Progression of US Involvement in WWII

By joeham

  • Formation of the Axis Powers

    Formation of the Axis Powers
    The Fascist countries, Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact making them the Axis Powers. It was aimed at keeping the United States out of war.

  • Presidential Election

    Presidential Election
    Roosevelt broke the tradition of a two-term presidency, begun by George Washington. The Republican candidate was Wendell Willkie. Both candidates promised to keep the nation out of war but the voters reelected Roosevelt with nearly 55 percent of the votes cast.

  • Lend-Lease Act

    Lend-Lease Act
    Britain had no more cash to spend in the arsenal of democracy. Roosevelt suggested a new plan that he called the lend-lease policy. Under his plan, the president would lend or lease arms and other supplies to any country whose defense was vital to the US.

  • The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend

    The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend
    Hitler broke the agreement he had made in 1939 with Stalin not to go to war and invaded the Soviet Union. Roosevelt began sending lend-lease supplies to the Soviet Union. Some Americans apposed providing aid to Stalin.

  • Signing of the Atlantic Charter

    Signing of the Atlantic Charter
    A meeting took place between Winston Churchhill and FDR on the USS Augusta, to discuss the war in Europe and possible US commitment. The meeting resulted in the signing of the Atlantic Charter, a joint declaration of war aims (collective security, disarmament, self-determination, economic cooperation, and freedom of the seas).

  • Wolf Pack Attacks

    Wolf Pack Attacks
    To prevent delivery of lend-lease shipments, Hitler deployed hundreds of German submarines(U-boats) to attack supply ships. They became known as German wolf packs. They were successful in sinking 350,000 tons of shipment in a single month. In Sept. 1941, Roosevelt granted the navy permission for US warships to attack German U-boats in self-defense.

  • Attack on Pearl Harbor

    Attack on Pearl Harbor
    Prime minister of Japan, Hideki Tojo ordered the Japanese navy to prepare for an attack on the US. The US military broke secret communication codes and learned that they were preparing for a strike. Peace talks when on for awhile then the Japanese finally attacked. 180 Japanese warplanes attacked the largest US naval base, Pearl Harbor. In less than 2 hours, 2,403 Americans were dead.