Chapter 33 Reading #70: Storm-Cellar Isolationism

Chapter 33 Reading #70: Storm-Cellar Isolationism

  • Post-1918 Chaos in Europe

    • Following World War I, Europe faced tremendous chaos.

    • The Great Depression contributed significantly to the rise of totalitarian regimes.

    • The individual became insignificant compared to the state.

  • Rise of Totalitarian Dictators

    • Joseph Stalin (USSR)

    • Became dictator after purging suspected dissidents starting in 1936.

    • Executed hundreds of thousands and banished millions to Siberian labor camps.

    • Benito Mussolini (Italy)

    • Seized power in 1922, representing Italian Fascism.

    • Adolf Hitler (Germany)

    • Became a dictator in 1933, known for his aggressive propaganda and use of the “big lie.”

    • Exploited the Treaty of Versailles and unemployment to consolidate power.

    • Withdrawn from the League of Nations in 1933 and began illegal rearmament.

    • Formed the Rome-Berlin Axis with Mussolini in 1936.

  • Ultranationalism in the Far East

    • Imperial Japan, feeling resentment from the Treaty of Versailles, sought territorial expansion.

    • Terminated the Washington Naval Treaty in 1934.

    • Withdrew from the League of Nations in 1935.

    • Joined the Tripartite Pact in 1940 alongside Germany and Italy.

  • Mussolini's Aggressive Campaigns

    • Attacked Ethiopia in 1935, utilizing modern military technology against weak local resistance.

    • The League of Nations failed to stop him, demonstrating its ineffectiveness and sealing its fate.

  • Rise of American Isolationism

    • American public opinion shifted towards isolationism, viewing previous involvement in World War I as a mistake.

    • The Johnson Debt Default Act (1934) restricted loans to countries in default of debts to the U.S.

  • Legislated Neutrality

    • Congress passed the Neutrality Acts (1935, 1936, 1937) to prevent U.S. involvement in foreign wars.

    • Restricted Americans from sailing on belligerent ships, selling arms, or making loans to warring nations.

    • Represents a shift away from traditional policies of freedom of the seas.

    • Aimed to prevent conflicts like World War I.

  • Appeasement and Early Conflict

    • In 1937, Japanese militarists invaded China, marking a precursor to World War II.

    • President Roosevelt's Quarantine Speech called for action against aggressors but faced immense backlash from isolationists.

    • Increased anti-war sentiment after the attack on the American gunboat Panay by Japanese forces.

  • Hitler’s Expansionism

    • Flouted the Treaty of Versailles and expanded German military forces.

    • Occupied the demilitarized Rhineland and annexed Austria in 1938.

    • Demanded the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, meeting with appeasement from Britain and France.

    • Munich Conference resulted in the betrayal of Czechoslovakia under the belief it would satisfy Hitler's ambitions.

  • Breaking of Promises

    • In March 1939, Hitler annexed the rest of Czechoslovakia, disregarding previous assurances.

  • The Start of World War II

    • Stalin signed the Nazi-Soviet nonaggression pact, allowing Hitler to attack Poland without fear of Soviet intervention.

    • Poland was invaded on September 1, 1939, leading Britain and France to declare war on Germany.

  • America’s Response

    • Initially issued proclamations of neutrality; American public sentiment was against Nazi aggression.

    • Congress debated lifting arms embargo, resulting in the Neutrality Act of 1939, allowing cash-and-carry sales of arms to allies, favoring democracies over dictators.

  • The Fall of France

    • After Poland's fall, Hitler swiftly conquered Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium, culminating in the rapid defeat of France in June 1940.

    • The British evacuation at Dunkirk and Churchill’s leadership instigated a change in American perception.

    • Concern grew over Hitler potentially controlling the British fleet and industrial resources of Western Europe, prompting Roosevelt to push for increased military preparedness.

  • Draft and Military Preparedness

    • The peacetime draft was instituted, beginning in September 1940.

    • The United States pledged support in the Western Hemisphere through the Havana Conference.

  • Holocaust and Jewish Refugees

    • Anti-Semitism led to horrific violence against Jews under Hitler.

    • Kristallnacht (November 9, 1938) included rioting against Jewish establishments, resulting in deaths and displaced individuals.

    • Many Jews, including passengers of the St. Louis seeking refuge, were turned away by various nations including the U.S.

  • Aid to Allies

    • Following France's fall, Roosevelt's support for Britain intensified, leading to the transfer of destroyers in return for base rights.

  • Presidential Election of 1940

    • Roosevelt decided to run for a third term amid the crisis, facing Wendell Willkie.

    • Campaign focused on continuing national defense and non-involvement in war.

  • Lend-Lease Act

    • Established in March 1941 to support allied nations by leasing military equipment to them.

    • Total aid peaked at approximately $50 billion by war’s end.

    • Recognized as both an economic and unofficial declaration of war against Axis powers.

  • Events Leading to Pearl Harbor

    • The dramatic shift occurred with Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, leading to the U.S. declaring war.

    • The attack prompted massive public support for entry into the war, uniting the nation against the common foe.