Chapter 34

Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act

- allowed the President to make reciprocal trades with a foreign nation -It was designed to raise American exports and was aimed at both relief and recovery.Led by Cordell Hull, it helped reverse the high-tariff policy. -Reciprocal Trade Agreements: --Associated with Good Neighborism and popular in Latin America was the reciprocal trade policy --Chief architect was idealistic secretary of state Hull, a high minded Tennessean of the low tariff school --He believed that trade was a two-way street and that a nation can sell abroad only as it buys abroad, that tariff barriers choke off foreign trade, and that trade wars beget shooting wars --Responding to Hull's leadership, Congress passed the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act in 2934 which was designed to lift American export trade from the depression --Secretary Hull succeeded in negotiating pacts with 21 countries and these agreements were a landmark piece of legislation that reversed the traditional high protective tariff policy.

America First

Isolationists believing that America should concentrate what strength it had to defend its own shores. Their most effective speechmaker was Charles Lindbergh.

What were the reasons for American isolationism?

Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini, and Adolf Hitler all began to rise, with Hitler being the most dangerous. Nazi Hitler and Fascist Mussolini allied themselves in the Rome-Berlin Axis. Japan slowly began to receive strength, refusing to cooperate with the world and ending the Washing Naval Treaty and walking out of the London Conference. The US continued to stay isolated, believing they could stay okay if they weren't involved in any international problems.

Battle of Britain

July 1940-Dec 1941; air war between GER and GB

Appeasement

The United States and other democracies stood and watched as Franco, armed with weapons and men from other dictators, destroyed the Spanish republican government. This peace-at-any-price-ism encouraged the dictators to continue their actions. A conference was finally held in Munich in September 1938. The Western European democracies, badly unprepared for war, betrayed Czechoslovakia to Germany when they consented to the shearing away of the Sudetenland. Appeasement of the dictators, symbolized by the ugly word Munich, turned out to be merely surrender on the installment plan. In March 1939 Hitler took the rest of Czechoslovakia.

Was the United States' entry into WWII sudden or gradual? Explain

The United States entry into WWII was gradual as they slowly supported the Britain more and more. It was also quite sudden, as the bombing of Pearl Harbor infuriated the United States and irked the people so much that they wanted to go into war.

December 7, 1941

The date of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

How did the Neutrality Acts attempt to keep the US out of war?

The neutrality acts stated that when the president proclaimed the existence of a foreign war, certain restrictions would automatically go into effect: no American could legally sail on a belligerent ship or sell or transport munitions to a belligerent, or make loans to a belligerent. The flaw with these acts was that they were designed to prevent America from being pulled into a war like WWI but WWII was different.

What further steps did the United States take after the fall of France?

The phony war ended when Hitler overran Denmark and Norway and took over the Netherlands and Belgium. He blitzed without mercy and forced France to surrender. The fall of France meant the only thing that stood between Hitler and the world was Britain. If the English lost, Hitler would have all of Europe and may attack the US. So Roosevelt moved and called to build armed forces. 1.2 million troops and 800,000 reserves would be trained.

Lend-Lease

This law abandoned former pretenses of neutrality by allowing Americans to sell unlimited supplies of arms to any nation defending itself against the Axis powers. considered a device for keeping the nation out of WW2.

Describe the conflict between interventionists and isolationist in America in 1940

Those who supported helping Britain formed the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies , while those for isolationism were in the America First Committee such as Charles A Lindbergh. Both groups campaigned and advertised for their respective positions. Britain was in dire need for destroyers and on September 2, 1940 FDR boldly moved to transfer 50 old-model four funnel destroyers left over from WWI and in return the British promised to give the US 8 valuable defensive base sites stretching from Newfoundland to South America. However, FDR began to stop playing games as isolationism was slowly going away.

How did America's implementation of the Lend-Lease policy bring us closer to war

To ensure that arms sent to Britain would reach there, FDR agreed that a convoy would have to escort them, but only as far as Iceland, as Britain would take over from there. As a result, US destroyers like the Greer, the Kearny, and the Reuben James were attacked by Germans.

Charles Lindbergh

United States aviator who in 1927 made the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean (1902-1974); isolationist orator after murder of his infant son

Interpret the results of the 1940 election

Wendell Willkie surprised everyone and was the Republican candidate rather than Robert Taft or Thomas Dewey. He was to run against FDR who waited until the last moment to challenge the two-term tradition. Democrats felt FDR was the only man qualified to be president, especially in a grave situation like they were in. Willkie and FDR weren't really different in their views of foreign affairs, but Willkie hit hard with his attacks on the 3rd term. However, voters felt that if war should come, FDR was the best man.

Atlantic Charter

Winston Churchill and Roosevelt met secretly on a warship to discuss the possibility of the Soviet Union surrendering.

What was the reason for America's decision to free the Philippines?

With hard times, Americans were eager to do away with their liabilities in the Philippines. Also, sugar producers wanted to get rid of the Filipino sugar producers due to the competition they created. So, they passed the Tydings-McDuffie Act which stated that the Philippines would receive their independence after 12 years of economic and political tutelage.

Were the reciprocal trade agreements a good idea? Explain

Yes, Hull believed that trade was a two way street and had a part of the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act which activated low tariff policies while aiming at relief and recovery by boosting American trade. This act whittled down the most objectionable schedules of the Hawley-Smoot law by amending them, lowering rates by as much as half, provided that the other country would do the same toward the US. It actually reversed the traditionally high-tariff policy that had damaged America before and paved the way for the American-led free trade international economic system that was implemented after WWII.

Was the United States serious about the Good Neighbor Policy? Explain

Yes, the US wanted to be a good neighbor, showing that it was content as a regional power and not as a world one. In the 7th Pan-American Conference, the US renounced armed intervention in Latin America and the next year US marines left Haiti. FDR's good neighbor policy was a great success, improving the US image in Latin American eyes.

Fascism

a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

Spanish Civil War

conflict between the revel Fascist forces of Gen. Franco and the Loyalist gov't; severely tested US neutrality; Mussolini and Hitler helped in order to use SP as testing ground for bombs

Winston Churchill

courageous prime minister who led GB's lonely resistance to Hitler; involved with the secret Atlantic Conference

how did American actions contribute to Japan's decision to attack Pearl Harbor?

http://apush-wiki-marlborough-school.wikispaces.com/American+Provocation+of+the+Japanese+Attack+on+Pearl+Harbor

Pearl Harbor

major American naval base devastated in a surpise attack in Dec 1941 by the Japanese

Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact

pact between Russia and Soviet, pledged neutrality by either party if the other were attacked by a third party.

Sudentenland

piece of land south Czechoslovakia; betrayed by GB and FR to appease Hitler in 1938 Munich Conference

Rhineland

strip of land demilitarized according to Versailles Treaty; invaded by Hitler

Royal Air Force

the airforce of Great Britain

Phony War

was a phase in early World War II marked by few military operations in Continental Europe, in the months following the German invasion of Poland and preceding the Battle of France. Although the great powers of Europe had declared war on one another, neither side had yet committed to launching a significant attack, and there was relatively little fighting on the ground

Dutch East Indies

was more powerful than the Dutch East Indies Company in the Caribbean. They are most recognized for buying Manhattan Island from the Indians for practically nothing.

Cordell Hull

-American politician from Tennessee. Longest serving Secretary of State under FDR, and received the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in establishing the United Nations. Also supported the Good Neighbor policy. -Secretary of State under FDR's presidential cabinet who was originally set up to attend the London Economic Conference but was never sent -Reciprocal Trade Agreements: --Associated with Good Neighborism and popular in Latin America was the reciprocal trade policy --Chief architect was idealistic secretary of state Hull, a high minded Tennessean of the low tariff school --He believed that trade was a two-way street and that a nation can sell abroad only as it buys abroad, that tariff barriers choke off foreign trade, and that trade wars beget shooting wars --Responding to Hull's leadership, Congress passed the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act in 2934 which was designed to lift American export trade from the depression --Secretary Hull succeeded in negotiating pacts with 21 countries and these agreements were a landmark piece of legislation that reversed the traditional high protective tariff policy.

American Jewish Committee

1914 - formed as organizations representing different segments of the American Jewish community pool their funds and cooperate to apportion and send money and supplies abroad for Jewish war relief. American Jews felt guilty, especially Jews who left family behind in Europe during the war (WWI) so they feel the need to send money to help as much as they can.

Gerald Nye

1934. Senate committee led by South Dakota Senator Gerald Nye to investigate why America became involved in WWI. Theory that big business had conspired to have America enter WWI so that they could make money selling war materials. Called bankers and arms producers "merchants of death."

Destroyer Deal

1940 - U.S. agreed to "lend" its older destroyers to Great Britain. Signaled the end of U.S. neutrality in the war.

Panay

American gunboat bombed and sunk by Japanese in 1937; Japan apologized and sent $ to victims' families; unwilling to go to war, US forgave easily

Fortress America

As Hitler moved on Europe and the Battle for Britain raged, Roosevelt faced a historic decision: whether to hunker down in an isolationist "_______" defensive posture and let the rest of the world go it alone; or to bolster beleaguered Britain by all means short of war itself. Both sides had their advocates.

Wendell Wilke

Business executive and Republican presidential candidate who lost to Roosevelt in 1940; during the campaign, Roosevelt never publicly mentioned Willkie's name

American Jewish Congress

Civil rights organization to defend the rights of minorities in the US, and to defend and support Israel.

Anti-Semitism

Clear, and deliberate effort by officials in the State Dept to prevent Jews from entering the US in large numbers; 1 opp after another to assist imperiled Jews was either ignored or rejected. These people were prejudiced against Jews

Blitzkrieg

Concentrating overwhelming force of all-motorized force concentration of tanks, infantry, artillery, combat engineers and air power to break through enemy lines, and, once the lines are broken, proceeding without regard to its flank. Term given after invasion of Poland by Germany.

Why did America not make more room for European Jews in the 1930s?

Despite the fact that the U.S. received early reports about the desperate plight of European Jewry, procrastination and inaction marked its policies toward rescue. Immigration quotas were never increased for the emergency; the existing quotas, in fact, were never filled. Many believe this occurred because of simple indifference to the plight of Jews. The reduced immigration in the late 1930s was due to economic pressures, high unemployment, social frustration & disillusionment.

Albert Einstein

Early in 1940, Roosevelt was persuaded by American and exiled scientists, notably German-born Albert Einstein, to push ahead with preparations for unlocking the secret of an atomic bomb.

Cash and Carry

European democracies could buy arms and war materials only if they paid cash and transported the arms themselves

Munich Conference

European diplomatic conf where GB and FR appease Hitler's demands for Sudentenland in Czechoslovakia

Good Neighbor Policy

FDR's foreign policy of promoting better relations w/Latin America by using economic influence rater than military force in the region

Benito Mussolini

Fascist dictator of Italy (1922-1943). He led Italy to conquer Ethiopia (1935), joined Germany in the Axis pact (1936), and allied Italy with Germany in World War II. He was overthrown in 1943 when the Allies invaded Italy.

Francisco Franco

Fascist leader of the Spanish revolution, helped by Hitler and Mussolini; america allowed him to buy arms to stay out of the spanish civil war

Adolf Hitler

German Nazi dictator during World War II (1889-1945), Nazi leader and founder; had over 6 million Jews assassinated during the Holocaust

What actions were taken by fascist governments that showed that they were a threat?

Hitler was allowed to introduce mandatory military service in Germany, take over the German Rhineland, persecute and exterminate about six million Jews, and occupy Austria all because European powers were appeasing him. In the Munich Conference, the Allies agreed to let Hitler have the Sudentenland of Czechoslovakia, but Hitler eventually took all of Czechoslovakia.

Quarantine Speech

In Chicago in 1937, Roosevelt delivered his sensational speech. Alarmed by the recent aggressions of Italy and Japan, he called for "positive endeavors" to "quarantine" the aggressors—presumably by economic embargoes. The speech triggered a cyclone of protest from isolationists and other foes of involvement; they feared that a moral quarantine would lead to a shooting quarantine. Startled by this angry response, Roosevelt retreated and sought less direct means to curb the dictators.

How did the Spanish Civil War contribute to WWII?

In order to stay out of war, the US put an embargo on both the loyalist government which was supported by the USSR and the rebels, which were aided by Hitler and Mussolini. During the Civil War, the US just stood by while Francisco Franco smothered the democratic government. THE US failed to build the fleet because most people believed fleets led to wars.

What were the results of Roosevelt's decision not to help stabilize currency?

In the London Conference, there were 66 nations that came together to hopefully develop a worldwide solution to the Great Depression. Roosevelt first agreed to send Cordell Hull, but then withdrew from that agreement and scolded the other nations for trying to stabilize currencies. As a result, the conference adjourned accomplishing nothing and strengthened American isolationism.

Neutrality Acts

The Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936, and 1937, taken together, stipulated that when the president proclaimed the existence of a foreign war, certain restrictions would automatically go into effect. No American could legally sail on a belligerent ship, sell or transport munitions to a belligerent, or make loans to a belligerent.

Father Coughlin

A critic of the New Deal; created the National Union for Social Justice; wanted a monetary inflation and the nationalization of the banking system.

London Economic Conference

A sixty-nation economic conference organized to stabilize international currency rates.

Tydings-McDuffie Act

Provided for the independence of the Philippines-U.S relinquished its army bases, but naval bases were reserved for future discussion

Joseph Stalin

Russian leader who succeeded Lenin as head of the Communist Party and created a totalitarian state by purging all opposition (1879-1953); USSR dictator

How did the United States respond to the start of WWII in Europe?

The Americans were anti-Hitler and anti-Nazi and wanted Britain and France to win, but America refused to enter the war. European powers needed American supplies, but the Neutrality acts prevented them from buying arms. So, a new Neutrality Act of 1939 allowed European nations to buy war materials on a cash and carry basis, which meant Europeans had to provide their own ships and pay for their arms in cash.

What was the reaction in America to the Nazi attack on the Soviet Union

The Atlantic Conference was held in August 1941, and the result was the eight point Atlantic Charter, which was suggestive of Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points. There would be no territorial changes contrary to the wishes of the natives. The charter also affirmed the right for people to choose their rulers or self-determination. It declared disarmament and a peace of security, as well as a new League of Nations.

What was so controversial about Lend-Lease?

The Lend-Lease Law allowed the US to lend arms, ships, etc. to nations that needed them and they would be returned when they were no longer needed. Senator Taft retorted that it would be like lending chewing gum and then taking it back after it'd been chewed. It was passed in the end, with about $50 billion worth of arms being sent by the US.