America Enters World War II

1. What impact did the outbreak of war in Europe have on U.S. foreign and defense policy?   

     When the war broke out in Europe, President Roosevelt asked Congress to increase spending for national defense. Although the United States wanted to stay out of the war, Nazi victories changed U.S thinking, and there was a boost for defense spending. Congress passed the nation's first peacetime military draft, called the Selective Training and Service Act. Under this law, 16 million men were registered. Of these, 1 million were to be drafted only to serve in the Western Hemisphere.
 
2. Why did Roosevelt take one “unneutral” step after another to assist Britain and the Soviet Union in 1941?    

     Roosevelt took one "unneutral" step after another to assist Britain and the Soviet Union in 1941 because he wanted to lend support to any country whose defense was vital to the United States. By late 1940, Britain had no more cash to spend. Roosevelt responded by suggesting a new plan that he called the lend-lease policy. Roosevelt thought this was the only sensible thing to do to prevent U.S involvement in the war. Roosevelt also began sending lend-lease supplies to the Soviet Union when Hitler broke his agreement with Stalin and invaded the Soviet Union.

3. Why was the Atlantic Charter important?   

     The Atlantic Charter was so important because it gave the United States and Britain collective security, disarmament, self-determination, economic cooperation, and freedom of the seas. The Atlantic Charter became the basis of the "Declaration of the United Nations." The United Nations consisted of 26 nations who fought the Axis powers.
     

4. Why did the United States enter into an undeclared shooting war with Germany in fall 1941?   

     The United States entered into an undeclared shooting war with Germany in fall of 1941 because a German submarine fired on the U.S destroyer Greer in the Atlantic. Roosevelt quickly responded by ordering the navy to shoot the German submarines on sight. Weeks later, an American merchant ship was sunk and a U-boat torpedoed the U.S. destroyer Kearny. Days later, German U-boats sank another U.S. destroyer, killing more than 100 sailors. As the death toll continued to rise, the Senate repealed the ban against arming merchant ships and a formal declaration of a full-scale war was inevitable.
 
5. How was oil a source of conflict between Japan and the United States?   

     Oil was such a source of conflict between Japan and the United States because Japan needed oil and the United States cut off trade with Japan. One Japan started taking over French military bases, The U.S protested a new act of aggression by cutting off trade with Japan. This included embargoed goods such as oil, which Japan could not live without. Without oil, Japan could not fuel their war machines. The leaders declared that Japan must either persuade the U.S to end its oil embargo or go to war.  
  
6. What problem would the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solve for Roosevelt? What new problems would it create?  

   The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solved the problem of isolationism for Roosevelt. Many who had formally been isolationists now supported an all-out American effort. After the surprise attack, many isolationists believed the only thing left to do was go to war. The attack on Pearl Harbor, however, created several new problems for the United States. The Japanese had killed 2,403 Americans with their surprise attack. The raid had sunk or damaged 21 ships, including 8 battleships, which was nearly the whole U.S Pacific fleet. More than 300 air crafts were severely damaged or destroyed which constituted greater damage than the U.S Navy suffered in World War 1. The surprise attack at Pearl Harbor sent the United States to war with Japan. After Congress approved of Roosevelt's request to rage war with Japan, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States, officially bringing the U.S into World War 2.

Dictators Threaten World Peace

1. Why did the new democracies set up after World War I fail? (And yes, I am aware the answer is in the reading so make sure your answer is in your own words.)      

     The new democracies set up after World War 1 failed for many reasons. For one, the postwar years brought powerful dictators to rise who were driven by the belief in nationalism and the desire for territorial expansion. Another reason was the failure of the Treaty of Versailles which Germany found unfair. These problems overwhelmed the Weimar Republic and the peace settlement did not fulfill Wilson's hopes of a world "safe for democracy." Without democratic traditions, people turned to authoritarian leaders to solve their countries' problems. The new democracies collapsed the dictators were able to seize power.  

2. What are the characteristics of a totalitarian state?     

     A totalitarian state is a country with a government that maintains complete control over its citizens. Individuals have no rights, and the government suppresses all opposition. By 1939, Joseph Stalin had established a totalitarian government. Stalin took control over everything and was determined to eliminate anyone who threatened his power, even his most faithful supporters. 


3. What factors led to the rise of Fascism in Italy?     

     By 1921, Benito Mussolini had accomplished creating a fascist regime in Italy. In 1922, Mussolini marched on Rome with thousands of followers wearing black uniforms. Their uniforms gave them the name "black shirts" Once the important government officials, police, and  army sided with the fascist party, Mussolini was appointed head of the government. 

4. What were the key ideas and goals that Hitler presented in Mein Kampf ?      

     In the book Mein Kampf, Hitler set fourth the basic beliefs of the Nazism that became his plan of action for the Nazi party. Nazism is based on extreme nationalism. Hitler dreamed of uniting all German speaking people in a German Empire. He also wanted to enforce racial "purification" in Germany. Hitler believed in an Aryan race, preferably blue-eyed blonds. Hitler had a dislike for anyone who wasn't white, especially Jews. Another element of Nazism was national expansion. Hitler believed in order for Germany to thrive, they needed more land. 

5. Why did Japan invade Manchuria?     

     Japan decided to invade the Chinese province of Manchuria with a surprise attack  in 1931. In Japan, nationalist military leaders were trying to take control of imperial Japan. They believed in the need for more land for a growing population, same as Hitler. In need of more land, Japan invaded Manchuria. Within several months, Japanese troops controlled the entire province. 

6. What foreign countries were involved in the Spanish Civil War?     

     In 1936, a small group of Spanish army officers rebelled against the Spanish republic. Led by Francisco Franco, this became known as the Spanish Civil War. Fighting against Franco were the Americans. The Americans formed the Abraham Lincoln Battalion consisting of over 3,000 troops. Among these troops were African Americans still bitter about Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia. Franco, however, was backed by Hitler and Mussolini who sent troops, weapons, tanks, and fighter planes. Franco's victory in 1939 established him as the fascist leader of Spain.   

7. What factors contributed to America's growing isolationism?     


     There were many factors that contributed to America's growing isolationism. Most Americans were alarmed by the international conflicts of the mid 1930's but believed they should stay out of it. Public outrage over a flood of books that argued that the United States had been dragged into World War 1, led to the creation of a congressional committee. The Nye committee made the controversy even worse by documenting large profits that banks and manufacturers made during the war. Americans because more determined than ever to avoid war. The Girl Scouts of America even changed the color of their uniforms to appear less militaristic.