9 Questions
1) What was the London Conference and what were its ramifications? Pg 800
The London Conference of 1933 was the World Monetary and Economic Conference, which had as its object the checking of the world depression by means of currency stabilization and economic agreements. Unbridgeable disagreements among the participants and the attitude of the United States made the meeting a total failure; customs and currency restrictions instead became increasingly stringent throughout the world. The collapse also strengthened the global trend toward extreme nationalism, making international cooperation more difficult.
2) What were the Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936, and 1937? And what were their effects? Pg 805
Taken together, these acts stipulated that when the president proclaimed the existence of a foreign war, certain restrictions would automatically go into effect. These effects said that no American could legally sail on a belligerent ship, sell or transport munition to a belligerent, or make loans to a belligerent. Essentially, this legislation marked the abandonment of the traditional policy of freedom of the seas -- a policy for which America had professedly fought two full-fledged wars and several undeclared wars. These acts were specifically created to keep the nation out of conflict like World War I. In hoping to keep scales even, it actually overbalanced them in favor of the dictators.
3) What happened in Spain and how did American actions effect the outcome? Pg 806
In Spain there was the Spanish Civil war of 1936-1939. During this war, Francisco Franco was aided by Hitler and Mussolini against the Spanish rebels. Instead of continuing with previous American practice, Congress, with encouragement from Roosevelt and with only one dissenting vote, amended the existing neutrality legislation so as to apply an arms embargo to both Loyalists and rebels. While Franco was supplied with arms and men by his fellow dictators, the republican government of Spain was strangled.
4) What were the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies and the America First Committee examples of? P 812
The Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies and the America First Committee were both examples of propaganda groups. The Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies wanted to send aid to Britain because to interventionists it could appeal for direct succor to the British and to isolationists it could appeal for assistance to the democracies. The America First Committee , determined to avoid American bloodshed, contended that America should concentrate on what strength it had to defend its own shores in case Hitler decided to plan a transoceanic assault.
5) What did, “better a third term than a third rater” mean? P 814
This referred to FDR's decision to run a third term. He believed he owed his experienced hand to the service of the country and humanity during such a grave crisis. Many Democrats cried "better a third term than a third-rater" which meant that it would be better to elect FDR than someone incapable of handling such a job that decided the fate of America.
6) Explain the “Arsenal of Democracy” p 815
The Arsenal of Democracy was also known as the Lend-Lease Bill. This bill was praised by the administration as a device that would keep the nation out of war rather than drag it in. Roosevelt promised this "arsenal of democracy" would send limitless supplies of arms to the victims of aggression, who in turn would finish the job and keep the war on their side of the Atlantic. All they needed to do was return the weapons to the United States after the war was ended. However, in the long run, this Lend-Lease Bill marked the abandonment of any pretense of neutrality.
7) What was the Atlantic Charter and what was it’s importance? P 817
The Atlantic Charter was created by Churchill and Roosevelt who met on the secret coast of Newfoundland. It had eight points and was endorsed by the Soviet Union later that year. The Atlantic Charter was similar to Wilson's Fourteen Points in that it outlined the aspirations of the democracies for a better world at the war's end. While opposing imperialistic annexations, it promised that there would be no territorial changes contrary to the wishes of the inhabitants (self- determination). Also, it affirmed the right of a people to choose their own form of government and, in particular, to regain the governments abolished by the dictators. The charter declared for disarmament and a peace of security pending a "permanent system of general security" (a New League of Nations).
8) What effect did the start of War have on Immigrants and attitudes towards immigrants? P 822
At the start of the war, attitudes towards the Italian Americans and German Americans were loyally supported by the nation's war program, a great difference in comparison with the attitudes from World War I. World War II actually speeded the assimilation of many ethnic groups into American society, for immigrants had been choked off for almost two decades before 1941. America's ethnic communities were now composed of well-settled members, whose votes were crucial to FDR's Democratic Party. There were virtually no government witch-hunting of minority groups, as had happened in World War I.
9) How did the War affect industry, give examples? P 826
The war made industry work at a higher rate. This was probably due to the actions of the War Productions Board. The War Productions Board halted the manufacturing of nonessential items such as passenger cars sand assigned priorities for transportation and access to raw materials. After the Japanese invasion of British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, America's lifeline of natural rubber was cut so the government imposed a national speed limit and gasoline rationing in order to conserve rubber. This allowed them to build fifty-one synthetic-rubber plants. Farmers also increased their output, as they hauled in billions of wheat harvests using the new machinery. However, these wonders of production also brought economic strains, causing the Office of Price Administration to bring ascending prices under control with extensive regulations and the War Labor Board to impose ceilings on wage increases. Strikes increased as more members in labor unions grew unsettled with the new restrictions. On the whole, workers were committed to the war effort.
The London Conference of 1933 was the World Monetary and Economic Conference, which had as its object the checking of the world depression by means of currency stabilization and economic agreements. Unbridgeable disagreements among the participants and the attitude of the United States made the meeting a total failure; customs and currency restrictions instead became increasingly stringent throughout the world. The collapse also strengthened the global trend toward extreme nationalism, making international cooperation more difficult.
2) What were the Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936, and 1937? And what were their effects? Pg 805
Taken together, these acts stipulated that when the president proclaimed the existence of a foreign war, certain restrictions would automatically go into effect. These effects said that no American could legally sail on a belligerent ship, sell or transport munition to a belligerent, or make loans to a belligerent. Essentially, this legislation marked the abandonment of the traditional policy of freedom of the seas -- a policy for which America had professedly fought two full-fledged wars and several undeclared wars. These acts were specifically created to keep the nation out of conflict like World War I. In hoping to keep scales even, it actually overbalanced them in favor of the dictators.
3) What happened in Spain and how did American actions effect the outcome? Pg 806
In Spain there was the Spanish Civil war of 1936-1939. During this war, Francisco Franco was aided by Hitler and Mussolini against the Spanish rebels. Instead of continuing with previous American practice, Congress, with encouragement from Roosevelt and with only one dissenting vote, amended the existing neutrality legislation so as to apply an arms embargo to both Loyalists and rebels. While Franco was supplied with arms and men by his fellow dictators, the republican government of Spain was strangled.
4) What were the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies and the America First Committee examples of? P 812
The Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies and the America First Committee were both examples of propaganda groups. The Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies wanted to send aid to Britain because to interventionists it could appeal for direct succor to the British and to isolationists it could appeal for assistance to the democracies. The America First Committee , determined to avoid American bloodshed, contended that America should concentrate on what strength it had to defend its own shores in case Hitler decided to plan a transoceanic assault.
5) What did, “better a third term than a third rater” mean? P 814
This referred to FDR's decision to run a third term. He believed he owed his experienced hand to the service of the country and humanity during such a grave crisis. Many Democrats cried "better a third term than a third-rater" which meant that it would be better to elect FDR than someone incapable of handling such a job that decided the fate of America.
6) Explain the “Arsenal of Democracy” p 815
The Arsenal of Democracy was also known as the Lend-Lease Bill. This bill was praised by the administration as a device that would keep the nation out of war rather than drag it in. Roosevelt promised this "arsenal of democracy" would send limitless supplies of arms to the victims of aggression, who in turn would finish the job and keep the war on their side of the Atlantic. All they needed to do was return the weapons to the United States after the war was ended. However, in the long run, this Lend-Lease Bill marked the abandonment of any pretense of neutrality.
7) What was the Atlantic Charter and what was it’s importance? P 817
The Atlantic Charter was created by Churchill and Roosevelt who met on the secret coast of Newfoundland. It had eight points and was endorsed by the Soviet Union later that year. The Atlantic Charter was similar to Wilson's Fourteen Points in that it outlined the aspirations of the democracies for a better world at the war's end. While opposing imperialistic annexations, it promised that there would be no territorial changes contrary to the wishes of the inhabitants (self- determination). Also, it affirmed the right of a people to choose their own form of government and, in particular, to regain the governments abolished by the dictators. The charter declared for disarmament and a peace of security pending a "permanent system of general security" (a New League of Nations).
8) What effect did the start of War have on Immigrants and attitudes towards immigrants? P 822
At the start of the war, attitudes towards the Italian Americans and German Americans were loyally supported by the nation's war program, a great difference in comparison with the attitudes from World War I. World War II actually speeded the assimilation of many ethnic groups into American society, for immigrants had been choked off for almost two decades before 1941. America's ethnic communities were now composed of well-settled members, whose votes were crucial to FDR's Democratic Party. There were virtually no government witch-hunting of minority groups, as had happened in World War I.
9) How did the War affect industry, give examples? P 826
The war made industry work at a higher rate. This was probably due to the actions of the War Productions Board. The War Productions Board halted the manufacturing of nonessential items such as passenger cars sand assigned priorities for transportation and access to raw materials. After the Japanese invasion of British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, America's lifeline of natural rubber was cut so the government imposed a national speed limit and gasoline rationing in order to conserve rubber. This allowed them to build fifty-one synthetic-rubber plants. Farmers also increased their output, as they hauled in billions of wheat harvests using the new machinery. However, these wonders of production also brought economic strains, causing the Office of Price Administration to bring ascending prices under control with extensive regulations and the War Labor Board to impose ceilings on wage increases. Strikes increased as more members in labor unions grew unsettled with the new restrictions. On the whole, workers were committed to the war effort.