ID: Lend-Lease Act
When: March 11, 1941
Who:
- United States: Franklin D. Roosevelt (President) and the US Congress
- Allied Nations (primarily): Great Britain, Soviet Union, China
What:
A program enacted by the US Congress that allowed the United States to provide military aid (weapons, food, equipment) to Allied nations during World War II without requiring immediate payment. Essentially, the US would “lend” or “lease” supplies to countries whose defense was deemed vital to the security of the United States. It was designed to circumvent the Neutrality Acts.
Impact: Why Significant?:
- Shift from Neutrality: Represented a significant departure from the official US policy of neutrality, moving the nation closer to active involvement in WWII.
- Economic Support for Allies: Provided crucial economic and material support to Great Britain (which was nearing bankruptcy), the Soviet Union (after Germany invaded), and other Allied nations, helping them resist Axis aggression.
- “Arsenal of Democracy”: Allowed the US to become the “arsenal of democracy,” producing vast amounts of war materials to support the Allied war effort, boosting the American economy and industry.
- Undeclared Naval War: German submarines targeted ships delivering Lend-Lease aid, leading to increasing tensions and undeclared naval warfare between the US and Germany before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
- Post-War Debt & Influence: Created a complex web of debts and obligations after the war, which further solidified the US’s position as a global superpower.
- Path to US Entry into WWII: The act signaled a clear US commitment to the Allied cause and paved the way for the nation’s full-scale entry into World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor.