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The Axis Threat
Americans were jolted by the news that Germany, Italy, and Japan had signed a mutual defense treaty, the Tripartite Pact. The Tripartite Pact was aimed to keep United States out of war. United statses declared war on anyone of the axis powers, it would face its worst military nightmare a two-ocean war, with fighting in both Atlantic and the Pacific. -
Building U.S Defenses
Roosevelt asked Congress to increase spending for naitonal defense.
Congress also passed the nation's first peactime military draft-the selective training and service act. -
Presidental Election
By 1940 after Roosevelts election, Roosevelt tried to help by suggesting a new plan that he called a lend-lease policy. Under this plan, the president would lend or lease arms and other supplies to "any country whose defense was vital to the United States." -
March 1941, Lend-Lease Act
Isoationissts argued bitterly against the plan, but most americans favored it, and congress passed the Lend-Lease Act. Roosevelt lend or loaned weapons to countries vital to United States. -
June 1941, Supporting Stalin
Britain was not the only nstion to receive lend-lease aid. Acting on the principle that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," Roosevelt began sending lend-lease supplies to the Soviet Union.
Germany invades Soviet Union. -
Signing of the Atlantic Charter
Individual surface attacks by individual U-boats gave way to what became known as the Wolf Pack attack. Signing of the Altantic Charter. -
Shoot-on-Sight Policy
President Roosevelt granted the navy permission for U.S. warships to attack German U-boats in self defense. "Shoot on Sight Policy", U.S.S. Greer -
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
- Hawaii, U.S.
- 180 Japanese dive bombers
- Suprise Attack
- Dec 7, 1941 - "A date that will live in infamy"
- Over 2,000 deaths; 1,000 injured
- Why? 1) Oil embargo 2) Eastern dominance Roosevelt recieved a decoded message that instructed Japan's peace enovy to reject all American peace proposals. Next day congress quickly approved Roosevelts request for a declaration of war against Japan. three days later Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. Attack on Pearl Harbor.
