Cash and Carry

The Nye Committee Ruling

1934

This was known as the Special Committee on Investigation of the Munition Industry. It was created by the U.S. Senate in 1934 to investigate the arms industry of the U.S. and how it led the U.S. into World War 1. Its findings led concerns about the production of military equipment and weapons and how they influence foreign relations especially the possibility of becoming entangled in intentional conflict. What came from this committee was the Neutrality Acts.

Neutrality Act of 1935

1935

This was the first Neutrality act. This act prohibited the sale of military equipment from the United States to warring nations. This was done in order to prevent the United States from becoming entangled in foreign affairs by restricting the spread of weapons. This also forced those to get government approval for a license which would allow someone to export weapons to other countries allowing the U.S. government to have oversight on the trade of arms.

Neutrality Act of 1936

1936

This act extended the previous Neutrality act on the restriction of foreign trade and exportation of weapons from the U.S. This is where cash and carry basis comes in. Other countries could only purchase U.S. goods that were non-military but could only do so using cash and would have to provide their own shipment. This once again is a way the U.S. tried to prevent themselves from getting entangled in war by preventing the association with warring nations, financially and logistically.

Neutrality Act of 1937

1937

This act extended the previous neutrality acts but not only to wars between sovereign states but now it includes civil wars. This was all done for the same purpose as the previous acts which were to prevent entanglements in wars especially complex civil wars.

Start of WWII

Sep 1, 1939

This war officially began when Germany invaded Poland which violated international agreements. From this Britain and France then declared war on Germany while the U.S. maintained neutrality. This changed when the Nazi army threatened democratic nations of Europe which were Britain and France. This prompted the U.S. to slowly start to assist its allies through programs like the Lend-Lease act.

Neutrality Act of 1939

Nov 4, 1939

This act essentially loosened the previous Neutrality acts. This allowed European democracies to purchase United States arms but on the same cash and carry policy for U.S. goods. This also took a larger step which not just allowed cash and carry for the purchase of military equipment like ammunition or grenades but for American warships which would need to be purchased in cash.

Destroyers for Bases Agreement

1940

This was an agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom. The U.S. transferred destroyers to the British Royal Navy in exchange for land owned by the British in the Caribbean and other places to strengthen the U.S. military in the Atlantic. This gave the U.S. military stronger potions in the Atlantic for naval and air operations. It also showed the growing alliance between the U.S. and Britain against the Nazis.

Lend-Lease Act

Mar 11, 1941

This act allowed the U.S. to lend or lease military equipment to Allied powers to assist in their fight against the Axis powers. This gave the Allied powers vital military assistance to protect against the Nazis. President Roosevelt also had the power to choose what military assistance and equipment would be provided and where it would be provided to, so that it would allow for the best strategic priorities and needs. This marked a huge advancement in the foreign policy of the U.S.

Atlantic Charter

Aug 14, 1941

This was an agreement between the leader of Britain and President Roosevelt. Prior to the U.S. entering the war the two leaders outlined the goals for post-WWII. These goals were to uphold democratic principles and international cooperation which set the ground for the United Nations which would be created after the war. Key points of the Atlantic Charter included self-determination, no territorial expansion and disarmament. These ideas are meant to keep global peace, the goal of the charter.

Hemisphere Defense Zone

Sep 11, 1941

This stemmed from the fall of France and the Battle of Britain. President Roosevelt declared protection over the Western hemisphere from threats and aggression. This declaration not only protected the U.S. against threats but all the countries within the Americas which created a stronger cooperation of democracies against the threat of the Nazis.

Pearl Harbor Attack

Dec 6, 1941

This was a surprise military attack on the U.S. by the Imperial Japanese Navy. It resulted in many causalities and a lot of damage to the American Pacific fleet which was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii at the time. This propelled the U.S. to join the war as it was the first attack on American soil.