The establishment of the Third Reich influence events in American history by starting a chain of event, which culminated in war between Germany and the United states. The complete destruction of democracy, the persecution of Jew, the war on religion, the cruelty and barbarism of the Nazis, and especially, the plans of Germany and her allies, Italy and Japan, for world conquest caused great indignation in this country and brought on fear of another world war. While speaking out against Hitler’s atrocities, the American people generally favored isolationist policies and neutrality. The Neutrality Acts of 1935 and 1936 prohibited trade with any belligerents or loans to them. In 1937 the President was empowered to declare an arms embargo(禁运)in wars between nations at his discretion.
American opinion began to change somewhat after president Roosevelt’s “quarantine the aggressor” speech at Chicago (1937) in which he severely criticized Hitler’s policies. Germany’s seizure of Austria and the Munich Pact for the partition of Czechoslovakia (1938) also aroused the American people. The conquest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939 was another rude awakening to the menace of the Third Reich. In August 1939 came the shock of Nazi-Soviet Pact and in September the attack on Poland, the outbreak of European war. The United States attempted to maintain neutrality in spite of sympathy for the democracies arrayed against the Third Reich. The Neutrality Act of 1939 repealed the arms embargo and permitted “cash and carry” exports of arms to belligerent nations. A strong national defense program was begun. A draft act was passed (1940) to strengthen the military service. A Lend Lease Act (1941) authorized the President to sell, exchange, or lend materials to any country deemed necessary by him for the defense of the United States. Help was given to Britain by exchanging certain overage destroyers for the right to establish American bases in British territory in the Western Hemisphere. In August 1941, President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill met and issued the Atlantic Charter that proclaimed the kind of a world which should be established after the war. In December 1941, Japan launched the unprovoked attack on the United States at Pearl Harbor. Immediately thereafter, Germany declared war on the United States.
1.One item occurring before 1937 that the author does not mention in his list of actions that alienated the American public was ___. A.Nazi barbarism B.The pacts with Italy C.German plans for conquest D.The burning of the Reichstag
2.The Neutrality Act of 1939 ___. A.restated America’s isolationist policies B.proclaimed American neutrality C.permitted the selling of arms to belligerent nations D.was a cause of our entrance into World War Ⅱ
3.An event that did not occur in 1939 was the ___. A.invasion of Poland B.invasion of Czechoslovakia C.passing of the Neutrality Act D.establishment of the University of Leipzig in Germany
4.The Lend Lease Act was blueprinted to ___. A.strengthen our national defense B.provide battleships to the Allies C.help the British D.promote the Atlantic Charter
5.The Neutrality Act of 1939 favored Great Britain because ___. A.the British the sea B.the law permitted us to trade only with the Allies C.it antagonized Japan D.it led to the Lend Lease Act
the sea
