What action did Franklin D. Roosevelt take to pressure Japan regarding imperial expansion?

• A. Oil embargo
• B. Trade sanctions
• C. Military blockade
• D. Economic aid

Answer: (A)

Economic pressure by cutting off vital resources is the idea being tested. Roosevelt ordered an oil embargo in 1941, halting most U.S. oil shipments to Japan and restricting other strategic materials. Japan depended on imported petroleum to fuel its navy, air force, and war industry, so the embargo directly hit its ability to sustain expansion. The goal was to deter aggression by making the costs of imperial expansion too high, pushing Japan to reconsider its plans. This measure is more precise and impactful than broad trade sanctions and reflects a deliberate attempt to influence Japan without immediate military action. A military blockade involves a physical sealing of ports, which was not the immediate policy, and economic aid would not pressure Japan toward restraint.