U.S. Entry into WWII

They came, unwarned. On the 7th of December 1941, the Japanese executed a full-fledged attack on Pearl Harbor. They mercilessly created havoc, with attacks that caused the sinking of eighteen American ships, as well as 170 aircrafts. The casualties were dreadful, with 1,177 of those lost lives had been of the crewmen. The very next day, President Roosevelt declared war on Japan, and thus the United States’ involvement of World War II. Americans of every state were absolutely enraged and bent on their will for vengeance against the Asian country. Within the shadows of galvanized America, Robert Oppenheimer had set his infamous Manhattan Project into action. This project was so disclosed that only a limited number of men truly knew of its purpose. The clandestine project held prior securities to the point in which famous scientists had to use codenames in order to visit Los Alamos, even wives were kept in the dark, and only key scientists could bring their wives along with them. (Source D) This project had been the discreet creation of the Atomic Bombs. Time and time again, this topic had never really dissipated, its controversial who, what and whys prompting generations to debate its palpable purpose. Was the aim really focused for the “good of all?” Was it for America’s self-preservation and wish to promptly put an end to all of the suffering? Many Americans to this day still believe and argue for the usefulness of the atomic bombings, that the droppings were justified.

Throughout American history the U.S has tried to stay out of national disputes but sometimes it is necessary for them to take action. In all the wars ever fought in the world only two have been fought on U.S soil and one of the wars was between our own country(Civil War).

Chapter 25 discusses the United States and the Second World War from 1939-1945. The United States wanted to stay out of international affairs but the newly elected Roosevelt advocated for an active role in it. Though he wanted a role in this, his priority was to attack the domestic causes of the depression which appealed to many poor Americans who were suffering from the Great Depression and had just lost everything. During this time, fascist governments threatened military aggression and the rise of Hitler created a controversial and war-like atmosphere. Hitler had a goal to avenge the defeat of WW1 which lead to the accusations of Jews, and the eventual full-blown Holocaust. Neutrality acts were put into place during this time to prohibit the exchange of arms to nations during the war.

By the time President Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany and its allies, the World War I had already been raging for four years (Doenecke, 2010, p. 1). Prior to this declaration of war, America had tried to remain neutral, while Germany, Autria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria waged war against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Rumania, and Japan. Many of these belligerents joined the war at various times during this four year period, so the war continued to expand during this four year period. Wilson and a significant percentage (49%) of the American public had wanted to stay out of this conflict as possible when it first started (Doenecke, 2010, p. 20), but a series of events forced America's hand.

The 1930s were a difficult time for most Americans. Faced with colossal economic hardships—unprecedented in American history—many Americans turned inward to focus on the worsening situation at home. The United States became increasingly insensitive to the obliteration of fellow democracies at the hands of brutal fascist leaders like Hitler and Mussolini. The U.S. was determined to stay out of war at all costs—even if its allies were in trouble; Americans believed that they were immune from Europe’s problems as long as they refused to get involved. However, as the “free” countries fell, one by one, to the Nazi war machine, Americans began to realize the folly of their foolish optimism and clamored for increasing involvement in foreign

The time period examined in this book is from 1933 through 1941. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration is shown to have made the economic factor a preeminent issue during his presidency. Those individuals highlighted by Hearden are: Cordell Hull, Adolf Berle, Pierre-pont Moffat, and Norman Davis. Americans besides those in President Roosevelt’s administration that had great influence were: John Foster Dulles, Thomas W. Lamont, George Peek, and James P. Warburg.

During World War II the United States began to manufacture war materials to support its allies through lucrative government defense contracts as automobile factories like Ford and General Motors put aside their usual business operations and began to produce tanks and airplanes, shipyards too expanded their operations . The demand for war equipment naturally increased the demand for labor and as a result helped pull the American economy out of the grips of the Great Depression. Then as the unthinkable happened, on December 7, 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, which drew many young American men into the battlefield.

World War II had a major impact on America. America did suffer economic crisis from the

President FDR's New Deal prepared America for WWII after the Pearl Harbor attack. In the1930's the US government had a strong isolation movement. Isolationists thought the wars in Europe should stay in Europe, and President FDR knew that was not possible so he started the Lend Lease Deal. His Lend Lease Deal with Britain and the Soviet Union helped in giving America ideas on how much power they had. The Lend Lease Deal was that America would loan Britain their guns and ships to attack Germany during the war and when the war was finished they had to return it in an in kind matter.

A large amount of qualified black Americans were overlooked because of their race even thought they were going to help the United States of America in the war effort. The Tuskegee Airmen did not let any of the discrimination get in their way and they persevered to become great pilots. The President and the First-Lady of the United States had to help the airmen get into battle after they attained maximum promptness. “Even when they had reached full combat readiness, it took the advocacy of [the] nation’s first lady to get the squadron into battle” (Hare). The First Lady had respect for the Tuskegee Airmen and she trusted them in order to put the Airmen into battle. The airmen overcame all of the turmoil they had to face and were able to fight in battle. The Tuskegee Airmen showed that it was possible to fight through segregation. “For the pilot who would eventually be called the Tuskegee Airmen, the freedom of flying a plane contrasted sharply with the prejudice they faced in the 1940s” (Donaldson). For example, the Tuskegee Airmen showed their great intangibles of mental strength and determination in a

Although Roosevelt was a great United States President, there is the matter of how exactly the United States entered World War II. There is no debate that Roosevelt thought that the United States should enter World War II. He knew that fascism was wrong and that the Axis Powers, led ultimately by Adolph Hitler of Germany, had to be defeated to protect democracy. Also, Roosevelt knew a war would boost the United State’s economy severely. Generally, in war time there is many more jobs, which decreases unemployment tremendously. However, the majority of the citizens of the United States wanted to take an isolated approach from the rest of the world as far as foreign affairs are concerned. As much as 85% of the public opposed entering the war.4 The United States did not want to enter into another world war, such as World War I, that costs so many lives and money. When World War II broke out in 1939 with Germany’s invasion of Poland, Roosevelt called Congress to revise the Neutrality Act in an attempt to enter the war. His attempt failed. Knowing the public would not agree to enter World War II, Roosevelt took several measures to make sure that

With such events occurring quickly in such a small time period, the second World War came as a massive shock. Yet again, Americans called for isolationism and neutrality as they believed America should focus on ending the Great Depression, not worrying about and dealing with the international issues of other nations and peoples. By analyzing Document 5, it is clear that many Americans still believe in isolationism during the Great Depression. Bennett Champ Clark states in his Defense of the First Neutrality Act that “the desire to keep the United States from becoming involved in any war between foreign nations seems practically unanimous among the rank and file of American citizens.” Americans influenced the US foreign policy yet again as the First Neutrality Act was passed in 1935. By analyzing Document 6, it is clear that President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the choices he made were still influenced by isolationist sentiment as he states in his Quarantine Speech that “it is my determination to adopt every practicable measure to avoid involvement in war.” However, it is clear in President Roosevelt's speech that he knew that entering the war was inevitable as he states that the “peace of the world and the welfare and security of every nation, including our own is today being threatened by that very thing (war).” Although the United States tried its best to not enter the second World War for many years, it could not avoided by the end of 1941. On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese. The federal government’s response to this attack can be analyzed in Document 7, President Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor Address to the Congress of the United States. In response to the attack, Roosevelt calls for Congress to “declare . . . a state of war has existed between the United States and the

Since gaining independence in the American Revolution and navigating through the difficulties of forming a new republic, the United States has continuously undergone major changes to its economic, political, and social situations, each change evolving from an obstacle faced by the nation. Some of the greatest and most impactful changes have occurred due to war, as the United States was forced to adapt and modify itself to meet the demands of conflict. After years of remaining isolated from the world stage, the United States was forced to face the conflict that was spreading across the globe in the late 1940s, eventually leading to the United States joining World War II. American participation in this war brought drastic changes to the home front of the United States, lifting it out of its economic depression and providing new opportunities for different groups. In addition, World War II brought about a sense of patriotism and unity as citizens began helping in an array of ways, including, rationing and buying war bonds. In stark contrast to this, the Vietnam War did not have the same positive effects on the United States. Rather than unity, there was distrust in the government after many military and political failures, and the United States faced economic downturn rather upturn. In addition, many Americans did not understand why the United States was fighting in the war, leading to lessened support for the war and active protests. Though there were many negative effects,

Roosevelt involved businessmen into war by organizing their efforts to mobilize economy and enhance productive capacity. Surprisingly, by 1942, American production was equal to the combined production of Japan, Italy and Germany which ended depression.

Before World War I, the United States was in a period of isolationism, and a determination to stay out of European wars and affairs, while trying to maintain its status as one of the world’s biggest superpowers, militarily and economically (“United States Before”). America was just exiting the Gilded Age, which was an important time of growth and prosperity. Despite this, the American economy was in a small recession when entering the war, which was reversed by a 44 month period of growth caused by production for the war (NBER). This 44 month period helped the economy expand, and furthered the strength of the country. It also furthered the confidence of American businesses and the government which contributed to the attitude that caused overconfidence and helped to spread the Great Depression.