Changes

Throughout the 1930s, there was ambivalence in England and the United States about Hitler and the Nazis.  In America many people are of German descent, and Hitler was popular.  Time Magazine named him as “Man of the Year.”  On some college campuses, Hitler was voted the greatest leader.

Throughout the 1930s, there was ambivalence in England and the United States about Hitler and the Nazis.  In America many people are of German descent, and Hitler was popular.  Time Magazine named him as “Man of the Year.”  On some college campuses, Hitler was voted the greatest leader.

Some viewed Hitler as an answer to Joseph Stalin and communism in Russia.  Others thought there was a “Jewish problem” in Europe.  G.K. Chesterton, who favored creating a new state like Israel for the Jewish population, said this in 1934:  “Today, although I still think there is a Jewish problem, I am appalled by the Hitlerite atrocities. They have absolutely no reason or logic behind them. It is quite obviously the expedient of a man who has been driven to seeking a scapegoat, and has found with relief the most famous scapegoat in European history, the Jewish people.”   

Some viewed Hitler as an answer to Joseph Stalin and communism in Russia (although some Americans had supported Stalin and communism).  Others thought there was a “Jewish problem” in Europe.  G.K. Chesterton, who favored creating a new state like Israel for the Jewish population, said this in 1934:  “Today, although I still think there is a Jewish problem, I am appalled by the Hitlerite atrocities. They have absolutely no reason or logic behind them. It is quite obviously the expedient of a man who has been driven to seeking a scapegoat, and has found with relief the most famous scapegoat in European history, the Jewish people.”   

But most in America felt it was time to stay out of Europe and let Germany, France, England and Italy solve their own conflicts.  No one in America expected the Holocaust, and Hitler kept it quiet even after it began in 1942.  In the late 1930s, the debate over involvement by the United States in Europe had almost nothing to do with discrimination against Jewish people by the Nazis.  Discrimination based on race was common throughout the world, and the United States herself had many laws or policies discriminating based on race.

But most in America felt it was time to stay out of Europe and let Germany, France, England and Italy solve their own conflicts.  No one in America expected the Holocaust, and Hitler kept it quiet even after it began in 1942.  In the late 1930s, the debate over involvement by the United States in Europe had almost nothing to do with discrimination against Jewish people by the Nazis.  Discrimination based on race was common throughout the world, and the United States herself had many laws or policies discriminating based on race.

In an effort to remain neutral, Congress passed several laws between 1935 and 1937 making it illegal for Americans to lend money to a nation at war, or sell it weapons.  But by 1941, President Roosevelt felt he needed to help England, and he persuaded Congress to pass the [[Lend-Lease Act]] to allow him to lend or lease weapons to any nation that he considered to be vital to the United States.  As a practical matter, this meant that President Roosevelt could now help England.  President Roosevelt ordered the U.S. Navy to begin escorting British ships that carried American arms, and Hitler predictably responded by commanding his U-boats (submarines) to sink cargo ships.  When a U-boat shot torpedoes at a U.S. destroyer in the Atlantic in September 1941, President Roosevelt ordered the U.S. ships to fire back.  An unofficial war had begun between the United States and Germany.

In an effort to remain neutral, Congress passed several laws between 1935 and 1937 making it illegal for Americans to lend money to a nation at war, or sell it weapons.  But by 1941, President Roosevelt felt he needed to help England, and he persuaded Congress to pass the [[Lend-Lease Act]] to allow him to lend or lease weapons to any nation that he considered to be vital to the United States.  As a practical matter, this meant that President Roosevelt could now help England.  President Roosevelt ordered the U.S. Navy to begin escorting British ships that carried American arms, and Hitler predictably responded by commanding his U-boats (submarines) to sink cargo ships.  When a U-boat shot torpedoes at a U.S. destroyer in the Atlantic in September 1941, President Roosevelt ordered the U.S. ships to fire back.  An unofficial war had begun between the United States and Germany.

President Roosevelt met secretly with Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, in August 1941 on a boat in the Atlantic.  They agreed on a declaration for free trade and self-determination, disarmament of aggressor states (e.g., Japan and Germany) and freedom of the seas. This became known as the Atlantic Charter.  The United States and Great Britain renounced any territorial ambitions, and expansion against the wishes of local populations was condemned.  The Soviet Union soon endorsed the Atlantic Charter and it later provided the ideological foundation for the United Nations.  

President Roosevelt met secretly with Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, in August 1941 on a boat in the Atlantic.  They agreed on a declaration for free trade and self-determination, disarmament of aggressor states (e.g., Japan and Germany) and freedom of the seas. This became known as the Atlantic Charter.  The United States and Great Britain renounced any territorial ambitions, and expansion against the wishes of local populations was condemned.  The Soviet Union soon endorsed the Atlantic Charter and the Charter later provided the ideological foundation for the United Nations.  

By late 1941 President Roosevelt wanted the United States in the war, mainly to save England but also to avert attention from his failure to end the Great Depression.  But the American people were not in favor of another world war.  Many prominent Americans, such as Charles Lindbergh, opposed American involvement in this war.  Many felt that the communist threat to the world was greater than the Nazi threat.  Roosevelt needed a way to turn public opinion in favor of war, and generate enough public support to win the war.

By late 1941 President Roosevelt wanted the United States in the war, mainly to save England but also to avert attention from his failure to end the Great Depression.  But the American people were not in favor of another world war.  Many prominent Americans, such as Charles Lindbergh, opposed American involvement in this war.  Many felt that the communist threat to the world was greater than the Nazi threat.  Roosevelt needed a way to turn public opinion in favor of war, and generate enough public support to win the war.

The Japanese did the trick.  On Dec. 7, 1941, the “day that will live in infamy,” the Japanese launched a surprise attack on our navy fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, which was not yet a state.  Some people believe that Roosevelt knew the Japanese would attack because American mathematicians had broken the Japanese code and intercepted and decoded the messages between Japanese officers.  Also, the United States had a good radar system that should have been able to predict the attack an hour before it happened.  But Roosevelt remained silent, allowing the American public to be outraged by this attack that sunk much of the U.S. Pacific fleet and killed 2,400 sailors.  Congress declared war on Japan the next day, and then declared war on Germany.  America thereby entered World War II.

The Japanese did the trick.  On Dec. 7, 1941, the “day that will live in infamy,” the Japanese launched a surprise attack on our navy fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, which was not yet a state.  Some people believe that Roosevelt knew the Japanese would attack because American mathematicians had broken the Japanese code and intercepted and decoded the messages between Japanese officers.  Also, the United States had a good radar system that should have been able to predict the attack an hour before it happened.  But Roosevelt remained silent, allowing the American public to be outraged by this attack that sunk much of the U.S. Pacific fleet and killed 2,400 sailors.  Congress declared war on Japan the next day, and then declared war on Germany (after Germany declared war on the U.S.).  America thereby entered World War II.

By this time Japan had already taken over Manchuria in China and established a Japanese state there called Manchukuo.  The Japanese viciously exploited and killed thousands of helpless Chinese in the Rape of Nanjing.  Japan sought to establish a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, which was to be an Asia dominated by Japan and lacking in any western influence.  Japan had also seized French Indochina in July 1941.  Roosevelt had already suspended oil shipments to Japan, and blockaded Japan before it attacked Pearl Harbor.  Japan’s attack was perhaps due to this blockade.

By this time Japan had already taken over Manchuria in China and established a Japanese state there called Manchukuo.  The Japanese viciously exploited and killed thousands of helpless Chinese in the Rape of Nanjing.  Japan sought to establish a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, which was to be an Asia dominated by Japan and lacking in any western influence.  Japan had also seized French Indochina (Southeast Asia, primarily Vietnam and Cambodia) in July 1941.  Roosevelt had already suspended oil shipments to Japan, and blockaded Japan before it attacked Pearl Harbor.  Japan’s attack was perhaps due to this blockade.

But Japan did not stop with its success at Pearl Harbor.  It captured Wake Island and Guam in the Pacific, and then invaded the Philippines.  General Douglas MacArthur was stationed on the Philippines at the time, and American and Filipino soldiers fought valiantly on the Bataan Peninsula to defend the island against the Japanese.  General MacArthur escaped on a small speedboat, and the Japanese conquered the islands, including the island of Corregidor.  From there the Japanese also conquered Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaya, the Dutch East Indies, Burma and the Burma Road.  The Japanese seemed unstoppable.

But Japan did not stop with its success at Pearl Harbor.  It captured Wake Island and Guam in the Pacific, and then invaded the Philippines.  General Douglas MacArthur was stationed on the Philippines at the time, and American and Filipino soldiers fought valiantly on the Bataan Peninsula to defend the island against the Japanese.  General MacArthur escaped on a small speedboat, and the Japanese conquered the islands, including the island of Corregidor.  From there the Japanese also conquered Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaya, the Dutch East Indies, Burma and the Burma Road.  The Japanese seemed unstoppable.