1939 | Hatch Act |
1939 | In U.S., Roosevelt submits $1,319-million defence budget, proclaims U.S. neutrality, and declares limited emergency |
1940 | Alien Registration (Smith) Act |
1940 | Roosevelt elected for a third term    GO ! |
1941 | Roosevelt enunciates "four freedoms"    GO ! |
1941 | 11 March - Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act    GO ! |
1941 | 14 June - United States freezes German and Italian assets in America |
1941 | 26 July - Roosevelt suspends relations with Japan and freezes Japanese assets in US |
1941 | 1 August - US announces oil embargo against aggressors |
1941 | 14 August - The Atlantic Charter signed between England and the United States    GO ! |
1941 | 7 December - Pearl Harbor Bombed by Japan |
1941 | 11 December - Germany declares war on the US |
1941 | 18 December 8, 1941 - US and Britain declare war on Japan |
1942 | Relocation of Japanese citizens    GO ! |
1942 | Anglo-American Mutual Aid Agreement    GO ! |
1942 | Betts v Brady (the right to counsel must be decided on a case by case basis) |
1942 | Revenue Act of 1942 |
1942 | Women now allowed to serve in all branches of the armed services |
1942 | 1 January - Allies forge Declaration of the United Nations     GO ! |
1943 | U.S. President freezes prices, salaries, and wages to prevent inflation |
1943 | 14-24 January - Casablanca Conference: Churchill and Roosevelt meet, Stalin declines |
1943 | 28 November - "Big Three" of Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill meet at Tehran     GO ! |
1944 | Korematsu v United States (Japanese citizens a "threat" to American security - 14th amendment that guarantees all citizens equal protection under the law not applicable) |
1944 | Dumbarton Oaks Conference—U.S., British Commonwealth, and U.S.S.R. propose establishment of United Nations |
1944 | Congress passes GI Bill |
1944 | Roosevelt elected for a fourth term |
1945 | 4-11 February - Yalta Conference (Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin) plans final defeat of Germany     GO ! |
1945 | FDR dies on 12 April; Harry Truman becomes president    GO ! |
1945 | 7 May - German armies give unconditional surrender    GO ! |
1945 | 16 July - The Potsdam Conference convenes with Truman, Stalin, and Churchill to establish the basis of German reconstruction     GO ! |
1945 | U.S. drops atomic bombs on Japanese cities of Hiroshima (6 Aug. ) and Nagasaki (9 Aug.) |
1945 | Japan signs official surrender on 2 September : V-J Day     GO ! |
1945 | 2 September - Japan formally surrenders; V-J (Victory over Japan) Day in US    GO ! |