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Selective Service Act is passed
Little after the United States entered World War I, the US Congress passed the Selective Service Act, which gave the president the power to draft soldiers. President Woodrow Wilson had pledged all the nation’s resources to help the Allies defeat the Central Powers. The Allies needed troops, and the US didn’t have these to provide. As a result, the Selective Service Act was issued, and it required all American men between 21 and 30 to register for military service. -
Hitler is named leader of the Nazi Party in Germany
Adolf Hitler joined the Nazi party in 1919, and he soon became one of the party’s most dominant figures due to his engaging public speaking talent. Everyone knew that if Hitler left the party, then it would lose its success. Hitler demanded to be chairman and have the ability to gain dictatorial powers in the party, so the members were subdued to a vote. Hitler won the leadership with 543 votes and only one vote against. -
Kellogg-Briand Pact signed
The Kellogg-Briand Pact was an agreement as an effort to prevent another World War. After World War I and seeing the horrible things that happened, many politicians and diplomats wanted to create measures in order to prevent another conflict, leading to the creation of the Kellog-Briand Pact. The pact was written by Frank B.Kellog and Aristide Briand and it had a total of 62 signatories. The pact was ineffective in preventing the rise of militarism and war. -
Japan invades Manchuria
In September 1931, the Japanese invaded Manchuria, by planting a small explosive device, known as the Mukden Incident. The Japanese invaded Manchuria in an effort to gain control over the whole province, and make up for the lack of natural resources in Japan. Even though Japan had a very developed industry, their land was scarce in natural resources. This incident violated the rules of the League of Nations, but the League did little about it. This event was one of the causes of World War II. -
Enabling Act of 1933 is issued
The Enabling Act, or the “Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Reich”, was issued on March 23, 1933, and it allowed the German government to create laws without the approval of the parliament, which led to the Nazification of German society. -
Neutrality Act of 1935 signed
President Roosevelt signed the Neutrality Act on August 31, 1935, which would prevent the United States’ involvement in future wars. It was inspired by the events of World War I. The Act declared that American ships were forbidden to enter war zones, and also they couldn’t be armed, and Americans were also forbidden to travel in belligerent (hostile) ships. -
FDR wins a third term as president
In November 1940, Roosevelt was re-elected for a third term as president of the US, with the promise of maintaining American neutrality in foreign wars. He went against Republican Wendell Wilkie, but Roosevelt defeated him by winning the election by a wide margin. The reelection of Roosevelt led to the ratification of the 22nd Amendment, which limited the election of a president to two terms. -
A Philip Randolph’s march and Roosevelt’s response
A. Phillip Randolph, a social activist, proposed a march on Washington D.C. to protest discrimination in the military and industry. To hold the march, he recruited African Americans to join him. President Roosevelt asked him to call off the march since he was afraid that it would cause disorder and turmoil among whites. Randolph refused, so Roosevelt issued an executive order, which called on employers to stop discrimination in industries. Due to this, the march was ultimately canceled. -
Lend-Lease program enabled
In January 1941, President Roosevelt issued the Lend-Lease program, which gave him the power to aid any nations whose protection was very important to the United States, accepting repayment. The US aided its World War II allies with war materials, such as tanks, airplanes, food, raw materials, and ammunition. The program was initially enabled to help Britain, but later in 1941, it was extended to China and the Soviet Union. -
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
Tensions between Japan and the US had been happening for a long time. In 1941, the navy of the Empire of Japan attacked the US Navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This was an unexpected attack, so Peal Harbor was an easy target. Japan hoped that the US would accept defeat and that they would be able to take control of the Pacific. The attack caused over 2,400 American casualties, 1,178 people wounded, 19 ships damaged, and 300 aircraft destroyed. This event led the United States to World War II. -
Adolf Hitler declares war against the United States
Days after the Pearl Harbor attack, Hitler declared war against the United States. During this time, due to the Tripartite Act, Germany, Japan, and Italy pledged mutual military assistance. Although Germany was not obliged to declare war on the US since Japan was the aggressor, Hitler declared war anyway. He thought that this decision would strengthen the German-Japanese alliance, and assumed that the US was about to declare war on Germany. He also held a personal grudge against Roosevelt.
