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| | == World War II == | | == World War II == |
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| − | Neutrality Act 1935: forbids sale of arms to all belligerents if Pres. says a state of war exists; designed to keep us at peace | + | In 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt and Congress supported and passed the Neutrality Act, which forbade the sale of arms to all belligerents when the president says a state of war exists. The goal of this law was to keep the nation at peace, as the public wanted. |
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| − | President Roosevelt began to prepare a reluctant nation for war. | + | By the picture was rapidly changing in Europe in 1940, as World War II broke out there. President Roosevelt began to prepare a reluctant nation for war. He signed into law the Selective Training & Service Act, which was the first |
| | + | adoption of peacetime conscription (the "draft"). Previously the only uses of the draft were done during war, as in the Civil War and World War I. |
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| − | Selective Training & Service Act 1940: first adoption of peacetime conscription (draft)
| + | In 1941, President Roosevelt gave his annual speech to Congress in which he advocated the "Four Freedoms": freedom of speech, worship, from want (e.g., from hunger), and from fear. But FDR privately wanted the United States to enter into World War II to protect Britain against Germany. Britain had been badly weakened by decades of socialism, declining values, and belief in evolution. Britain was no match for the larger and much stronger Germany, and Britain needed America to save it. At one point in late 1941 Churchill even stayed for several weeks at the White House while Britain was being bombed by Germany. |
| − | Four Freedoms "1941: FDR in annual speech to Cong urges freedom of speech, worship, from want, from fear" | |
| − | Lend-Lease Act "1941: FDR's first step to save Britain & Allies in WWII by lending them materials, ending neutrality"
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| − | Atlantic Charter "July 1941: FDR and Churchill declare purpose to WWII, based on world peace, like 14 points in WWI"
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| − | U-Boats German submarines in WWII that sunk ships
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| − | At first, the American public was very reluctant to get involved in World War II. FDR did not have the public support necessary to commit to such a big war. However, there is evidence that our code-breakers had broken the Japanese codes used to communicate their military messages, and that we knew Japan was going to attack Pearl Harbor. FDR did nothing to prevent the attack, and news of the attack on Dec. 7, 1941 outraged the American public against Japan. The Constitution authorizes only Congress to declare war, which it did on the very next day (Dec. 8th). Only one congressman voted against the declaration of war. Three days later, on Dec. 11th, Congress declared war on Germany too. That was the last time in history that Congress has officially declared war.
| + | Throughout 1941 FDR maneuvered Congress in an attempt to involve the United States in the war. Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act, which ended America's neutrality and consisted of the lending of materials to Britain and other Allies (France and Russia). In July 1941, FDR and Churchill agreed to the Atlantic Charter, which declared their joint purpose to World War II. It was similar to the 14 points announced by President Wilson near the end of World War I, and promised world peace. |
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| − | The Japanese proved to be tenacious fighters and there was much fear in the United States of Japanese nationalism. FDR forcibly moved Japanese-Americans in California to internment camps to keep an eye on their suspected spy activity, despite their American citizenship. The Supreme Court upheld this violation of their constitutional rights in Korematsu v. United States. This reflected how the Supreme Court has always deferred to the other branches of government on military matters ever since President Andrew Jackson defied a Supreme Court ruling about the treatment of Indians in Worcester v. Georgia.
| + | Meanwhile, the German submarines ("U-Boats") were sinking ships, which caused public outrage when innocent passengers lost their lives. |
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| − | Some feared that Germany was developing an atomic bomb and so the United States government initiated the Manhattan Project to develop our own atomic bomb. As soon as it was tested and ready, President Truman ordered it to be dropped on Japanese cities in 1945. Japan then surrendered and our war with it was over. (Our war with Germany had already ended.)
| + | But in the fall of 1941, the American public was still against fighting in the war. But while FDR was focused on Europe, Japan was increasingly aggressive in the Far East and planned to attack us. There is evidence that our code-breakers had broken the Japanese codes used to communicate their military messages, and that we knew Japan was going to attack Pearl Harbor. FDR did nothing to prevent the attack, and news of the attack on Dec. 7, 1941 outraged the American public against Japan. The Japanese sunk most of the American fleet on this day, which is known as the day that shall live in infamy. |
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| | + | The Constitution authorizes only Congress to declare war, which it did on the very next day (Dec. 8th). Only one congressman voted against the declaration of war. Three days later, on Dec. 11th, Congress declared war on Germany too. That was the last time in history that Congress has officially declared war. |
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| − | As president, Truman was an impulsive and not very bright man. He still holds the record for the lowest approval rating (only 23% of the country approving of his performance) in his last year in office (1952). When there was an ugly strike against a steel company, he impulsively ordered a government takeover of the entire company (the Supreme Court later invalidated his action). When a reporter wrote a negative review about his daughter’s piano recital, Truman said he wanted to punch the reporter in the face for it. When General Douglas MacArthur wanted to be more aggressive in the Korean War, Truman simply fired him. Drop the atom bomb on Japan? Do it, Truman decided quickly, and later said he slept a good night’s sleep the night he decided. Truman’s impulsiveness may remind you of President Andrew Jackson.
| + | The Japanese proved to be tenacious fighters and there was much fear in the United States of Japanese nationalism. FDR forcibly moved Japanese-Americans in California to internment camps to keep an eye on their suspected spy activity, despite their American citizenship. The Supreme Court upheld this violation of their constitutional rights in ''Korematsu v. United States''. This reflected how the Supreme Court has always deferred to the other branches of government on military matters ever since President Andrew Jackson defied a Supreme Court ruling about the treatment of Indians in ''Worcester v. Georgia''. |
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| − | Pearl Harbor "Dec. 7, 1941: Japan attacks naval base in Hawaii, sinks our fleet"
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| | D-Day "June 6, 1944 Allies finally invade mainland Europe at Normandy, France to recapture mainland" | | D-Day "June 6, 1944 Allies finally invade mainland Europe at Normandy, France to recapture mainland" |
| | Casablanca Conference "Jan. 14–24, 1943, WW II mtg of U.S. & Britain, agree to fight until other side unconditionally surrenders" | | Casablanca Conference "Jan. 14–24, 1943, WW II mtg of U.S. & Britain, agree to fight until other side unconditionally surrenders" |
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| | Bretton Woods/World Bank July 1944: 44 nations set up International Monetary Fund | | Bretton Woods/World Bank July 1944: 44 nations set up International Monetary Fund |
| | Dumbarton Oaks/United Nations "Aug-Oct. 1944: China, GB, USSR, US draft plans for UN, incl. Security Council" | | Dumbarton Oaks/United Nations "Aug-Oct. 1944: China, GB, USSR, US draft plans for UN, incl. Security Council" |
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| | + | Some feared that Germany was developing an atomic bomb and so the United States government initiated the Manhattan Project to develop our own atomic bomb. As soon as it was tested and ready, President Truman ordered it to be dropped on Japanese cities in 1945. Japan then surrendered and our war with it was over. (Our war with Germany had already ended.) |
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| | + | As president, Truman was an impulsive and not very bright man. He still holds the record for the lowest approval rating (only 23% of the country approving of his performance) in his last year in office (1952). When there was an ugly strike against a steel company, he impulsively ordered a government takeover of the entire company (the Supreme Court later invalidated his action). When a reporter wrote a negative review about his daughter’s piano recital, Truman said he wanted to punch the reporter in the face for it. When General Douglas MacArthur wanted to be more aggressive in the Korean War, Truman simply fired him. Drop the atom bomb on Japan? Do it, Truman decided quickly, and later said he slept a good night’s sleep the night he decided. Truman’s impulsiveness may remind you of President Andrew Jackson. |
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| | == Immigration == | | == Immigration == |