Americas Entry Into World War II

Topic Importance
1. The Interwar period is key to understanding the American condemnation of the
attack on Perl Harbor.
2. Analyzing events in the 1930s allows us to see how World War II was able to
impact many different facets of society.
Questions to Consider
1. Why did the United States pursue a policy of isolation during the 1930s?
2. What are the possible positives and negatives associated with isolationism?
3. Despite this policy, how did tensions between America and Japan get to the point
that Japan launched a surprise attack?
Isolationism
1. Critics of American involvement in World War I blamed ________ and ________
for war profiteering.
2. The continued turmoil on ________ and ________ contributed to the popularity
of the isolationist movement during the 1930s.
3. Americas ________ ________ also helped grow the movement.
4. Isolationism sought to ensure that the United States would
_____________________________.
1935 Neutrality Act
1. The 1935 Neutrality Act was passed on ________.
2. It explicated the export of ________, ________, ________ from the United
States to a foreign nation at war.
3. Although he was originally opposed to the Neutrality Act, FDR relented under
________ and ________.
4. An addendum was later added that ___________________________.
Italys Invasion of Ethiopia
1. Italy invaded Ethiopia on ______________.
2. This caused FDR to __________________ for the first time.
3. This caused all arms and ammunition to be ________ from ________ and
________.
4. FDR also declared a ________ ________ that covered trade items not under the
1935 Neutrality Act.
Neutrality Act of 1936
1. The Neutrality Act of 1935 was renewed on ________ for _______ more months.
2. An addendum was added that prevented any ________ to belligerent nations.
Spanish Civil War
A loophole allowed U.S. oil companies to sell items to General Franco on Credit. By
1939, Franco owed more than ________ to creditors.
This bloody conflict caused Congress to pass a joint resolution in January 1937 that
__________________.
Neutrality Act of 1937
1. American citizens were now forbidden to ____________.
2. American merchant ships were prevented from ______________________ to
belligerent nations even if produced out of country.

3. President Roosevelt was given the authority to bar _________ from U.S. waters
and was allowed to extend the embargo.
4. _____________ also now fell underneath the Neutrality Acts.
5. The cash-and-carry provision allowed belligerent nations to acquire any items
except arms as long as they __________________ and were carried on
________________.
6. FDR wanted this allowance in order to assist __________ and ___________
against the Axis powers. They were the only two nations with the ships and
money to take advantage of this clause.
Neutrality Act of 1939
1. The German occupation of ____________ and ____________ in 1939 stoked
fears of another German military takeover in Europe.
2. Cash-and-carry was temporarily _____________________.
3. In November 1939, the arms embargo was _____________.
4. All trade with belligerent nations now fell under the __________________policy.
5. The ban on ________ and American ships ____________________ was still in
effect.
Lend-Lease Act
1. Signed on _______________. This Act continued until the
________________________.
2. This program provided Allied nations with _______________________.
3. ___________, _____________ , ____________ , and the ____________ were all
beneficiaries.
4. By the end of the war, ______________ dollars was given in aid by the United
States.
Repeal of Neutrality Act
1. The passage of the __________________ Act signaled the end of American
neutrality in the war.
2. On October 17 1941, Congress _______________________________.
3. Attacks by German ___________ against U.S. Navy and merchant ships caused
Congress to also repeal legislation that
_____________________________________.
Pearl Harbor
December 7th, 1941 - ___________________________________.
December 8th, 1941 - ___________________________________.
December 11th, 1941 - ____________________________________.
Class Discussion
In small groups, discuss the following questions:
1. Why did the United States follow isolationist policies during the 1930s? Do you
think it was an effective decision? Why or why not?
2. What are the possible positives and negatives associated with the American
isolationist policies? Create a list for each.
3. Despite remaining a neutral nation, the American port of Pearl Harbor was
attacked in December 1941. Why did the Japanese launch this attack?
4. How did the attack on Pearl Harbor change Americas attitude toward joining the
war in Europe?