Roosevelt Era

Portsmouth Treaty (1905)

Russia and Japan sign the Portsmouth Treaty, ending the Russo-Japanese War. Roosevelt mediated the conflict and won the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize. The treaty helped the US maintain a balance of power in the Far East and preserve an Open Door Policy in China.

Great Depression (1933)

The US had to focus inward. Unemployment was at 25% and global GDP dropped by 26.7%.

First Neutrality Acts (1935–1936)

Passed by Congress to keep the US out of war. Banned the US from selling weapons or giving funding to any nation in conflict. Helped enable Hitler and Japan to expand.

Second Neutrality Acts (1937)

Banned the US from trading with any country involved in conflict or at war.

Japan Invades China (May 1937)

Japan begins invading Northern China. The United States remains neutral.

WW2 Begins (September 1939)

Germany and the Soviet Union invade Poland. Britain and France declare war on Germany.

US Neutrality Announced (September 5, 1939)

Roosevelt announces the United States will remain neutral in the war.

Hitler Takes Holland, Belgium, and Northern France (May 1940)

Holland surrenders May 5th and Belgium falls May 28th. Hitler attacks from the west of Europe.

Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941)

Japan attacks the US military base. 2,404 people are killed and the base is severely damaged.

US Declares War (December 8, 1941)

Roosevelt declares war on Japan, ending US neutrality. Japan had also attacked Britain.

Hitler Declares War on the US (December 11, 1941)

Hitler declares war on the United States.

Roosevelt Dies (April 12, 1945)

Roosevelt dies after 12 years in office with WW2 still ongoing. Harry Truman becomes president.