-
The Axis Powers
Germany, Italy, and Japan officially sign the Tripartite Pact making them an official alliance. This was meant to keep the United States out of the war. If the U.S. attacks and they fight one part of the alliance then they have ti fight everyone in the alliance causing a two-front war. -
FDR's unpresidented third term
1940 Presidential election against republican Wendell Willkie. Roosevelt was easily elected because there was very little difference between the candadites so people went with what they were familiar with. FDR was elected partly because of his leadership that could be seen as a positive during war. -
The Lend-lease Plan
Britain had no more cash to spend in the arsenal of democracy. FDR tried to help by suggesting a new plan that he called a lende-lease policy. The plan stated that the president would lend or lease arms and other supplies to "any country whose defense was vital to the United States." Isolationists argued bitterly against the plan. -
Supporting Stalin
Hitler broke the agreement he made in 1939 with Stalin not to go to war and invaded the Soviet Union. FDR began sending lend-lease supplies to the Soviet Union. FDR was aiding the Soviet Union when Hitler was trying to invade and take over. -
Signing of the Atlantic Charter
FDR and Winston Churchill met aboard the ship the USS Augusta to discuss the outcome of the war. There they signed the Atlantic Charter which was a declaration of war aims and goals including collective security, disarmament, self-determination, economic cooperation, and freedom of the seas. We are supporting the Allies over the Axis Powers. -
German Wolf Packs
To prevent delivery of lend-lease shipments, Hitler deployed hundreds of German submarinesto attack supply ships. Wolf Packs were successful in sinking as much as 350,000 tons of shipments in a single month. FDR granted the navy permission for U.S. warships to attack German U-boats in self-defense. -
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
A Japanese dive-bomber swooped low over Pearl Harbor--the largest U.S. naval base in the Pacific. In less than two hours, the Japanese had killed 2,403 Americans and wounded 1,178 more. The surprise raid had sunk or damaged 21 ships, including 8 battleships--nearly the whole u.s. pacific fleet. The next day FDR addressed Congress.
