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US Declares Neutrality as Europe fights
President Roosevelt issues proclamation 2348, to remain neutral in the middle of the fighting in Europe. Many Americans did not think that the United States should become involved with foreign wars ("Time Travels: Pages Through," n.d.). -
Roosevelt asks Congress to lift embargo
Roosevelt asked Congress to repeal the Neutrality Act. While the Neutrality Act included all countries in Europe, only the UK and France actual trade partners. Many senators were opposed, but it did pass Congress in November of 1939 ("Roosevelt Asks Congress to Repeal," 1939, p. 1). -
US strengthens military in preparation for possible entry into war
In an address to Congress, President Roosevelt asked for a strengthened military for urgent national safety needs.
Link:https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/WorldWar2/fdr18.htm
Picture source: ("American President Franklin Roosevelt," n.d.). -
Roosevelt promises to stay out of war
In a re-election speech given in Boston, Roosevelt promises to stay out of "any foreign war." He was re-elected soon after, on the promise to keep America out of war. However, 14 months later, America would enter World War II.
Link: https://youtu.be/JfSU-VGixjM
Source: (Richey, 2013) -
Lend Lease Act
Congress passed HR 1776 in March of 1941. It was known as the Lend Lease Act and allowed the US to provide support to any country that was considered vital to the defense of the United States. The US provided more support to the Allies with this act.
(Lend Lease Act, 1941) -
Pear Harbor Attacked!
The Japanese attack the American naval base at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7th, 1941. The Japanese declared war later that day, throwing the US into WWII. The attack become a rallying cry for the US throughout the war, leading the War Production board to make propaganda posters encouraging people to "Remember Pearl Harbor" ("They Shall Not Have," 1942). -
Roosevelt declares war on Japan
One day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt signed an executive order declaring war on Japan (Rowe, 1941). -
The axis powers declare war on the United States
Germany and Italy join Japan and declare war on the United States
Site: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/wwii/gerdec41.asp
(VonRibbentrop, 1941) -
Japanese Internment Camps executive order
President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 which relocated Japanese in the United States, who were considered a threat to America. They were sent to camps and many lost their homes and belongings (Executive Order 9066, 1942). -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was one of the most important battles in WWII. It was a naval battle in the Pacific and was one of the first major victories for the United States Navy against Japan ("Battle of Midway," 1942). -
Casablanca Conference
The Allied leaders held secret military conferences to plan strategy for the war. The most notable was in Casablanca in January, 1943. Others were held in Washington DC and Moscow (Churchill and Roosevelt Meet, n.d.). -
D-Day
On June 6th, 1944, Allied troops launched a huge invasion near Normandy, France to fight the Axis. Even though allied deaths were high, it was a huge battle in the war and a big victory for the allies. The link below is the audio message from General Eisenhower to the troops.
Link: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day/videos/eisenhower-broadcasts-d-day-invasion-order
("Eisenhower Broadcasts D-Day Invasion," n.d.). -
Liberation of Paris
The Battle for Paris was an intense fight that took 5 days and resulted in the liberation of Paris by French resistance and Allied fighters after 4 years of German occupation (Carroll, 1944). -
Yalta conference
On Feb 11th, the leaders of the three largest allied forces: the US, the UK, and Russia met in the Russian Crimean city of Yalta to talk about finishing the war: what to demand from Germany and the Axis powers, and how Europe would be governed after the end of the war (Yalta Conference, n.d.). -
Germany surrenders
The US celebrated V-E day after General Alfred Jodi signed this document declaring unconditional surrender and ending war in Europe (Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1945). -
Hiroshima
US drops first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Only three days later they dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki. This devastation quickly led to the end of war with Japan (Kimura, 1946). -
World War II is over
General MacArthur receives Japan's unconditional surrender, marking the end of World War II ("Japan Surrenders," 1945).
