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Authors: Charles River Charles River Editors
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opposition among considerable segments of the public, the bar, and even Vice President Garner. One editorialist wrote, “[T]hese are not the traits of a democratic leader.”
The court packing provisions of the bill were soundly rejected by the Senate and eventually stripped from the bill later in 1937. By that time, the Supreme Court had begun to uphold New Deal legislation on a more frequent basis anyway. And over the course of his entire presidency, Roosevelt was able to appoint 8 new justices to the Supreme Court out of a total of 9 spots.
Focusing on Europe
Foreign policy, a minor part of Roosevelt's first term, came to dominate his second. In December of 1937, Japan attacked the U.S. gunboat Panay on China's Yangtze River, even though Roosevelt had already declared neutrality in the war between China and Japan. Japan apologized and said the attack was a case of mistaken identity, but sensing the need for preparation, Congress appropriated $1 billion to upgrade the U.S. Navy in January of 1938.
Throughout 1938 and 1939, war broke out throughout Europe. The social and economic disorder brought about by World War I helped the Nazis rise in Germany. In 1937, Adolf Hitler declared the Treaty of Versailles void and began aggressively annexing parts of the European continent. Europe’s attempts to appease him failed, as Nazi Germany swallowed up Austria and Czechoslovakia by 1939. Italy was on the march as well, invading Albania in April of 1939.
During the months and years immediately before the outbreak of war, FDR reiterated America’s neutral stance. In May of 1937, another Neutrality Act was passed, now requiring belligerents to pay for non-military U.S. goods in cash and carry them in their own ships. Congress also prohibited the government from loaning money to foreign governments at war.
The straw that broke the camel's back, however, was Germany's invasion of Poland in September of 1939. Two days later, France and Great Britain declared war on Germany and World War II began. This event, and those that followed soonafter, changed Roosevelt's mind. As Assistant Secretary of the Navy in World War I, Roosevelt had wanted the U.S. to involve itself earlier. He didn't feel any differently this time around. Roosevelt thus got to work convincing Americans of the need to support Great Britain in war.
Roosevelt's argument was fueled by Germany's rapid conquest of Poland, Denmark and Norway, and the Battle of Britain, which took place on July 10 th , 1940. With these events, Great Britain was essentially on its own fighting Nazi Germany in Europe. The Soviet Union was still abiding by its Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, so the USSR was uninvolved. British diplomats began begging the US government for some sort of aid.
Roosevelt initially took small steps. On September 16 th , 1940, he signed the Selective Training and Service Act, the first peace-time military draft in US history. All men between the ages of 21 and 35 were required to sign up for the draft.
After winning an unprecedented third term in 1940 – by a significantly smaller, but certainly not narrow, margin than he had previously – Roosevelt began speaking to the American people on the possibility of war in Europe. He framed his arguments in Wilsonian ways, calling the U.S. the last remaining “Arsenal of Democracy.” FDR argued that “we are fighting to save a great and precious form of government for ourselves and for the world.” He convinced Congress to send aid to Great Britain, on the basis that the US would be defending four essential freedoms. Neutrality was officially over, though war was not yet on.
Chapter 5: World War II, 1941 – 1945
Heading for War
On January 20 th , 1941, Roosevelt became the first President to be inaugurated for a third term, and much like his first swearing-in, his third inauguration came amidst a major crisis. War was
The court packing provisions of the bill were soundly rejected by the Senate and eventually stripped from the bill later in 1937. By that time, the Supreme Court had begun to uphold New Deal legislation on a more frequent basis anyway. And over the course of his entire presidency, Roosevelt was able to appoint 8 new justices to the Supreme Court out of a total of 9 spots.
Focusing on Europe
Foreign policy, a minor part of Roosevelt's first term, came to dominate his second. In December of 1937, Japan attacked the U.S. gunboat Panay on China's Yangtze River, even though Roosevelt had already declared neutrality in the war between China and Japan. Japan apologized and said the attack was a case of mistaken identity, but sensing the need for preparation, Congress appropriated $1 billion to upgrade the U.S. Navy in January of 1938.
Throughout 1938 and 1939, war broke out throughout Europe. The social and economic disorder brought about by World War I helped the Nazis rise in Germany. In 1937, Adolf Hitler declared the Treaty of Versailles void and began aggressively annexing parts of the European continent. Europe’s attempts to appease him failed, as Nazi Germany swallowed up Austria and Czechoslovakia by 1939. Italy was on the march as well, invading Albania in April of 1939.
During the months and years immediately before the outbreak of war, FDR reiterated America’s neutral stance. In May of 1937, another Neutrality Act was passed, now requiring belligerents to pay for non-military U.S. goods in cash and carry them in their own ships. Congress also prohibited the government from loaning money to foreign governments at war.
The straw that broke the camel's back, however, was Germany's invasion of Poland in September of 1939. Two days later, France and Great Britain declared war on Germany and World War II began. This event, and those that followed soonafter, changed Roosevelt's mind. As Assistant Secretary of the Navy in World War I, Roosevelt had wanted the U.S. to involve itself earlier. He didn't feel any differently this time around. Roosevelt thus got to work convincing Americans of the need to support Great Britain in war.
Roosevelt's argument was fueled by Germany's rapid conquest of Poland, Denmark and Norway, and the Battle of Britain, which took place on July 10 th , 1940. With these events, Great Britain was essentially on its own fighting Nazi Germany in Europe. The Soviet Union was still abiding by its Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, so the USSR was uninvolved. British diplomats began begging the US government for some sort of aid.
Roosevelt initially took small steps. On September 16 th , 1940, he signed the Selective Training and Service Act, the first peace-time military draft in US history. All men between the ages of 21 and 35 were required to sign up for the draft.
After winning an unprecedented third term in 1940 – by a significantly smaller, but certainly not narrow, margin than he had previously – Roosevelt began speaking to the American people on the possibility of war in Europe. He framed his arguments in Wilsonian ways, calling the U.S. the last remaining “Arsenal of Democracy.” FDR argued that “we are fighting to save a great and precious form of government for ourselves and for the world.” He convinced Congress to send aid to Great Britain, on the basis that the US would be defending four essential freedoms. Neutrality was officially over, though war was not yet on.
Chapter 5: World War II, 1941 – 1945
Heading for War
On January 20 th , 1941, Roosevelt became the first President to be inaugurated for a third term, and much like his first swearing-in, his third inauguration came amidst a major crisis. War was
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