The Presidential Election of 1940
When Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to run for his third presidential term in 1940, he still managed to gain much support despite the unusual choice. The two-term limit had been an unwritten rule at the time, and so FDR's reelection campaign was a widely supported success. A major point that FDR made during the campaign was his strong preference to avoid the war in Europe. Unfortunately, he would soon be forced to directly address the growing problem of the Axis powers.
Understandably, Roosevelt's third term would be dominated by World War 2. Although he wanted to support the policy of isolationism, he soon realized that action was necessary in order to stop the growing threat in Europe and East Asia. Throughout 1940, Roosevelt sped up the process of rearming and preparing the military. He also began to try to find ways to assist the Allies without going to war. FDR's actions would receive harsh criticism from his opponents and the supporters of isolationism. Even so, Roosevelt strongly continued to act on the idea of "all aid short of war" - the U.S. would do everything to help its Allies except declaring war. In August, 1941, Roosevelt met with Churchill in Newfoundland to develop the Atlantic Charter. This document would serve as the outline for wartime and postwar goals for the Allies. As war appeared to become more and more inevitable, the government began to prepare for an attack. However, the U.S. was preparing for an attack by Japan in the Indies or some other distant territory. Much to the surprise of the world, the United States would be thrown into World War 2 on December 7, 1941. FDR formally declared war the next day.
Until the end of the war, United States politics were mostly occupied by war plans. Domestic issues became of less importance. For more information on foreign policies during / after the War, please go to the "Foreign Affairs" page.
At the end of 1945 and through 1946, the United States struggled to convert back to a peace-time country. The government struggled to find ways to safely manipulate the economy back to its normal state. President Truman was especially concerned with immediately reducing the amount of money which was going to the military. Most of the domestic issues had to do with this drastic transition of economic state and jobs. President Truman also addressed several civil rights issues, and deemed them a moral priority. For instance, Truman issued an executive order for racial integration in the military.
Harry Truman won the 1948 presidency, which was a surprise to many. As the nation continued to recover and change from the end of the war, the attention of the United States and of the world would soon shift again. At the end of 1949, the Soviet Union detonated their first atomic bomb. Their rapid advancement in nuclear technology was a shock to many. By the end of the decade, domestic problems in America would begin to give way to more global problems once again - this time in Korea.
When Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to run for his third presidential term in 1940, he still managed to gain much support despite the unusual choice. The two-term limit had been an unwritten rule at the time, and so FDR's reelection campaign was a widely supported success. A major point that FDR made during the campaign was his strong preference to avoid the war in Europe. Unfortunately, he would soon be forced to directly address the growing problem of the Axis powers.
Understandably, Roosevelt's third term would be dominated by World War 2. Although he wanted to support the policy of isolationism, he soon realized that action was necessary in order to stop the growing threat in Europe and East Asia. Throughout 1940, Roosevelt sped up the process of rearming and preparing the military. He also began to try to find ways to assist the Allies without going to war. FDR's actions would receive harsh criticism from his opponents and the supporters of isolationism. Even so, Roosevelt strongly continued to act on the idea of "all aid short of war" - the U.S. would do everything to help its Allies except declaring war. In August, 1941, Roosevelt met with Churchill in Newfoundland to develop the Atlantic Charter. This document would serve as the outline for wartime and postwar goals for the Allies. As war appeared to become more and more inevitable, the government began to prepare for an attack. However, the U.S. was preparing for an attack by Japan in the Indies or some other distant territory. Much to the surprise of the world, the United States would be thrown into World War 2 on December 7, 1941. FDR formally declared war the next day.
Until the end of the war, United States politics were mostly occupied by war plans. Domestic issues became of less importance. For more information on foreign policies during / after the War, please go to the "Foreign Affairs" page.
At the end of 1945 and through 1946, the United States struggled to convert back to a peace-time country. The government struggled to find ways to safely manipulate the economy back to its normal state. President Truman was especially concerned with immediately reducing the amount of money which was going to the military. Most of the domestic issues had to do with this drastic transition of economic state and jobs. President Truman also addressed several civil rights issues, and deemed them a moral priority. For instance, Truman issued an executive order for racial integration in the military.
Harry Truman won the 1948 presidency, which was a surprise to many. As the nation continued to recover and change from the end of the war, the attention of the United States and of the world would soon shift again. At the end of 1949, the Soviet Union detonated their first atomic bomb. Their rapid advancement in nuclear technology was a shock to many. By the end of the decade, domestic problems in America would begin to give way to more global problems once again - this time in Korea.