Summary
Summary US entry into WW2
- Institution
- AQA
Detailed notes on US entry into WW2 . Great for revision! Obtained an A* overall
[Show more]
Content preview
Pearl Harbour - 7th December 1941Roosevelt declares war on Japan - 8th December 1941
Economic
- As the Sino-Japanese war continued the US decided to block the Japanese from
accessing war materials needed to complete the invasion
- US was Japan’s major trading partner so anything the US did greatly affected them -
population growing 1 million a year so relied on imports and exports declined in 1929 by
40%
- Summer 1941 the US trade embargo prevented the Japanese from getting rubber, oil
and iron just like the trade tariffs in 1931which instigated the need for Japanese
colonialism
Foreign Policy and Military
- 1937 USA Neutrality Act outlawed the selling of weapons or loaning of capital to all
countries in future war
- Poll in May 1941 showed US public opinion and revealed 79% were opposed to going to
war voluntarily
- When Roosevelt won his 3rd term in early 1941 he managed to steer through the Lend-
Lease Act
- Japan wanted to establish dominance in the Far East - US seemed increasingly likely to
interfere with Japanese expansion particularly after the Manchurian Crisis - the rape of
Nanjing cost the lives of 250,000 Chinese
- 27th September 1940 Germany, Italy and Japan signed the Three Power Pact- assist
each other politically, economically and militarily when one of the powers was at war
with a power at present not involved in the European war of the Chinese -Japanese
conflict - it was clear that this power alluded to the US
- The signatories hoped it would deter Roosevelt from intervening on the side of the Allied
in Europe by suggesting it invite the US into war with Japan
- 16th October 1941, General Tojo became Japanese Prime Minister which emphasised
the military’s dominance over Japanese policy
- Tojo formulated plans for war against Britain and US
- They hoped that a surprise attack would allow them to defend their interests in the
western Pacific
- Admiral Yamamoto instructed to prepare a force to attack US fleet at Pearl Harbour
- Early December 1941 Washington received intelligence that a Japanese attack was
imminent but they believed that the Philippines was the likely target
- 7th December 1941, 300 Japanese planes launched a bombing raid on Pearl Harbour,
deliberately attacking on a Sunday so US were off-guard
Social/ Ideological
- News of Nazi atrocities start to sway public opinion
- Germany wanted to reaffirm principles behind the Anti-Comintern Pact
- Public opinion turned after Pearl Harbour and the US declared war on Japan on 8th
December 1941 and on the 11th December 1941 Germany declared war on the USA,
according to the Three Power Pact
- They had ideological differences- nationalism vs. democracy
- In August 1941 Churchill and Roosevelt met in Newfoundland to discuss the
development of the war and outline plans for post-war world
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller 10barlowl. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £2.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
66579 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now