World War II Detailed Notes

Post-World War I America

• The U.S. declined to join the League of Nations.

• Pursued an independent foreign policy to expand influence without lasting commitments.

• Signed the Five-Power Pact (1922) to limit the naval arms race.

• Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) outlawed war as national policy, but lacked enforcement.

Economic Policies

• Aimed to ensure overseas trade without obstacles.

• Dawes Plan (1924): U.S. banks loaned to Germany to pay reparations, creating an economic loop that eventually collapsed in 1931 during the Great Depression.

• Increased American imperial investments in Latin America faced repayment difficulties, prompting nationalist responses.

Great Depression and Foreign Relations

• Hoover's refusal to cancel European war debts led to defaults.

• Rise of authoritarian regimes: Mussolini (Italy), Hitler (Germany).

• Japan invaded Manchuria (1931) amid an economic crisis, escalating military aggression in Asia.

Roosevelt's Administration

• Took office in 1933, focused on ending the Great Depression and responding to global militancy.

• Shifted from Hoover's policies, the war debt repayment was repudiated through international agreements.

• Promoted Good Neighbor Policy in Latin America: non-intervention in internal affairs.

U.S. Isolationism and Neutrality

• Neutrality Act of 1935 established an arms embargo; a cash-and-carry policy for nonmilitary goods.

• American involvement was limited to humanitarian appeals in conflicts like the Spanish Civil War (1936).

• Roosevelt’s warning in 1937 called for the quarantine of aggressor nations, which met with public backlash.

Involvement in WWII Begins

• Munich Agreement (1938) policy of appeasement failed; Hitler's aggression continued unabated.

• Following the invasion of Poland (1939), the U.S. remained officially neutral but favored the Allies.

• Lend-Lease Act (1941) allowed the U.S. to supply arms to Allies, marking a shift towards involvement.

Pearl Harbor Attack

• On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, leading the U.S. to declare war the next day.

• War unified American sentiment against fascism; significant escalation in military mobilization.

European Theater

• U.S. strategy began under General MacArthur (Pacific) and Allied forces (Europe).

• Key operations included the North African campaign, invasion of Italy, and D-Day (June 6, 1944).

• Allied bombing campaigns targeted German cities, contributing to war efforts.

Pacific Theater

• Major battles like Midway and Okinawa marked key confrontations.

• The development of atomic weapons through the Manhattan Project aimed to end conflict quickly.

• First successful test (July 16, 1945) led to eventual bombings of Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9).

Social Changes & Impact

• War reshaped American society significantly; women entered the workforce in large numbers (e.g., Rosie the Riveter).

• Racial dynamics shifted with increased activism among minorities (e.g., African Americans, Japanese Americans).

• Japanese internment during the war, contrasting with enhanced status for Chinese Americans.

Post-War Landscape

• The U.S. emerged as a global superpower, significant military and economic growth.

• Civilian involvement and morale were heavily influenced by the war effort, leading to a redefinition of gender roles and racial dynamics.

• The horrors of the Holocaust highlighted moral failures; pressure to address atrocities post-war grew.

Casualties & Aftermath

• WWII resulted in an unprecedented loss of life; approximately 14 million combatants and 50 million civilians were killed.

• America experienced over 300,000 military deaths, favorable economic transformation amidst wartime production efforts.

• The post-war nuclear arms race emerged as a critical concern for world peace.