ainst the precedent set by George Washington. Despite heavy campaigning the republicans are unable to dethrone Roosevelt. Roosevelt insisted throughout his campaign that he was only in the race to keep America out of the war in Europe. However, due to the way things unfolded, he would soon be forced to intervene. FDRs third term was dominated by World War Two. Due to the influence of isolationists FDR was unwilling and unable to enter the war immediately. This meant that despite not getting involved in the fighting, the United States would commit to arming and aiding its allies in their fight against the axis powers. Therefore, as Churchill put it, FDR had committed to a policy of “all aid short of war.” In the first of many highly secretive meetings, Roosevelt and Churchill met in August 1941. The outcome of this meeting was the Atlantic Charter, a pivotal piece of conceptual legislature that outlined global wartime and post-war goals. Despite constant pressure from Churchill, FDR did not believe that congress would allow the United States to enter the war. For the time being, the role undertaken by the United States was that of aid and protection, not of direct intervention. However, this would not last very long. Despite the primary concern being the European theatre, Japan also presented a serious challenge. Following the Japanese conquest of South East Asia, FDR decides to stop selling them oil, depriving Japan of 95% of its oil supply. FDR also placed General Douglas MacArthur as the commander of the American forces in the Philippines. When diplomatic efforts failed to lift the embargo, the Japanese felt forced into action; believing that if they were able destroy the US pacific fleet, along with its naval forces stationed in South East Asia, they would be able to continue their conquests. Therefore, on the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese navy attacked Pearl Harbour. The attack on Pearl Harbour knocked out several key US battleships and killed 2,403 Americans. The following day, FDR, in his now infamous “Infamy Speech” to Congress, called for war to be declared on Japan, with congress declaring war on Japan that same day, and Germany and Italy 3 days later. The scale the tragedy that struck caused antiwar sentiment to disappear. The Japanese empire would extend its borders up until June 1942, when the American navy was able to permanently halt their progress at the Battle of Midway. The Battle of Midway proved to be the first round in a series of slow, difficult, and costly island hopping. This was all in efforts to gain bases from which the airforce could wreak havoc on the Japanese. Roosevelt opted to stay out of the tactical military decision making, something his counterpart in Germany relished. By late 1944, most specifically the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Americans had not only recaptured much of the territory lost, but also dealt the final blow to the Japanese navy.