Americans_in_Wwii_Essay

Americans in World War II Essay Bridget Sherman HIS 125 February 20, 2012 Gerald Franz Americans in World War II Essay As with any war, there are devastating consequences for all involved. World War II was no different. Countless lives were lost during this time. America was one of the last countries to step in. On December 8, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a declaration of war against Japan. America had wanted to stay neutral and try to stay out of Europe’s affairs, but it was becoming inevitable that they must step in and help. America finely stepped in when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Before World War II, at the end of World War I, the Treaty of Versailles was signed. This was a treaty to obtain some kind of agreement between the Allies as to what to do with the countries that had caused all of the problems in the first place (ThinkQuest, 2002). When World War II came about many historians believe it was because Germany had held a grudge and wanted revenge. Thus ending the Treaty of Versailles. Other countries had always looked upon America as an isolationism nation. This was mostly part to America wanted to stay out of other countries affairs. World War I was the first time that America had bothered to get involved. The reason President Roosevelt signed the declaration was because Japan attacked Pearl Harbor (World War II: Isolationist America, 2002). When America became involved in World War II, the opinion soon started to sway from isolationism and more towards interventionism. The reason for the change was the neutrality acts that were signed. These acts came around so that America would have a limited involvement in the surrounding conflicts. Activities such as a blanket ban on all weapon shipments and to prevenet Americans from traveling to other nations (Delaney, 2013). One of the amendements to the 1937 Neutrality Act, was the Cash and Carry Act. This was so America could sell material just as long as it was paid by cash and transported by the other nations ships (Cash and carry (World War II)). In 1941, President Roosevelt wanted to become more involved in the war. He started to aid America’s allie Britain with any help that he could provide without going against the neutrality acts. The president introduce the Lend-Lease Act of 1941 which would allow America to transfer, lend, or lease any military material if it was looked apon as defense to the United States (Hickman, 2013). To form a more perminant alliance with Great Britain, America helped to form the Atlantic Charter. This was an agreement that the two nations agreed to not seek any territorial gains from whatever the result of the war may come about. This was a move that brought about the United Nations (Kelly, 2013). Works Cited World War II: Isolationist America. (2002, December 31). Retrieved January 18, 2013, from Historical Boys' Clothing: http://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/cou/us/ww2us-iso.html Cash and carry (World War II). (n.d.). Retrieved January 18, 2013, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_and_carry_(World_War_II) Delaney, D. G. (2013). Neutrality Acts. Retrieved January 18, 2013, from eNotes: http://www.enotes.com/neutrality-acts-101269-reference/neutrality-acts Hickman, K. (2013). World War II: The Lend-Lease Act. Retrieved January 18, 2013, from About.com: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/industrialmobilization/p/lend-lease-act.htm Kelly, M. (2013). Atlantic Charter. Retrieved January 18, 2013, from About.com: http://americanhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/atlantic_charte.htm ThinkQuest. (2002). The Treaty of Versailles. Retrieved January 14, 2013, from ThinkQuest: http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215466/treaty_of_versailles.htm