America Enters the War
Setting the Stage for War: Japan
In the early Twentieth Century, Japan was looking to expand its empire. In order to expand, Japan needed to acquire land that contained natural resources like oil, steel, and rubber. In 1931, Japan began a series of invasions in China. By 1937, Japan’s empire reached throughout the South Pacific Ocean, into China, and through many of the islands in Indonesia. In this interactivity, learn how the actions of the Japanese military set the stage for World War II. Click the player button to begin.
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Setting the Stage for War: Germany
While Japan was invading Asia and the South Pacific, Germany was plotting its own European conquest. After World War I, Germans faced tough political and economic times. In 1933, Adolf Hitler took control of the German government. Hitler believed that Germans should fight in wars for large areas of land that would extend the German empire. In 1939, Hitler began his plan by attacking Poland, thus beginning World War II. In this interactivity, learn about the rise of the Nazi Party and the beginning of World War II. Click the player button to begin.
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Axis Powers
Leaders of the Axis of Power - Hitler, Mussolini, and Hirohito
On September 27, 1940, Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite Pact. This Pact was a mutual defense treaty, and the three countries became known as the Axis Powers. The Tripartite Pact was aimed at keeping the United States from entering the war. If the United States were to declare war on any of the three countries in the Pact, it would be entering a war that was taking place in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
America's Response to the War
A massive war was taking place in both Europe and Asia. How would America respond? Japan was continuing the invasion of China and the islands of the Pacific. Germany was invading Europe. Separated by oceans on the west and east, America did not have any sense of urgency to enter into another long, costly war. Would America support its European allies? In this interactivity, learn how America responded to the War. Click the player button to begin.
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The Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan’s continued military aggression in China during 1939 and 1940 caused the United States to impose an embargo on the export of oil and steel to Japan. Japan and the United States began negotiations to try to end both the conflict in China and the embargo. While the Japanese were negotiating peace with the United States, Japan launched a successful surprise attack against the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. More than 300 Japanese planes launched from six aircraft carriers, caught most of the American Pacific fleet at anchor, and damaged almost all of the United States Pacific Naval Fleet, along with many warplanes. More than 2,400 Americans were killed during the attack.
The response by United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was to guide the nation into World War II. He described the attack on Pearl Harbor as “A day that will live in infamy.” This attack caused America to fully enter the war. Watch Pearl Harbor from eMediaVASM to learn more about the attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s commitment to World War II.
President Roosevelt Addresses the Nation
On December 8, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt gave a memorable speech addressing both Congress and the nation about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Three days later, the United States would officially declare war on Japan, and Germany would honor a treaty it had with Japan, and declared war on the United States. The debate about isolationism in the United States was over. America had entered the conflict, making it an official world war. In this interactivity, listen to the entire “A Day in Infamy” address and pay special attention to the way in which Roosevelt delivers the major points of the address. While you listen, consider these questions: What evidence does President Roosevelt mention as proof that Japan planned that attack? What is the President’s stated goal for the war? Click the player button to get started.
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America Enters the War Review
Now that you have explored why America entered World War II, complete this activity to check your knowledge. Click the player button to get started.