Transcript U.S. Neutrality and the Beginning of WWII

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Conferences to reduce armaments/keep peace
were failures
U.S. had 2 options
1. More energetic attempts at stabilizing world
2. More energetic attempts at isolating the
nation
- Americans chose Option #2
Congress wanted to design safeguards to keep U.S.
from being dragged into another war. Result was:
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Goal: Protect US from events which had
pressured US to enter WW1
Requirements:
1.Can not sell weapons to aggressor OR victim
2.President has power to warn American citizens that
traveling on ships of warring nations is at own
risk.
1. Prohibited from transporting any passengers or
articles to belligerents
2.
U.S. citizens forbidden from traveling on ships
of belligerent nations.
3. Cash and Carry Policy – people in a fight could
purchase only non-military goods from the US,
but had to pay cash and carry goods away on
their own vessels.
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FDR was not an isolationist, but he knew the
American public strongly supported that
view, so he did not veto Neutrality Act.
FDR supported Internationalism instead, the
belief that trade between nations creates
prosperity and helps to prevent war.
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US extends Cash and Carry to military goods
to help allies.
LEND-LEASE
◦ Britain is bankrupt can’t pay cash for weapons, so
U.S. “lends” weapons on promise G.B. will return
or pay U.S. back after the war.
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Churchill and FDR met on a
ship off Newfoundland coast
August 9-12, 1941
A joint proclamation by the
US and GB declaring that
they were fighting the Axis
powers to "ensure life,
liberty, independence and
religious freedom and to
preserve the rights of man
and justice."
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Served as a foundation stone
for the later establishment of
the UN
1.Is the U.S. Neutral? (They did not
officially declare war until Dec.
1941)
2.Why do you think the U.S.
supported the allies, despite
claiming neutrality?