Dictators Keep Out

This cartoon, appearing in the September 27, 1940 issue of the Canadian Countryman depicts Uncle Sam and Johnny Canuck standing together resolutely, pledging to keep dictators out of North America. The immediate context for this cartoon was President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s violation of the United States’ official position of neutrality by signing the “Destroyers for Bases” agreement with the British Empire. This agreement gave the British 50 American warships in exchange for military bases in the Caribbean and Newfoundland. This occurred after the Fall of France and during height of the Battle of Britain, and so it seemed to many in Canada that North America would remain the last holdout against Nazi aggression. Roosevelt’s policy would eventually culminate in the famous Lend-Lease program which saw them arm the British even further. Ultimately, the United States would enter the war on the side of the Allies in December, 1941 after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.