Mark Nicko E.

Paquibot February 12, 2019

History 51 – A

1. Why was the U.S. involved in WW2?

When Did America Enter WW2? A Not-So-Straightforward Answer

America officially only enter World War 2 two years into the war on December 8, 1941, when all
but one member of Congress passed the motion one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
Although America formally maintained neutrality up until that moment, the U.S. has long been
involved in the war, providing support to the Allies.

Not That Neutral

In the first two years of the war, America remained politically neutral, but president Franklin
was working hard to prepare the Americans for what he regarded to be an inevitable conflict. He felt
that the war was threatening U.S. security and tried to find ways to help the European Allies without
being formally involved in the war. He persuaded Congress in November 1939 to repeal the arms
embargos that were part of the neutrality law and pass the Fourth Neutrality Act, which allowed him
to trade arms with countries whose defence he would seem to be vital to the security of the United
States. The U.S. would also provide its air force and navy to “escort” British convoys that
transported supplies “leased” from America to protect them from enemy submarines. The U.S.
military was also deployed to replace British forces in Iceland after the British invasion there.

Why Japan Attacked

In coordination with the Dutch and the British, the U.S. was running a very successful oil
embargo against Japan. At that time the Japanese were advancing on China and French Indochina
and, because they imported 90% of their oil, they became desperate. A lack of oil threatened to end
all of their war efforts and as they were refusing America’s demands to stop fighting China, the
Japanese decided that war with America was inevitable, their only hope was to attack first.

So when did America enter WW2? Officially after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but the United
States had been moving toward allianceship with Allied Powers for years. 1

2. Why was the U.S. involved in the Korean war?

AS the USA were extremely powerful at the time , this meant that they had a lot of influence
over the UN and were able to persuade them to do what America wanted

1
A. (n.d.). When did america enter ww2? Retrieved February 12, 2019, from
https://www.historyonthenet.com/when-did-america-enter-ww2

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 The USA and UN

Under the leadership of American General Douglas McArthur the UN sent in a giant army made
up of 16 different countries. This army managed to push the North Korean forces back towards
china.

USA before war

America was one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world at this time.

However they were extremely paranoid about being invaded by communism.

Why did the USA get involved in the Korean War? How did the USA get involved?

In 1947 the American government, Truman, warned the American congress that it was
America's job to contain communism and keep capitalism. This was known as the Truman Doctrine.
This meant that if a capitalist country (south Korea) was being attacked, it was America's duty to
give military and economic aid.

America also feared the "domino effect". This was where communism/USSR would take over
one country after another. And they feared this in Korea.

Also Mao had won the Chinese Civil War by 1949 and China had become communism. This led
the people to believe that America was weak and could stop communism. This would of lead to
America having to prove themselves by not only pushing back communism, but getting close to
China.2

3. What is the significance of John F. Kennedy (1960’s) in the American History?

President John Kennedy took office during one of the most turbulent times in American history.
The Cold War between democracy and communism was becoming more belligerent, and the United
States and the Soviet Union possessed enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world many times
over. In American cities, racial tension was rising. Growing numbers of black Americans had begun
to demonstrate for equal treatment under the law, and white segregationists promised to deny
these rights, using violence if necessary.

From the first moments of his presidency, Kennedy evoked a sense of security and a spirit of
idealism which reassured Americans of their nation's strengths and inspired them to serve their
country and the world. "And so, my fellow Americans -- ask not what your country can do for you --
ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world -- ask not what America will do
for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man," Kennedy said in his inaugural

2
Robinson, E. (2014, January 30). Why did the usa get involved in the korean war? Retrieved February 12,
2019, from https://prezi.com/hn-4pbeias1b/why-did-the-usa-get-involved-in-the-korean-war/

2
 address. Dazzled by his poise, moved by his eloquence, Americans proudly embraced the vigor and
vision of their young president.

As he struggled with the complexities of foreign and domestic politics, Kennedy sometimes fell
short of his idealistic rhetoric. A self-proclaimed supporter of civil rights, he moved forward slowly
on the issue until 1963, when racial violence forced his hand. An advocate of peaceful development
abroad, he hastened America's descent into the Vietnam war, a conflict that would end countless
lives and bitterly divide the nation.

Kennedy's hard-line international diplomacy helped preserve Western democracy and may have

prevented a catastrophic nuclear war, but it also heightened the tension between the superpowers.
When Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev threatened to take West Berlin in 1961, Kennedy promised
a military response, and the Russians backed down. When the Soviets began to install missiles in
Cuba in late 1962, Kennedy demanded their removal, then skillfully transacted a diplomatic
settlement which kept the two enemies at peace. Later, he negotiated a treaty to end atmospheric
nuclear testing, the first nuclear weapons treaty in history. 3

3
JFK: The Legacy. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2019, from
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/jfk-legacy/

3
 Bibliography

A. (n.d.). When did america enter ww2? Retrieved February 12, 2019, from
https://www.historyonthenet.com/when-did-america-enter-ww2

JFK: The Legacy. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2019, from

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/jfk-legacy/

Robinson, E. (2014, January 30). Why did the usa get involved in the korean war? Retrieved February 12,
2019, from https://prezi.com/hn-4pbeias1b/why-did-the-usa-get-involved-in-the-korean-war/