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Selective Service Act
The American standing army was very small, just over 100,000 men. So, President Woodrow Wilson passed the Selective Service Act, which conscripted almost 3 million men into the army during the war. Although the act was repealed at the end of the war, it was reinstated for WW2 and not officially repealed until much after its end. -
Hitler is named leader of Nazi Party
Hitler, a highly effective and encouraging speaker, was gaining much recognition and popularity. Knowing that the Nazi party was greatly dependent on him, he resigned and stated that he would only return if he was made chairman and given dictatorial power. He forced the Nazi party to name him Führer of the Nazi party. -
Kellog-Briand Pact signed
An international agreement signed by Germany, France, the U.S., and others, the Kellogg-Brand Pact was an agreement in which the countries promised not to use war to resolve conflicts. Obviously, this pact was broken quickly and often. It was not very effective. -
Japan invades Manchuria
Knowing that China was vulnerable and not unified at the times, Japan invaded Manchuria, the region of China close to the Koreas. Japan occupied Manchuria and formed a state called Manchukuo, but the Chinese ruler there was a Japanese puppet. Japan would go on to own much of Northern China. -
Enabling Act of 1933
Officially called the “Removing the Distress and Riech” this act would remove democracy and put Hitler in absolute authority of Germany. During this time, the Nazi party framed the communist for setting chaos to Germany and was able to lift support from citizens. Hitler would promise to rebuild Germany from WWI and push peace programs with France. -
Neutrality Act of 1935 signed
After costly WW1 and the unrest in Europe, the American people strongly advocated avoiding international affairs and keeping to themselves. These acts were passed to ensure that the U.S. would not get involved in wars like they had done in the past. The acts were repealed in 1941. -
FDR 3rd Term
FDR felt his duty as president was not complete and ran again in 1940; the crisis in Europe was his reason for another term. Winning by a landslide, FDR would beat Wendell Willkie as a Democrat, he would push American involvement against the Nazi party. The American population would support all of FDR’s choices in sending troops to the US and resolving the conflict of WWII. -
Lend-Lease Program
The principle where the US would lend weapons to allies and or any other country that was important to the U.S. This would help bring the U.S out of the pit of economic depression and would bring the U.S closer to involvement. -
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A. Randolph's march and Roosevelt's response
Randolph and other activists organized a march on Washington to force the government to desegregate U.S. armies and provide equal opportunities for blacks. Roosevelt responded by issuing an executive order that established the first Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC). Randolph called the march off after this order. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Japanese Empire suddenly and unexpectedly launched an attack on Pearl Harbor, an American naval base in Hawaii. Unfortunately, 2,400 Americans died, and almost 1,800 other were injured. The day would live in infamy forever because the Japanese had tricked the Americans into believing there was peace while planning the attack. -
Hitler declares war on US
A few days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, Hitler declared war on the United States. He feared that the United States would beat him to declaring war and, and Nazi Germany claimed that America had broken its own declaration of neutrality. The United States also declared war on Germany later that day.
