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The United States government and FDR declare neutrality
The United States government and FDR declared neutrality in the European conflict. Canada had declared war on Germany; President Roosevelt issued a neutrality proclamation but also issued an executive order declaring the right of the U.S. to inspect any vessel -
Select Service Act
The U.S. congress passes the Selective Service Act. This act calls for the first peacetime draft in American History. In order to serve men had to be five feet tall, weigh 105 pounds, and they had to have correctable vision, and have at least half their teeth. -
Polish Government in exile
Created recognition of the Polish government in exile. He said, “Poland is now the victim of force used as an instrument of national policy. Its territory has been taken over and its government has had to seek refuge abroad. Mere seizure of territory, however, does not extinguish the legal existence of a government.” -
Modernization of the United States Navy
President Franklin Roosevelt signs a $1.3 billion dollar commitment to modernize the United States Navy fleet in preparation for possible war. -
First all-black unit of the U.S. AirCorps
The First all-black unit of the U.S. Air Corps — The 99th Pursuit Squadron — is activated. They became known as the Tuskegee Airmen -
Pearl Harbor
At 7:53AM, a surprise attack by the Japanese Navy and the first wave begins. This force is made up of 50 medium bombers, 43 A6M Zero fighters and 40 Kate torpedo bombers. Targets are the battleships hunkered down in the harbor and airfields used by the USAAF. -
The U.S declares war on Japan
The U.S. is getting involved in the matters of War -
Manila and U.S. Naval base at Cavite captured by the Japanese.
The Japanese are taking over U.S. bases and gaining tremendous advantage in the war -
Japan attacks Bataan
This event had represented the most intense phase of Imperial Japan's invasion of the Philippines during World War II -
The U.S. is gaining territory by invading places occupied by their enemies.
The first U.S. amphibious landing of the Pacific War occurs as 1st Marine Division invades Tulagi and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. -
Battle of Bloody Ridge on Guadalcanal.
Bloody Ridge began as an attempt by UN forces to seize a ridge of hills which they believed were being used as observation posts to call in artillery fire on a UN supply road. -
American troops complete the liberation of Guam.
The Second Battle of Guam was the American recapture of the Japanese-held island of Guam, a U.S. territory in the Mariana Islands captured by the Japanese from the U.S. in the 1941 First Battle of Guam during the Pacific campaign of World War II.
