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Selective Service Act is passed
The Selective Service Act was passed six weeks after the United States entered WWI giving Woodrow Wilson, the US president, the power to draft soldiers. All men between the ages of 21 and 30 were required to register for military service. About 24 million men had registered under this act by the end of WWI. -
Hitler is named leader of the Nazi Party
After Germany’s defeat of WWI, Adolf Hitler joined the German Workers’ Party, which was a party that expressed dissatisfaction with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles among other things. Hitler started attracting new members by giving public speeches and on July 29, 1921, he was named leader. -
Kellogg-Briand Pact signed
The Kellogg-Briand Pact, also known as Pact of Paris due to the city where it was signed, was an effort to prevent another World War. This act was first suggested by the French foreign minister, Aristide Briand, and was later supported by the US secretary of state, Frank B. Kellogg. Nearly all nations around the world subscribed to the pact and agreed to settle all international disputes in peaceful means. The pact became ineffective as many of the nations found loopholes in the terms. -
Japan invades Manchuria
On September 18 of 1931, Japan launched an attack on Manchuria and, within a few days, several strategic points in South Manchuria had been occupied by Japanese armed forces. The Japanese invaded Manchuria because Japan was becoming increasingly crowded due to its limited size as a nation and also because it was believed that Manchuria was rich in minerals, forestry, and agricultural land. -
Enabling Act of 1933 is issued
The Enabling Act was a law that allowed Adolf Hitler to assume dictatorial powers, meaning he was able to issue decrees without any kind of approval from the Reichstag or the presidency. -
Neutrality Act of 1935 signed
The first Neutrality Act, the Neutrality Act of 1935, prohibited the export of arms and ammunition in order to enforce US neutrality due to the indications of a world war. This act also restricted American travel on belligerent ships. -
FDR wins a third term as president
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to a third term with the promise of maintaining neutrality in the nation. On Election Day, Roosevelt easily defeated the Republican contender, Wendell Wilkie. After Roosevelt’s death in 1945, the 22nd amendment was ratified limiting presidents to two terms. -
Lend-Lease program enabled
The lend-lease program was intended to help Britain with Heatler’s advance while keeping the United States indirectly involved in the war. This program gave Franklin D. Roosevelt the power to lend arms to Britain since it’s defense was vital for the security of the United States. -
A Philip Randolph’s march and Roosevelt’s response
A Philip Randolph, president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, threatened to have 10,000 blacks to protest about job discrimination since defense plants were resisting hiring African Americans. As a response, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802 that banned discriminatory employment in defense jobs or government. -
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
The Pearl Harbor attack was a Japanese aerial attack made on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This attack destroyed many ships as hundreds of japanese fighter planes and bombers dropped bombs and torpedoes on the war ships. The Japanese thought that they would break the Americans with the attack, but they actually united them. The next day, the US declared war on Japan and three days later Germany and Italy, Japan’s allies, declared war on the United States. -
Adolf Hitler declares war against the United States
America had been neutral in the European conflict but with the Pearl Harbor attack and the US declaring war on Japan, Germany declared war against the United States. The decision was made by Adolf Hitler without any consultation as a response to a series of provocations by the United States while it was neutral during WWII.