Hitler withdrew Germany from international agreements and invaded Poland in 1939, starting World War 2 in Europe. As the war escalated, President Roosevelt provided increasing aid to Britain and convinced Congress to support the British war effort. Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of Britain in 1940 and worked closely with Roosevelt to coordinate the Allied response to Germany and Italy. After German U-boats attacked American ships, Roosevelt took steps to increase U.S. involvement in the war, which grew further after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, bringing the U.S. fully into the war.
2. Spark of World War 2 Hitler discontinued the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler also pulled Germany from the League of Nations. Italian fascist Benito Mussolini joined Hitler. Germany invaded Poland in 1939 in the Invasion of Poland. After Germany invaded France in 1940, the U.S. was concerned about England.
3. Franklin D. Roosevelt President during World War Two. Signed a deal on September 2, 1940 to give Britain destroyer ships in return for military bases. Gave Britain military aid through the lend-lease bill in 1941. Roosevelt had to convince congress to sell weapons to the British. He was re-elected on November 5, 1940 which allowed him to continue reshaping foreign policy.
4. Winston Churchill Became British Prime Minister in April 1940. Churchill and Roosevelt got along well, they communicated about every 36 hours. Churchill had strong ties to America, including his Mother who was American. He had a drinking problem which made people worry about his decisions. Churchill’s main goal was to get the U.S. to join him in the war.
5. America Gets Involved The U.S. destroyer Greer was attacked by a U-boat which made Roosevelt declare a naval war. U.S. warships escorted British and Canadian ships after this incident. German ships were told they would be shot on sight if they entered British or American waters. The attack on Pearl Harbor was the event that got the U.S. involved in World War 2. Hitler declared war on America since America had declared war on Japan.
6. Racism After the Pearl Harbor attack there was strong anti-Japanese racism in the U.S. American political cartoons depicted the Japanese as small and round with slanted eyes. Newspapers referred to the Japanese as “yellows”. In America there was signs that said “Open season on Japs”, and “Jap hunting licenses”. Japanese propaganda referred to Americans as demons and devils.
