July Threshold 1941

According to James M. Burns, the U.S. crossed the threshold from peace to war in July 1941 as the war widened in Europe, the Atlantic lifeline came under attack, the British sought more aid, public opinion changed to favor more intervention, and defense production pulled the U.S. out of the depression.

July 1 - LIFE magazine's Special Defense Issue went on sale

July 7 - 61% approved FDR's public announcement of Marines in Iceland

July 11 - FDR appointed William Donovan as Coordinator of Information, predecessor of the OSS

July 17 - Joe DiMaggio 56-hit streak called "heroic"

• and Ted Williams .406 batting average
  

  B-17C arrives in England July 24 from ILN 1941/08/09

• FDR wanted to double the 7 night baseball games to keep war workers on the job

July 21 - FDR asked Congress to extend the draft

• passed the House Aug. 12 by only one vote
  

July 24 - crude oil embargo on Japan

Aug. 9 - Atlantic Conference

• at Ship Harbor, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland until Aug.12.
• schedule from Secret Service from USS Augusta
• FDR, Churchill agreed on more aid, Europe-First
  

  Churchill gives FDR letter from King George at the Atlantic Conference FDR with son Capt. Elliot Roosevelt from ILN 1941/08/23

• to make public declaration of liberal war aims in Atlantic Charter
  
• affirmed secret guarantees to defend British possessions
  
• started search-and-destroy security patrols, which will provoke an incident
  
• but 74% Americans still opposed war
  

Sept. 4 - destroyer USS "Greer" attacked U-652 with help of Brit plane, eludes 2 torpedoes

Sept. 11 - FDR radio speech declared Greer attack was "piracy"

• as was Aug. 17 sinking of US-Panama freighter "Sessa" killing 24 of 27 crew
  
• and the Sep. 5 sinking of US freighter "Steel Seafarer" clearly flying US flag
  
• U.S. destroyers under "security patrol" rules, to go on offensive to protect convoys
• photo of FDR delivering his radio speech with black armband due to the recent death of his mother Sara Roosevelt

Sources:

• Burns, James M. Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox. New York: Harcourt, 1956.

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