Study Questions for From Munich to Pearl Harbor: Roosevelt s America and The Origins of The Second World War Chapter 1 1. Why did David Reynolds state that the U.S. was a superpower by 1945? 2. What is Reynold s first objective for writing this book? 3. What is his second objective? 4. What is his third objective? 5. Summarize how the revisionists viewed America s participation in the war. 6. What is the popular view of World War II among Americans? 7. According to Reynolds, who first interpreted the events around the world between 1940 and 1941 as a second world war? Chapter 2 1. Why does Reynolds state on page 15 that World War II was the climax of a long struggle for empire among most of the world s leading powers? 2. Describe the new nation states that appeared in Europe after World War I. 3. What political conflicts occurred in China after the Qing dynasty collapsed in 1911? 4. While both France and Great Britain became democratic by increasing the number of eligible voters after WWI, what kinds of governments did the Germans and Italians create? 5. How did the Joseph Stalin use the idea of danger from other European countries to promote communism within and outside the Soviet Union? 6. How was liberal capitalism challenged by the Great Depression? Why did the economic system in the Soviet Union appear to be much more successful? 7. What were the multiple ways that the United States was distinctive from European countries? 8. Why did the U.S. enter WWI, and what reason did Woodrow Wilson give to the American people regarding the nation s war goal? 9. What kinds of economic and trade relations did the U.S. have with other nations during and after WW I? What did it mean to state that she was a net creditor nation? 10. Describe the American economy between 1920 and 1929 and why America s financial institutions couldn t deal with the slowdown that occurred at the end of the decade. 11. Just how bad was the Great Depression and in why did Reynolds state that the country had lost it nerve? (p. 31) 12. What were the provisions of the Neutrality Acts of 1935 and 1937? What was the main purpose of these laws and what American tradition did they overturn? 13. What was FDR s essential nature and how did his handicap of being crippled reinforce this characteristic? What political ideas did he have in common with his uncle, Teddy Roosevelt and what differences did he have with his fellow Democrat, Woodrow Wilson? 14. What were his views on the U.S. and on European countries, especially Britain? 15. Explain the purpose of Reciprocal Trade Agreements (RTA s) strongly advocated by the Secretary of State Cordell Hull. 16. What did FDR say about international conflicts in is quarantine speech in 1937, and what were ways he thought the U.S. could respond to aggressive nations without going to war? 1
17. What kind of relationship existed between FDR and the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlin? How did the two men differ in their approaches to keeping order in the World? 18. Describe the issues and interactions between the leaders of Germany and Italy and France and Great Britain when they met on September 27 and September 29, 1938 in Munich, Germany. What views did FDR express in a secret meeting with the British ambassador shortly before the Munich meetings? Chapter 3 1. What conclusions did Hitler, Stalin, and FDR reach about the Munich agreement? What events were direct consequences of this agreement? How did FDR view Hitler? 2. What effect did the idea of a possible air warfare have on Europeans and on FDR? What concerns did FDR have about the security of Latin America? Why did he tell the press, It is a very small world.? Why did he fear the Germans getting control of the British fleet, and why believe that the U.S. had to help Britain and France increase their air power? 3. In November, 1938, FDR proposed a massive increase in the production of airplanes; what key points did Reynolds make about this proposal? What kind of political opposition did the proposal face? 4. In the spring of 1939, Congress rejected a bill to repeal the arms embargo in the 1935 Neutrality Act; why did Congress refuse to pass it, and what opinions did the American people hold? 5. Describe Kristallnacht and the American reaction to it. Why was FDR unable to help Jewish Germans? Eventually, Hitler would develop a specific policy toward Jews, Endlosung; what was that? 6. In January, 1939, both FDR and Hitler spoke on religion and world security. Contrast their views. 7. What were the multiple ways FDR used to convince American leaders and people that the global ambitions of Germany, Japan, and Italy were a threat to the U.S? 8. Both FDR and Stalin were interested in forming a cooperative relationship, but then in August, 1939, Stalin agreed to the Nazi-Soviet Pact. Why was this so shocking to the world, and why did Stalin agree to the alliance? What happened to Poland and the Baltic states after Hitler s armies invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 9. Explain how the idea of totalitarianism developed and why Americans saw both Germany and the Soviet Union as totalitarian states. 10. What was the Sino-Chinese War, and how did it impact American public opinion? What actions did the American government toward Japanese aggression from 1937 to January, 1940? Why did China s leader, Chiang Kai-shek, increasingly look for help from the U.S.? 11. What happened in Europe during the phony war period? What was FDR s main message to Americans in his fireside chat on September 3, 1939? 12. FDR called a special session of Congress in September, 1939, to reconsider the mandatory arms embargo that he had failed to convince Congress to change earlier in the year. What role did propaganda campaigns have in the consideration of this new bill that wanted to end the embargo on arms and allow sales on a cash-and-carry basis? When the this 1939 2
Neutrality Act passed, who did it favor both Britain and France? Why did Reynolds claim that FDR s policy was not neutral and yet he did want to the U.S. to enter the war? What is a proxy war? Chapter 4 1. What victories did the Germans achieve in the spring and early summer of 1940? What aggressive actions did Italy and Japan during the same time? 2. The British, while happy to be able to buy arms from the U.S., were worried that the war might last a long time. How did the British government try to protect the country s financial security and their gold and silver supplies as they fought Germany? What did Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin hope would happen to Germany? What did the statement that Americans would fight the battle for freedom to the last Briton, but save their own skins. mean to Britons? (p. 73) 3. What change in leadership occurred in Britain in May, 1940, and what happened on the beaches of Dunkirk between May 24 and June 4, 1940? What happened on June 10, 14, and June 28 of 1940? 4. Describe the early relationship between Winston Churchill and FDR, and describe America s readiness for war in 1940? What was the main issue about America military resources? 5. What steps did FDR s administration take in the summer of 1940 to strengthen America s military and his policy to help the Allies in Europe? What did the statement, you have got to let business make money out of the process, business won t work. mean? What did it mean to shift from qualitative to quantitative industry? Who opposed allowing the Allies to buy military equipment and why did they oppose the policy? 6. What event strongly influenced FDR to break tradition and run for a third term in 1940? 7. Why did Britain need the U.S. to agree to provide them with destroyers? What occurred that led to FDR s success in being able to make the destroyer deal work? Who was the Century Group? Why was the Supreme Court decision in the 1936 Curtiss-Wright case was so significant? 8. Why did FDR decide to leave the main U.S. naval fleet at Pearl Harbor in March, 1940? What power did the National Defense Act passed in July, 1940 give to the president? Within the Roosevelt administration, how did moderates and hawks fight with each other over trade policies with Japan? 9. Why was the Tripartite Pact signed by Japan, Germany, and Italy in on September 27, 1940 aimed toward the U.S.? Why did Reynolds call this agreement a hollow alliance? (p. 91) 10. What was Plan D or Dog? What did it specify for American action toward Europe and toward Japan? 11. There was a serious debate during the 1940 presidential campaign over America s foreign policy. What were the main points of the two positions expressed by the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies (CDAAA) and the America First Committee? 12. Describe Hitler s plan, Operation Sealion, and the Blitz that sought to conquer Britain? How did the America media portray this battle in the fall of 1940 and the British people? How did the Battle of Britain change American public opinion? 13. Describe the provisions of the Selective Service Act passed in September, 1940. 3
14. Why did the Republican presidential candidate, Wendell Wilkie, call FDR, That hypocritical son of a bitch, during the campaign? (p 101) Chapter 5 1. Once FDR was re-elected in the fall of 1940, the British hoped he would immediately increase aid to Great Britain, but it did not happen. What explanation did the British Ambassador Lord Lothian provide about the delay in any changes in American policy? Winston Churchill then sent FDR a letter outlining the needs Great Britain had in order for the British to continue to fight against Germany. What were these needs, and what proposal did FDR make to help Britain? How did he explain the idea to the American people during his December 17, 1940 impromptu press conference? 2. FDR continued his effort to persuade Americans to support his lend-lease proposal in a fire side chat on December 29. What were the main points in his argument? Why did Reynolds state that FDR s words, national security, was a term with a long history ahead of it? (p. 106). What did FDR think the Tripartite Treaty and Hitler s comment about two worlds mean? What did FDR mean when he stated that Americans had to be the great arsenal of democracy, and how did it lay a basis for the policy of lend-lease? (p. 107) 3. What was the mandate FDR s State of the Union address in January, 1941, specified for America s national policy? (p.108). According to Reynolds, this speech established the framework for what would become America s cold war world view. (p. 110). Explain. How had FDR compared America s system of three separate branches of government to the European parliamentary governments system in his July 5, 1940 press conference? 4. House Resolution 1776 (the Lend-Lease Act) was introduced as a bill. in January, 1941, and finally signed as law by FDR on March 11, 1941. Describe the legislative and political actions taken by its supporter and opponents during that time period over the bill s passage and content. What broad powers did the law grant the President? What limits were placed on executive? Why did FDR resist some congressmen s efforts to limit which country s could receive this aid? Why did Reynolds call the act enormously important? (p. 114) 5. Who was responsible to implement the new law, and why did delays occur? How did it impact American business and industry and military manufacturing? Why did Reynolds state that the arrangements made to rearm America and implement the Lend-Lease law formed the foundations of America s military-industrial complex of the post-war era? (p. 116) 6. Describe the ABC-I, Plan Dog, and the Bases Agreement plans that the U.S. and Britain reached during the spring of 1941. Why did these agreements reflect a decline in British power and an increase of American power? 7. While there were many suggestions on how Britain could repay the U.S. for the military aid from Lend-Lease, both FDR and Secretary of State Hull believed that after the war, the British could repay by supporting a mutual defense pool. What did this mean to FDR? 8. In February, 1941, Henry R. Luce published a famous article, The American Century. What did he foresee about America s role in the world in creating an American century? 9. Why was the spring of 1941 particularly difficult for Britain and the U.S.? Why was FDR very cautious about making any commits to have the U.S. Navy protect the Atlantic Ocean? 4
10. Why did FDR decide in April, 1941 that the Japanese threat had worsened, and how did he change his plans regarding the location of U.S. Navy ships? How did he change the Western Hemisphere Neutrality Patrol at the same time? 11. What were the debates over the Western Hemisphere and Atlanticism (p. 128) about and did they impact American foreign and defense policies? 12. What was the origin of the term, national security (p. 128) and how was it different from the earlier idea of defense? What is the relevance of this term today? 13. Why was May, 1941 such a terrible month for FDR, and why did his speeches at that time began to emphasize the growing threat and the possibility of world-wide war? Chapter 6 1. What major change occurred in the war on June 22, 1941; how did the U.S. know this was going to happen beforehand? 2. How did Churchill, FDR, and the American people react to the German invasion of the Soviet Union? Why did the American government minimizing picturing the Soviet Union as a totalitarian country after the German attack? 3. Reynolds states that FDR gambled on the Soviet Union; why? What kind of aid did Stalin want? 4. What kind of conflict did the German attack on the Russians create among Japanese leaders? What did they decide to do by the summer of 1941? Indochina was a colony of what European country and where was it? What serious mistake did they make regarding the United States according to Reynolds? (p. 141) 5. What was Magic and what did no humint to illuminate the sigint mean? (p. 141) How were American leaders divided over dealing with Japan that summer? What kind of sanctions did FDR order against Japan in July, 1941, and what military order did he give that signaled that American strategy was shifting from Stark s Plan Dog? Why did Secretary Stimson call the new B17 a big stick that would deter Japan from military aggression, and yet also think the U.S. should resume diplomatic talks between Hull and the Japanese ambassador Nomura? (p. 143) 6. Why were the Atlantic Conference in August, 1941, and the resultant Atlantic Charter so significant? Why was Churchill disappointed at the end of the conference? What concerns did the U.S. have about becoming a close ally of Great Britain and what did they want the British to do? Why did the two countries interpret articles two & four of the charter differently? Why did Harry Hopkins warn FDR about what Britain might do if the U.S. didn t enter the war? Why were the British exposed to a Japanese threat in Southeast Asia, and what did they hope the U.S. would do? 7. When a German submarine attacked an American destroyer, the Greer, near Iceland in August, 1941, how did FDR use this event to justify a new policy, shoot on site, in the Atlantic,? (p. 150) How did FDR mislead the American people regarding the incident? As the oil embargo became total in the summer, how did Japan react? 8. In the fall, 1941, Averell Harriman was sent to the Soviet Union to promise aid. What did the U.S. and Britain promise the Russians, and why did the War Department oppose so much being given to other countries? 5
9. Even though Congress had repealed part of the 1939 Neutrality Act and the Lend-Lease program had loaned the Soviet Union an interest-free loan of one billion dollars, and two U. S destroyers had been sunk with the loss of 126 lives that fall, FDR still not want to lead the U.S. into the war. What reasons did Reynolds give for his thinking? 10. Describe the negotiations that occurred between Secretary Hull and the State Department with the Japanese government during the fall, 1941. What were the demands each side made? What deadline did the Japanese set for the negotiations to either be successful or for them to initiate their war plans? How did Chiang Kai-shek influence Hull s thinking? What did the U.S, know about Japanese troop movements in late November? 11. Why did some people believe that FDR conspired to get the U.S. into war and knew about the planned attack on Pearl Harbor beforehand? How does Reynolds explain why the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor worked and caught the U.S. completely off guard? What were the specific barriers that caused the American intelligence failure? How did the Japanese time the delivery of their rejection note to Secretary Hull and the attack on Pearl Harbor? How did the American and British underestimation the Japanese also contribute to the attack s success? 12. How damaging was the Pearl Harbor attack on the American navy? Why did the historians say that Hitler s lunacy saved FDR? (p.167) Why did Reynolds state that the Tripartite Pact of 1940 was a hollow alliance? (p. 168). While no treaty required it, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. on December 9; what are some possible reasons that Hitler chose this action? How did this declaration justify FDR s world view and the war strategy he had planned? 13. Would Reynolds agree or disagree with this assertion: The Axis powers were a close alliance of totalitarian nations who intended to conquer the entire world and coordinated foreign policy and military strategy to fight World War II. Explain your answer. Chapter 7 1. Reynolds claims that America s foreign policy was mostly reactive during the years between Munich and Pearl Harbor. (p. 171) Why was FDR s thinking so important? 2. What were FDR s fundamental beliefs about the causes of war and the best way for the the great power nations to prevent war and be secure.? 3. Why was the Munich Conference a turning point in FDR s thinking and what responsibility did he begin to believe that the U.S. had to follow in dealing with Europe? Once the war started in September, 1939, what change did the American people accept as necessary? 4. What were the many consequences caused by the fall of France? What was the significance of the destroyers-for-bases deal in September, 1940? 5. What were two important effects of the passage of the Lend-Lease Act in March, 1941? How did FDR extend American power in the Atlantic in the spring and summer of 1941? 6. What was the third great turning point in the war in the summer of 1941? Why did FDR believe that this event had lessened the chance that the U.S. would have to enter the war? Why were decisions about dealing with Japan more difficult than strategies toward Europe? What responsibility did FDR have for the failure of America s policies toward Japan and her failure to predict the Pearl Harbor attack? If Germany had not declared war on the U.S., 6
what predicament would FDR have faced? (p. 178) 7. How did the ideas of Alfred Mahan and Theodore Roosevelt influence FDR, and how did the development of air power change some of his ideas about America s safety? How was the new concept of national security different from the traditional idea of defense, and what new perception of threats against the country developed in FDR s view, and what new foreign policy did he adopt to address the threats? Why did his critics not agree with his views? 8. Before the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression treaty with Germany, how did the Russians portray the developing conflict in Europe? How did FDR describe the main issue between the warring nations? Why and how did the American government s portrayal of Britain and the Soviet Union change during the war? What was the purpose of the Atlantic Charter? In what way did the term world war represent a new principle in American foreign policy, that is, globalism? 9. Explain how the globalist, or internationalist, foreign policy developed by FDR and his belief in a bipolar world divided between democracy and totalitarianism established a fundamental precedent for the Cold War. How did FDR s use of executive orders, his decision for naval war in the Atlantic, and the establishment of the Office of Strategic Services (the OSS) lay groundwork for actions by later presidents during the Cold War? Why did Reynolds state that FDR was the pioneer of technowar? 10. After stating that modern total war required the mobilization of the whole of the society, what examples of the mobilization of America did he provide? (p. 186) Instead of direct government control as is found in totalitarian states, how did the American government promote military production? What changes occurred in the government s approach to the economy? What happened to the American economy during the war? 11. Explain Reynold s claim that the making and remaking of foreign policy is disproportionately an elite activity. (p. 188). How has this continuing pattern provided continuity in American foreign policy? 7