By Dana K. and Kassie

1941 was an exciting, busy, and tragic year. Many things happened during this year that Americans would always remember. The United States joined World War II in 1941; President Roosevelt recommended the Lend Lease Act, Mt. Rushmore was completed, and so much more.

• USO established February 4. The USO meant entertainment and a little bit of home in far off places for many service men and women during WWII.
• President Roosevelt proposed the Lend Lease Act "to promote the Defense of the United States" on March 11.
• The British navy sinks the Bismark, a German battleship, on May 24.
• On June 22, Germany invades Russia in Operation Barbarossa. This is the turning point in WWII.
• October 9, President Roosevelt decides to proceed with development of an atomic weapon that will be called the Manhattan Project.
• Dumbo debuted on October 23. It won Disney an Oscar for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture.
• The first Superman cartoon debuted in September. This cartoon was nominated for an Academy Award. Max Fleischer created this cartoon and also presented Betty Boop and Popeye.
• On December 7 the Japanese sink the USS Arizona in a deliberate attack on the United States at Pearl Harbor. The US joined the war right after this attack on Pearl Harbor. Radiogram reporting the attack.
• December 8, the US declares war on Japan. Roosevelt signs the declaration of war. "Yesterday, December 7, a date which will live in infamy," so began Roosevelt’s address to the nation. Listen to the speech.
• Early on the morning of December 11, the German Chargé d ‘Affaires delivered a message to the US State Department. Germany declares war on the US and the US finally ends their neutrality on the European war.
• Citizen Kane by Orson Welles premieres. Welles, only 25 years old, co-wrote, directed, and starred in this classic.
• Mount Rushmore is completed after the death of its creator, John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum. His son, Lincoln, completed Mount Rushmore’s Lincoln after his death.
• First Curious George written by Margret Rey and her husband H. A Rey. Since then, Houghton Mifflin has published 20 million copies and it has been translated into 12 different languages.
• General Mills invented Cheerioats a.k.a. Cheerios. They were made to transform the American breakfast by not having to heat your cereal.

14th Annual Academy Awards
Best Picture - How Green Was My Valley
Best Actor - Gary Cooper for "Sergeant York"
Best Actress - Joan Fontaine for "Suspicion"

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1940s

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last updated 12/04/05