,400 Americans killed

• one of the most important reasons for U.S. joining WWII

  • led to internment of Japanese-Americans in Order 9066