US History: Events Leading to World War II

  • Hitler is named the leader of the Nazi Party in Germany

    Hitler is named the leader of the Nazi Party in Germany
    Hitler had been a member of the party since its founding, and assumed his leadership position in July of 1921. He made his formal declaration over Munich, Germany.
  • Kellogg-Briand Pact signed

    Kellogg-Briand Pact signed
    The Kellogg-Briand Pact was an agreement designed to prevent the effects of a second world war. It was signed in Paris on August 27th, 1928.
  • Japan invades Manchuria

    Japan invades Manchuria
    Violating their nonviolence pact, Japan launched an attack on Manchuria without a declaration of war. Within days, the unprepared region had been overtaken, and the Soviet Union rushed in to defeat them. This caused the Soviet Union to declare war.
  • The Enabling Act of 1933 is issued

    The Enabling Act of 1933 is issued
    The Enabling Act was a Weimar Constitution amendment that allowed Adolf Hitler the power to pass laws without the permission of the government. This allowed Hitler to assume dictatorial powers for the first time.
  • Neutrality Act of 1935 signed

    Neutrality Act of 1935 signed
    This act was signed and passed in 1935. The neutrality act was designed to keep America out of the second world war to prevent further damage to our already suffering nation.
  • FDR wins a third term as president

    FDR wins a third term as president
    Franklin D Roosevelt won a sweeping victory over the United States presidency for the third time. The electoral votes exceeded 500, making this a clear win.
  • Selective Service Act is Passed

    Selective Service Act is Passed
    The Selective Service Act was designed to help the United States raise an army for the upcoming world war. It was the first peacetime draft in US history.
  • Lend-Lease Program enabled

    Lend-Lease Program enabled
    The Lend-Lease Program allowed the United States to aid the Allied Powers with supplies prior to their official entry into the war. The US gave these countries supplies for free, promising to work out costs later and preparing the weaponry for the US once they were ready to fight.
  • A Philip Randolph's march and Roosevelt's response

    A Philip Randolph's march and Roosevelt's response
    A Philip Randolph threatened a thundering march of 150,000 blacks. Roosevelt created a Fair Employment Practices Committee to eliminate racial discrimination in government hiring.
  • Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

    Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
    The Japanese were unhappy with the US having Hawaii as a naval base, due to its proximity to their country. They were also becoming desperate for oil as their supplies were minimal, and they attacked the US military base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. However, they didn't nearly destroy our military as they had intended to, so this was an overall loss for the Japanese and America was ready to fight.
  • Adolf Hitler declares war on the United States

    Adolf Hitler declares war on the United States
    Hitler saw the United States as a threat to the Axis Powers, so he announced his declaration of war on the US on December 11th, 1941. This was just days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and he feared the Americans were ready to fight.