WW2 Game Changers
Clara Diekman
#1 Lend-Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act of 1941 was a game changer because it prolonged the war which allowed for the United States to actually get involved in the war. Before passing this act the United States was neutral with the same mindset that our founding fathers had regarding foreign policy and involvement. President Washington warned the nation about possible foreign entanglement and suggested that they stay out of it when giving his Farewell Address, “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connection as possible.” This mindset stayed the same until the Lend Lease act which can be seen when President Roosevelt said the following in 1955, “Despite what happens in continents overseas, the United States of America shall and must remain, as long ago the Father of our Country prayed that it might remain- unentangled and free.”. Roosevelt was reassuring the country that nothing had changed from what the founding fathers had said regarding the United States involvement in foreign issues. With the passing of the Lend Lease bill the United States gave aid to Britain. Churchill contacted President Roosevelt and said that they did not have enough money to buy the supplies they needed from the United States. Roosevelt then came up with the Lend Lease act which allowed us to give aid to Britain without them having to pay us back. We provided supplies like tanks, guns and planes. Roosevelt justifies this change in foreign policy by saying, well you know it's like you have a neighbor whose house is on fire. And the neighbor comes running to you and shouts over the garden fence, "Neighbor, neighbor, my house is on fire, help me out, lend me your garden hose." Well of course you're a good neighbor, you lend the garden hose to your neighbor and he puts out the fire and then he gives you the hose back.” By saying this he justifies changing the United States foreign policy by creating this scenario that the people could relate to and cause them to understand the sudden change in foreign policy.
#2 Germany Invades Poland
#3 Pearl Harbor
#4 Japan Invades China
#5 Germany Invades the Soviet Union
References
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“BBC News.” BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 7 May 2015. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/ww2outbreak/7957.shtml?page=txt>
“Churchill And the Great RepublicThe Finest Hour.” The Finest Hour. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2015. <http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/churchill/wc-hour.html>
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“Hitlers Proclamation Of 22 June 1941.” Hitlers Proclamation of 22 June 1941. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2015. <http://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/hitler4.htm>
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