1. What impact did the outbreak of war in Europe have on U.S. foreign and defense policy?
The outbreak of war in Europe had many impacts on U.S. foreign and defense policy. To start with, the war forced America to revise the neutrality act that had been put in place in 1935. Also, a "cash-and-carry" policy was put into place. This allowed America to sell war goods to nations at war as long as they took the good on their own ships and paid cash. The debate over this also created another neutrality act in 1939. Also, the war in Europe scared America, so the amount spent on defense was raised by Congress in 1940 and a law, which was the first of its kind, was created to draft men even though it was a time of peace. This was called the Selective Training and Service Act. The outbreak of war clearly made the U.S. less isolated and forced them to prepare for war.
2. Why did Roosevelt take one “unneutral” step after another to assist Britain and the Soviet Union in 1941?
Roosevelt took one "unneutral" step after another to assist Britain and the Soviet Union in 1941 because he wanted to protect the United States without going to war. He first justified lending weapons to Britain under the Lend-Lease Act because he felt that the Axis powers would have no opposition if Britain was defeated and this would lead to the Axis powers taking over the world. Roosevelt also justified helping the Soviet Union by stating that the Soviet Union was an enemy of the Axis powers and so was America. Therefore, the two should help each other. Clearly, these unneutral steps were taken to keep the Axis powers at bay so that America would not be threatened and not have to enter the war directly. Roosevelt wanted the Axis powers defeated, so he helped the Soviet Union and Britain because he thought that they would defeat the Axis powers.
3. Why was the Atlantic Charter important?
The Atlantic Charter was important for many reasons. The Atlantic Charter was a document signed by Winston Churchill and Roosevelt and promised that the two nations, Britain and America, would work together to make sure the Axis powers did not take away the freedom of other countries. This was really when Roosevelt promised to fight the Axis powers, so it was important in that respect, as well as the document that ensured that the two nations were allies. The last important aspect of the Atlantic Charter is the fact that it would be the document from which "A Declaration of the United Nations" would be created and that document was the start of the United Nations. Clearly the Atlantic Charter was very important.
4. Why did the United States enter into an undeclared shooting war with Germany in fall 1941?
The United States entered into an undeclared shooting war with Germany in the fall of 1941 because Germany submarines were bombing U.S. destroyers. Roosevelt had given the orders that, if Germany attacked, they must be instantly taken down. So, when a U-boat hit fired at Greer, a U.S. destroyer, those on the ship were ordered to shoot at every German submarine that was there. A similar incident occurred with the U.S. destroyer Rueben James and a merchant ship, Pink Star. These attacks further provoked shooting because, between the two incidents, 110 lives were lost. All of the lives lost and the orders from Roosevelt were why the U.S. entered into an undeclared shooting war.
5. How was oil a source of conflict between Japan and the United States?
Oil was a source of conflict between Japan and the United States. This is because Japan wanted to "unite East Asia" by taking over all the countries in East Asia, but the U.S. did not want them to do this. Therefore, the U.S. stopped trading with Japan and this was a problem because the U.S. provided Japan with oil and the Japanese needed oil to run the machines needed to take over other countries and have a war. The only way for Japan to obtain oil would be to make peace with the U.S. or take control of oil fields in the Dutch East Indies. The Japanese chose to act against the wishes of the U.S., thus causing a conflict that led to a war.
6. What problem would the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solve for Roosevelt? What new problems would it create?
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solved problems for Roosevelt, but it also created problems. The problem it solved was whether or not to go to war. After Pearl Harbor was attacked, there was no question that the U.S. should go to war so Roosevelt was easily able to make the Congress declare war. Also, the awful reports from Pearl Harbor probably helped the American public realize that the Axis powers were a threat and that the war needed to be fought. They themselves also felt threatened, so that would make them want to fight. However, two new problems were created. The first was that American could no longer hold onto its isolationism. America was now part of the war and involved. The second problem was that America had to full on go to war and on two sides of the country. There were fights to be made across both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This was going to be difficult because the U.S. Air Force and Navy were not very strong, so they would need to grow in order to win the war. Another problem is also the fact that a harbor in U.S. territory was attacked so U.S. property was destroyed. Those were the problems created, but the problem that was solved by Pearl Harbor was also very important.
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