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The Nye Committee ruling
The senate created a committee in 1934 to investigate the sale of munitions in WWI. Senator Gerald P. Nye held hearings to investigate these allegations. -
Te Neutrality Acts
In 1935, Congress passed 3 Neutrality Acts. They made it illegal for Americans to sell or transport arms and other war materials to other nations. You could not receive exports that were not paid with cash & carried in their own (USA) ships. -
Start of WWII
World War II began on September 1st, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland. Great Britain and France responded by declaring war on Germany on September 3rd. -
Lend-Lease Act
In December of 1940, Great Britain ran out of funds to fight the war, so Roosevelt proposed the Lend-Lease Act. This Act allowed the United States to lend or lease arms to any country considered vital to our defense. -
Destroyers for Bases
The Destroyers for Bases deal was an agreement between the United States and Great Britain on September 2, 1940. US Navy destroyers were transferred to the Royal Navy in exchange for land rights on British land and possessions. -
Hemispheric Defense Zone
Since the United States was neutral at this time, Roosevelt could not order any protection for British cargo ships. He developed a Hemispheric Defense Zone, meaning the entire western half of the Atlantic could be protected by the US navy. This included Great Britain. -
The Atlantic Charter
In August of 1941, Roosevelt and Churchill developed the Atlantic Charter. This was a set of goals for Great Britain and America after the end of WWII. -
Pearl Harbor Attack
Japan attacked the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. This was a surprise strike attack that made the US enter WWII.