America Enters World War II

1. What impact did the outbreak of war in Europe have on U.S. foreign and defense policy?   
As the outbreak of war in Europe continued, Roosevelt began to address Congress with acts that would demand an increase in national defense funding, and an increase in funding and shipping to foreign countries, namely Britain. This is because he saw a foreshadowed war and began to prepare for it, despite the "neutrality" of the United States. The outbreak of war in Europe caused the U.S. foreign and defense policy to become less neutral. 
2. Why did Roosevelt take one “unneutral” step after another to assist Britain and the Soviet Union in 1941?    
Roosevelt took one "unneutral" step after another to assist Britain and the Soviet Union in 1941 because he didn't want to explicitly declare the war that he knew was inevitable; he wanted to ease the United States into a supportive war mode but didn't want to enrage the isolationists in America, so he kept his actions subtle. The Soviet Union had then become an enemy of Hitler, which therefore made it a temporary friend of the U.S. Britain also agreed that Hitler and his power-hungry Germany needed to be stopped, so Roosevelt did what he could to help both Britain and the Soviet Union out without declaring war. 

3. Why was the Atlantic Charter important?   
The Atlantic Charter was important because it pledged a joint declaration of war aims between Britain and the United States. Also, it ended up forming the basis of the document United Nations, which essentially expressed the common purpose of the Allies in the war.
4. Why did the United States enter into an undeclared shooting war with Germany in fall 1941?   
The United States entered into an undeclared shooting war with Germany in fall 1941 because German U-boats continually were sinking U.S. ships, and Roosevelt didn't want to declare war just yet. The Senate, as a result of this undeclared shooting war, ended up repealing the ban against arming merchant ships.
5. How was oil a source of conflict between Japan and the United States?   
Oil was a source of conflict between Japan and the United States because Japan needed it to fuel its war machine but the United States had cut off oil trade with Japan because Japan was becoming more aggressive and taking over French military bases. 
6. What problem would the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solve for Roosevelt? What new problems would it create?  
The problem the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solved for Roosevelt was his struggle to get full support of his country in declaring war, the attack gave him a perfect reason to do so. But, the attack did have brutal damage on the U.S.'s Pacific navy, and the United States was being attacked on both fronts now. Roosevelt had to face this challenge, with both naval losses and a now distraught country. 

Dictators Threaten World Peace

1. Why did the new democracies set up after World War I fail? (And yes, I am aware the answer is in the reading so make sure your answer is in your own words.)      
The new democracies set up after World War I failed because democracy wasn't something that had been that common, and so countries didn't really know how to go about it: lack of "democratic tradition". So in order to solve their problems, countries looked to authoritarian figures instead. Thus, the attempted democracies failed and dictators arose.

2. What are the characteristics of a totalitarian state?     
The characteristics of a totalitarian state are: has government that completely controls the citizens, individuals have no rights, and the government quells all opposition.

3. What factors led to the rise of Fascism in Italy?     
The factors that led to the rise of Fascism in Italy are: inflation and unemployment caused strikes, the demands of middle and upper classes for leadership, and Mussolini's support won by his persuasiveness based on the public's worries for their economy and government.

4. What were the key ideas and goals that Hitler presented in Mein Kampf ?      
The key ideas and goals that Hitler presented in Mein Kampf are: the main beliefs of nazism, racial purification, and national expansion.

5. Why did Japan invade Manchuria?     
Japan invaded Manchuria because they desired more living space for their increasing population.

6. What foreign countries were involved in the Spanish Civil War?     
The foreign countries that were involved in the Spanish Civil War were Germany, Italy, Ethiopia (African Americans angry about Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia), America (Abraham Lincoln Battalion), and the Soviet Union.

7. What factors contributed to America's growing isolationism?      
An onslaught of books accusing bankers and arms dealers of bringing the U.S. into WWI was a large factor of isolationism in America. People began to become very antiwar, believing that it was just for the benefit of  these "merchants of death". Roosevelt's "Quarantine Speech" also caused much protest, as some people believed Roosevelt was trying to drag them into another war.