Expansion of the Axis powers territory from 1931 to 1938 became a growing concern for U.S. president Franklin D Roosevelt. Despite the isolationist foreign policy and weak economic state of America, Roosevelt quickly determined the danger of the spread of fascism. FDR expressed these thoughts and updates on the Second World War to the American public in his Fireside Chats and made direct attempts to plead Congress to join the war.
By the time that the U.S. entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbour, the President had already prepared the American government and people for the battlements of war, equipped with a large public popularity, he cut through red tape in legislation, stacked a strongly interventionist cabinet, increased weapons production and began secret correspondence with British Prime Minister - Winston Churchill (PBS, n.d.). Roosevelt’s efforts to prepare the United States for war and provide aid to the British war efforts are widely recognised as a determining factor to the Allied power’s success.
Roosevelt clearly understood the urgency of the war and emphasised the stakes on the survival of democracy to the American public and Congress even before explicitly suggesting official involvement (PBS, n.d.). “The American people began to visualize what the downfall of democratic nations might mean to our own democracy” (FDR Presidential Library1, 1941).
Roosevelt’s influence spread internationally as he nurtured foreign relationships and correspondence with the Allied powers, Great Britain and the Soviet Union, which he believed was integral to the strength of a nation’s government and the establishment of worldwide peace. During Roosevelt’s close liaison with Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister and the leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, facilitated negotiation and a strong leadership of the Allied powers. The most noted meeting of the “Big Three“, as they were commonly called, was the Yalta Conference held in early February 1945, where critical discussion took place for European post-war reorganization (History.com, 2009). One of the major decisions that came out of this meeting was Stalin’s commitment to enter the war against Japan after Germany’s impending surrender (PBS, n.d.). Careful planning and keen observance of international affairs allowed Roosevelt to prepare the American nation for entrance into the Second World War.
World War II
A photograph taken at the Yalta Conference 4-11/2/1945
(Seated) Left Winston Churchill, center Franklin D. Roosevelt, right Joseph Stalin
In his Annual Message to Congress in June 1941, Roosevelt expressed his concerns for the survival of democracy if the Allied powers were to fall, claiming American war involvement as instrumental to its national and international security as well as freedom, “Every realist knows that the democratic way of life is at this moment being directly assailed in every part of the world … Our national policy is this: … we are committed to all-inclusive national defense.” (FDR Presidential Library1, 1941).
"Those, who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
(FDR Presidential Library1, 1941)
Roosevelt’s brilliance as a wartime leader existed not only in the fact that he sought to assist the Allied powers through direct means, but rather the way in which he did so, devising practical and ingenuitive solutions that establishing much needed support to the Allied powers, who were in desperate need of resources and weapons, while maintaining national security. The Congress under the neutrality acts of the early 1930’s discouraged intervention and banned the trade of weapons without deposit. Despite the Congress's position, Roosevelt recognised the merit of the Allies’ struggle and sought to aid them by the provision of weapons and war supplies under the Lend-Lease Act in March 1941 (PBS, n.d.). “Let us say to the democracies: We are putting forth our energies, resources … to give you the strength to regain and maintain a free world. We shall send you, in ever-increasing numbers, ships, planes, tanks, guns.” (FDR Presidential Library1, 1941).
On the 8th of December 1941, a day after Japan bombed the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of Congress to gain permission for a Declaration of War on Japan and was met with overwhelming approval (History.com, 2009). Roosevelt marked December 7, 1941 as “a day which will live in infamy” and highlighted the deliberate nature of the attack by mentioning the great distance between Hawaii and Japan making “it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago.” (FDR Presidential Library2, 1941). Finally, FDR rallied the American people by asserting the foundational truths of freedom and promising victory, “The American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph.” (FDR Presidential Library2, 1941). Roosevelt’s war involvement remaining a constant strength and presence till his death in April 1945.
Roosevelt played a distinguishing role in initiating the United Nations by being one of three men to draft the Declaration by United Nations, alongside his aid Harry Hopkins and British prime minister Winston Churchill (PBS, n.d.). Together the Allied leaders worked towards constructing the foundations of the United Nations, a post-war international peace organisation. During the Atlantic Charter in August 1941, Churchill and Roosevelt met to establish a document under the same name, which outlined the goals and aims of the Allied powers concerning the war and the post-world war. The Charter was later signed by the Allied forces and became a catalyst to the joint Declaration by United Nations emphasising their unanimity in the defence against fascist Hitler (History.com, 2009). Roosevelt had great influence into the early development of plans for the U.N. and in the Atlantic Charter, which laid down the foundations for the peaceful United Nations.
FDR's drafted speech for the Declaration of War against Japan. December 7, 1941.
The Atlantic Charter 9-12/8/1941
Left Fraklin D. Roosevelt, Right Winston Churchill
