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Neutrality act
1935 prohibited shipping to any country at war or it’s victims. This was used to prevent maritime attacks on U.S vessels.
1936 No loans given to warring nations and no passengers on warring ships. These would prevent any side being taken and prevent any harm to the citizens if it can be helped.
1937 Nations requesting trade would have to use their own ships to get the goods and bring them back. These methods were put in place to reduce casualties and prevent any involvement. -
Nuremberg laws
September 15, 1935, this removed people of Jewish descent from their citizenship and forbade any marriage between German and Jewish. This increased tension in Germany as it started the dehumanization of Jews and the hatred towards them. -
Japan invades China
Japan used a skirmish on the Marco Polo bridge near Beijing as a way to invade. This increased distrust in the presidency. -
Kristallnacht
November 9 - 10, 1938, German Jews faced persecution and violence. This increased tension throughout Germany and later Europe as anti-semitism gained favor and Jews faced increasing violence towards their groups. -
Non Aggression pact
August 24 Hitler and Stalin agreed to have a peace treaty and split Poland with Hitler invading on September 1, 1939. This increased tension with the Allies and Russia and Hitler against the rest of Europe, starting WWII -
War declared on Germany
September 1, 1939, Germany sent troops into Poland, obtaining one side while the Soviet Union gained the other. This increased tension as Britain and France declared war soon after. -
Poland ceases to exist
September 17 - 28, 1939, Wehrmacht and Soviet troops marched into Poland, splitting the land. This increased tension throughout Europe as mass executions were taking place and Germany was increasing their land and occupation with Russia not moving to fight against them. -
Cash and carry
The neutrality act of 1939 was ended on the basis that they would trade with countries who came and got their trade rather than have the Americans deliver it. This increased tension between America and the axis because they actively traded with countries at war. -
Luftwaffe and RAF
Summer of 1940, an attack by Hitler that hit the English mainland. This furthered tension between Britain and Germany as it was a dog fight lasting the whole war which lead the two to consistently bomb each other. -
Soviet Union annex Baltic states
August 1940, the Soviet Union added Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to their union and later in the year mass deportations and fleeing of citizens went underway. This increased tension in the Soviet Union as they were gaining more land and the once outlawed communists were put into government and resistant movements were made. -
Hitler invades Den, Nor, Neth, Bel, and Lux.
Germany moved the blitzkrieg north and occupied the northern countries. This increased tension throughout Europe as Britain was close to being the only democratic country left with France falling soon after. -
Blitzkrieg
April 9, 1940, the blitzkrieg moved north into Denmark and Norway. This increased tension throughout Europe as the German Reich was quickly moving throughout and occupying several countries, leaving only a few democratic. -
Selective training service act
September 16, 1940, Roosevelt passed a law that all men ages 21 – 36 were to sign up for the draft. This increased tension among the American citizens as those against the war were becoming restless and Roosevelt wanted to act or help the allies. -
Tripartite pact
September 27, 1940, Germany, Italy and Japan signed an agreement that assisted with economic, militaristic and political power (Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Croatia signed later by either force or choice). This increased tension with America as this was a warning that if they joined, it would have all three axis powers against them. -
Lend-Lease plan
March 1941, America would lend equipment for war to Britain on the terms they be returned after. This caused tension in not only America but other countries as well as they were now entering and supporting a side on the war and many in America wanted a paid loan from Britain; fearing another debt crisis, Roosevelt refused. Hitler saw this as a declaration of war and sent to attack American ships. -
Atlantic charter
Summer 1941 America agreed with Britain to lend them money, resources and materials. This increased tension among Americans who wanted to stay neutral, fearing the same outcome as WWI and the Axis powers as they say this as not only a declaration of war but an attack. -
Hitler breaks Stalin agreements
June 22, 1941 Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa and invaded the Soviet Union. This increased tension between the Soviet Union and Germany as Hitler broke a pack and gained another enemy, effectively surrounding them. -
Executive order #8802
June 25, 1941, signed by Roosevelt, stated that there was to be no discrimination in the defense industry. This both increased and decreased tension because it was to help appease those of African American decent to reduce discrimination but also increased tension in the south. -
US cuts off trade with Japan
July 26, 1941, Roosevelt cutoff trade with Japan after their seizing of French colonies and movement towards China. This decreased tension as it cut off Japan’s resources from the west that were essential but it increased tension as they now set their sights on the west. -
Pearl harbor
Japanese air force attacked pearl harbor with the intent to hinder the Navy forces. This increased tension between America and Japan, causing the United States to finally enter the war on the allies’ side. -
US declares war on Japan
December 11, 1941, after Pearl Harbor Roosevelt asked Congress to join the war after the attack. This Increased tensions between Japan and America because they already refused to continue trade and sent supplies to the allies and have joined the war. -
Executive order #9066
February 1942, All Japanese citizens were to be relocated to remote camps. This increased tension among the American people as large groups held fear for the Japanese citizens being loyal to Japan or acting as spies and increased segregation towards them. -
Stalingrad
August 1942 - February 1943 the battle of Stalingrad in Russia against the Axis powers and the USSR. This both increased tension and decreased it as this started the fall of the German army but it also increased with the mass loss both sides lost in the battle and the toll on supplies and moral. -
Bataan
April 9, 1942, in the Philippians, prisoners of war were forced to march 66 miles facing abuse from the Japanese military. This increased tension between the American and Japanese as many POWs were also from America and faced cruel punishments. -
Midway
June 3 - 6, 1942, American and Japanese naval battle at the midway island located in the Pacific. This decreased tension as it dissuaded the Japanese from their plan of gaining control in the pacific and increased moral for the Allies. -
El Alamein
July 1- 23 and October 23 – November 11, 1942, British and German – Italian troops went to Egypt in an infantry attack to dislodge German troops from North Africa. This eased some tension as the British accompanied by Australian, New Zealand and some Greek and French, were able to force a retreat from the German – Italian group. -
Hitler invades France
July 1940 - November 10, 1942, Hitler invaded France and split it into two regions; one occupied by Germany and the other left to free reign but was later captured and occupied. This increased tension as the allies lost one of their key players and Germany was able to gain more land and a foothold in Western Europe. -
Island hopping
1943 - 1945, A strategy used by the U.S navy to make their way towards Japan rather than capturing every island they occupied. This increased tension between Japan and America as the Japanese were gaining more and more land from America and other countries. -
U - boat attacks
1935 - March 1943, Germany started building U- boats again. This increased tension as they quickly gained a foothold in Naval wars and were able to once again cut off British sea access and gained strategies to travel in ‘packs’ but lead to the construction of radar by the British. -
Korematsu v U.S
Fred Korematsu challenged the legality and ethicality of the decision but was met with disfavor. This increased tension between the American people as there was fear growing for its citizens and unfair and constitutional treatment. -
D-day
June 4 - august, 1944 British, Canadian and American troops were sent to re-capture France. This eased tension as the Allies were closing in on Germany and coming to the end of the war. -
Bulge
December 16, 1944 - January 25, 1945 was the last offense the Germans made to split up the allies from invading Germany. This increased tension as it was one of the massacres during the war and nearing the end, taking several soldiers from American and British troops. -
Yalta Conference
February 1945, the leader of Britain, America and the Soviet Union met to discuss the fate of Germany. This decreased tension throughout the allies’ side as it was the ending of the war and they divided up the land of Europe and Germany to different countries of the big three. It also increased tension in the Soviet Union and the Western nations as they were becoming more aggressive in their want for land and power. -
Iwo Jima
February 19 – March 25, 1945, America took Iwo Jima, an island with three airfields that would supposedly aid in the mainland invasion of Japan if need be, from the Japanese navy. This increased tension between America and Japan as many casualties were taken from both sides and the strategic position wasn’t put into movement. It was considered one of the bloodiest battles in the war. -
VE day
Was the day that Germany surrendered and declared victory in Europe day. This eased tension with all the Allies as the war was coming to a close with the third Reich. -
Potsdam conference
July 17 – August 2, 1945, the last conference of the Big Three during the war decided the economic state of Germany and the divisions of it, along with other countries of Europe. This both increased and decreased tension. The decrease was because the war was over and the increase was the Soviet Union and their want of land. -
Hiroshima
August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb. This increased tension throughout the world on what new technology was coming and what atomic energy could be used for. -
Nagasaki
August 9, 1945, the second bomb was dropped, forcing Japan to surrender and WWII to end. This also increased tension throughout but mainly between the united states and Soviet Union as they made a mad dash to an arms race and capture plans the Nazi’s were working on. -
VJ day
August 14 – 15, 1945 was the day Japan surrendered. This decreased tension as the last ally of the Axis powers surrendered and marked the end of the war. -
Geneva Convention
1949, Adds laws to the protection of citizens and pows in humane treatment. This relieved some tension after the war that no matter the conflict, wounded and civilians are to be treated as humans as opposed to the holocaust.