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FDR declares Good Neigbhor Policy
In FDR's innagural address he stated that the U.S. was going to implement the policy of being a good neighbor to other countries and that "No country has the right to intervene in the internal or external affairs of another". He later stated that the U.S. is opposed to all military intervention. The Good Neighbor Policy improved Latin American U.S. relations greatly, leading Latin America to be very supportive of American foreign policy. -
FDR declines London Economic Conferene
FDR decided to pull his support for the London Economic Conference because he feared it would bind the U.S. to economic agreements that would harm the mainland U.S. -
US recognizes the Soviet Union
FDR decided to recognize the Soviet Union in the hopes that the Soviet Union would curb Japanese expansionism in the East and would also benefit the U.S. economic interests. This however angered the Catholics in the U.S. due to the U.S.S.R.'s anti religion stand point. -
Tydings-McDuffie Act
This allowed for the freedom of the Philippines after a twelve year period of American guidance. This was not entirely for the benefit of the Philippines but for freeing America from the burden of having to care for such a far away land. The Japanese were pleased that the U.S. was abandoning their Asian holdings as they felt it meant that they didn't have to fear U.S. intervention. The Philippines became independant on 4 July 1946. -
Reciprocal Trade Agreements
The idea of Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act allowed for the reduction of tariffs with countries if the other countried lowered their tariffs as well. This boosted U.S. trade and improved relations economically and politically with Latin America. -
US Neutrality Act of 1935
This act prohibited sale of military supplies to any warring nation. This was in line with the popular isolationist sentiment in the U.S.
The act was invoked by president FDR when Ethiopia was invaded by Italy. -
Mussolini Invades Ethiopia
The invasino of Ethiopia by Italy, which ended in the occupation of Ethiopa, proved to be a test of the League of Nations. The invasion showed the weakness of the League of Nations. While Italy was condemned for its acitons, no real retalitory action was ever taken against it. While sanctions were levied against Italy they wer quickly repealed. The Italy occupation of Italy was eventually recognized by most countries including Britain and France. The U.S. was one of the few that didn't. -
US Nuetrality Act of 1936
This act renewed the restrictions of the Neutrality Act of 1936 but also forbade lending money or giving credit to those involved in war. This act did not prohibit trade with countries in civil war and U.S. companies sold fascist General Francisco Franco many goods and aiding him in winning the Spanish Civil War. -
Spanish Civil War
A group of fascist nationalists backed by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy fought against the Republican government for control of the country. The fascists suceeded and ended the war on 1 April 1939. Due to the new government Spain remained largely uninvolved in World War II except for supplies sent to the Axis. The dictator Francisco Franco remained in power untiil 1975 when he died and Spain transitioned to democracy. -
US Neutrality Act of 1937
This act prohibited the sale of arms and war goods to all nations involved in war including civil wars. It did however allow nations to pay in cash for war goods and transport themselves through the "cash and carry" method. This act was not invoked when Japan invaded China so the U.S. was able to support China against Japan. In October of 1937 FDR gave his quarantine speech and called for an embargo of aircraft to Japan. -
Japan Invades China
The Japanese invade Beijing and quickly falls. Japanese is initially unsure of whether or not to continue invasion but decides on full scaler war against China. After U.S. enters war China receives substantial support. -
Panay Incident
The USS Panay was bombed by Japanese forces in China. The Japanese sunk the Panay, but quickly apologized and payed reparations. The quick apolgoy and reparations prevented any retaliation by the U.S. but turned public opinion against the Japanese. -
Hitler Seizes Austria
Hitler occupied Austria without bloodshed. This was supported by some Austrians while others fled. Internationally Western democracies hoped that this would be his only power grab and let Hitler have Austria. -
Munich Conference
This conference lead to the Munich Agreement which allowed for the German annexation of German speaking parts of Czechoslovakia. This was an attempt at appeasing Germany and preventing future annexations. -
Hitler Seizes all of Chzechoslovakia
It was clear that the attempts to appease Germany were not succesful when Germany decided to annex the rest of Chzechoslovakia. On 16 March 1939 Germany moved its armed forces into the rest of Chzechoslovakia. Western democracies while deeply troubled by this turn of events sought to resolve this peacefully. -
Nazi-Soviet Pact
The signing of the Nazi-Soviet Pact forshadowed the beginning of World War II. It stated that the U.S.S.R. and Germany would not go to war with each other or aid their enemies. It also provided for the division of conquered lands in the future. -
World War II begins with Hitlers Invasion of Poland
With Hitler sure that the Soviets were of no threat he promptly invaded Poland. The treaties between France, Britain and Poland quickly lead to France and Britain declaring war on Germany. While the U.S. strongly disaproved and public opinion was anti-Nazi the U.S. remained neutral. -
US Neutrality Act of 1939
The "cash and carry" policy was renewed. This policy heavily favored the Allies as they controlled the Atlantic. The U.S. continued to say that it was neutral in the war despite supplying only the Allies in the war. This issue was debated as some people in the U.S. wanted to remain as nuetral as possible. -
Fall of France
The unexpected Fall of France pushed the U.S. into preparing for war. It prepared a two Ocean Navy to fight Japan as well as the Western Axis. The U.S. also passed a conscription law as well. The colonies of defeated European nations in the Americas were to be defended by twenty one American countries including the U.S. through the Monroe doctrine. -
Battle of Britain
Lasting from July to October this battle was a fight for the very survival of Britain. The Royal Air Force's defence of Britain led to the postponement of Hitler's plans for invasion. Debate on whether or not to aid the Allies became very intense during this period. -
Destroyer deal with Britain
The U.S. exchanged 50 destroyers with Britain in exchange for eight military bases around the world. This deal was done without congressional approval. U.S. became determined to provide Britain with "all aid short of war". -
US Invokes first peacetime draft
The first peacetime draft was enacted in response to German agression in Europe. This was in order to prepare for a future war that might occur. It was largely uneventful as people willingly signed up for conscription. -
Lend-Lease Act
The full title of the bill was "An Act to Further Promote the Defense of the United States". This provided aid to the allies by lending or leasing the supplies for free to the Allies. In total the U.S. aid came to around $Billion to the Allies by the end of the war. This bill ended all pretense of U.S. neutrality. This was hotly debated by many people in the U.S. This had the positive benefit of preparing U.S. factories for war. -
Hitler Attacks the Soviet Union
Hitler invades the Soviet Union, to take their resources and land. He believes that the U.S.S.R. will quickly fall leaving him free to take out Britain easily with his full focus. FDR supplies the U.S.S.R. with Lend-Lease aid because he believes that the U.S.S.R.'s survival is vital to the Allies survival. -
Fair Employment Practices Commission established
In response to the threat that black workers would march on Washington in order to secure equal oppurtunity, FDR forbade discrimination and created the FEPC to prevent discrimination in defense industries. -
Atlantic Charter
The FDR, Stalin and Churhcill secretley met off the coast of Newfoundland in order to discuss the problems facing their countries. The outcome of one of these meetings was the Atlantic Charter. The Atlantic Charter allowed for the Self Determination of countries and provided for a future Leauge of Nations( The UN). -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
On December 7 1941, Pearl Harbor of Hawaii was attacked by the Japanese. While many ships were destroyed the valuable aircraft carriers were unharmed. The attack was due to the U.S.'s insistence that Japan cease the war on China or the U.S. would continue its trade embargo. This embargo inclueded the embargo of the much needed oil for Japan. -
US declares war on Japan
The U.S. declares war on Japan in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor. -
Germany declares war on US
Before debate could occur Italy and Germany declared war on the U.S. in response to the U.S.'s declaraton of war. -
Japanese Americans Interned
FDR authorized the internment of Japanese Americans because of the ,largely ungrounded, fear that Japanese Americans would sabatoge the U.S. in the name of Japan. -
Battle of Coral Sea
Both the U.S. and Japan sufferd heavy losses during this battle. It was a strategic victory for the U.S. as they heavily damaged two of Japan's aircraft carriers preventing them from fighting in the Battle of Midway. -
Japan Conquers the Philippines
At the same time as Pearl Harbor Japan launched attacks on many far eastern islands including, Wake, Gaum and the Phillipines. The Phillipines was able to slow Japan for nearly five months but ultimatley fell. -
Battle of Midway
Considered a turning point in for the Allies in the Pacific and one of the greatest military victories in all of history, the U.S. won a devestating victory against Japan destroying four aircraft carriers. Japan proved unable to fully recover and this marked a turning point for the U.S. -
US invades North Africa
A British-American invasion of North Africa. It opened a second front for the Germans and pushed the Axis out of Africa. It also improved the U.S. naval control of the Mediterranean Sea, and set a staging groudn for the invasion of Southern Europe. -
Casablanca Conference
FDR, Churchill, and General Charles de Gaulle of the Free French Forces discussed the plans for the Allies in the future. In the Casablanca Decleration it was decided that the Allies would only accept unconditional surrender. -
Japanese driven from Guadalcanal
After Midway the U.S. was able to seize Guadalcanal. Despite heavy resistance they were eventually able to drive Japan from Guadalcanal and secure the island. -
Allies Invade Italy
The Allies invade Italy. This eventually leads to the unconditional surrender of Italy to the Allies on 8 September 1943. -
Teheran Conference
A conference lasting until 1 December 1943 in Tehran, Iran, it was decided by the leaders of the U.S., Russia and Britain to open two new fronts on Germany. One from the East and one from the West. -
D-Day Invasion of France
The largest sea invasion in human history, Normandy France was chosen as a landing for the Allies because of it being relatively undefended. This invasion led to the liberation of Paris on 25 August 1944. -
Battle of Marianas
The US invasion of the Marianas islands faced stiff resistance from the Japanese but succeedeed. These islands were a staging point for US bombers. The islands are close enough to Japan the American bombers could make round flights to mainland Japan and back without refueling. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Allies quickly closing in on Germany, Hitler hurled all of his might at the thinly held Allied Ardennes Forest. This attack created a "bulge" in the Allied lines as the Allies were quickly driven back. This was halted after ten days however and Hitler's defeat forshadowed the coming defeat of Germany. -
Korematsu v. US
In this case the constitutionality of Japanese internment in the US was upheld. In 1988 the US payed reparations to Japanese citizens who were interned. The ruling has not been overturned but it was erased as a precedent in 2011. -
Iwo Jima and Okinawa
After difficult fighting both Iwo Jima and Okinawa were captured from the Japanese. Both were used as aircraft bases. -
Roosevelt dies; Truman assumes presidency
President Roosevelt dies after twelve years in office. Harry S. Truman assumes office. -
Germany Surrenders
Germany surrenders unconditionally shortly as the Allies invade Berlin shortly after Hitler's suicide. -
Potsdam Conference
American, British and Russian leaders met in Potsdam Germany.
Harry S. Truman issued a warning to Japan surrender or face "prompt and utter destruction". -
Attomic bombs dropped on Japan
With Japan not responding to Truman's threat the atomic bomb "Little Boy" was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6. Three days later "Fat Man" was dropped on Nagasaki. -
Japan Surrenders
Japan surrended to the Allies aboard the USS Missouri. The only condition to the surrender was that emperor Hiroshito be allowed to remain emperor. This was accepted and World War II was over.