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Causes
- German U-boats and naval tensions - January 1941, US ships had begun to patrol the North Atlantic warning British convoys against U Boats and, on occasion, joining them in battle.
- Weakening opposition: Isolationists increasingly seen as supporters of Germany - diminishing support, Anti-Semitic tone alienated previous supporters of America First (Lindbergh), Many Communists and Socialists previously not in favour of intervention now wanted to assist the USSR, Americans upset by American Nazi Party the Volksbund
- The Atlantic Charter - Churchill hosted a meeting with Roosevelt at Placentia Bay, Newfoundland. Agreed on the concept of self-determination and the destruction of Nazism. Almost an alliance between Britain and the USA, charter was a statement if joint war aims.
- Changing Attitudes -January 1941, Roosevelt proposed lend lease scheme - lending weapons and resources to Britain, was supported by many moderate republicans and passed in March. Summer 1941 - far more Americans in favour of continuing aid to Britain than had been before.
- Roosevelt - When the war broke out in 1939, Roosevelt knew they could not remain neutral for long. He clearly supported Britain in the war and did not hide the fact that he was an enemy of Hitler.
- On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise air attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. After just two hours of bombing, more than 2,400 Americans were dead, 21 ships had either been sunk or damaged, and more than 188 U.S. aircraft destroyed.
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Effects
- Changing public attitudes towards war - public outrage against the sinking of US control ships by German U-Boats.
- Rearmament - December 1938, Roosevelt began to rearm the USA - by 1941, military budgets were four times that of 1940.
- The attack at Pearl Harbor so outraged Americans that the U.S. abandoned its policy of isolationism and declared war on Japan the following day -- officially bringing the United States into World War II.
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