World War Two

What happened in World War Two

The terms of the Treaty of Versailles

It was designed to formally end World War I, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany, which contributed to the conditions leading to World War II. Made Germany give up any weapons and reduce its military significantly.

The causes of World War II

The cause was rooted in the aftermath of World War I, including the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles, economic instability, and the rise of totalitarian regimes. Other contributing factors included aggressive expansionism by Axis powers and failures of appeasement by Western democracies.

Appeasment

When you will give someone something just to calm them down and to avoid conflict. This policy was notably used by Western democracies in the lead-up to World War II in an effort to prevent further aggression from Axis powers.

Nazi-Soviet Non Aggression Pact

An agreement between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939 to avoid military conflict between the two powers. It included secret protocols to divide Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.

Allied power countries and Axis power countries (the alliances/sides)

Allied countries were France, United Kingdom, Poland, America, and more. Axis power countries were Germany, Japan, and Italy.

Kristallnacht

Also known as the Night of Broken Glass, Kristallnacht was a violent anti-Jewish pogrom that took place in Germany on November 9-10, 1938. During this event, Nazis attacked Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues, resulting in widespread destruction and the arrest of thousands of Jews.

Responses of the U.S to the Holocaust

The U.S had a meeting with other countries asking if anyone was able to take in the Jews so that they could escape, but sadly no one opened up and said that they would be willing to take the Jews in. And while some lucky people were able to leave Germany and go to the U.S most Jews were still stuck in and had to go through the Holocaust.

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

A surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. This attack led to the United States' formal entry into World War II.

American home front efforts during the war

America created a Lend Lease act which let them give weapons to Allied countries with the one condition that they had to ship it out themselves. Because of this women and people of different races had more job opportunities and were able to make more money.

Tuskegee Airmen

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces during World War II. They trained at Tuskegee Army Airfield and became known for their distinguished service and successful combat missions, fighting against racism both in the military and on the home front.

The U.S government response to the Pearl Harbor attack

The U.S was very shocked about what happened at Pearl Harbor, leading to an immediate declaration of war against Japan on December 8, 1941. The government mobilized military forces and began to prepare for a broader conflict, escalating its involvement in World War II.

Atomic bombing of Japan

The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki occurred in August 1945, when the United States dropped nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and contributing to Japan's surrender, effectively ending World War II.

What was the Cold War

The Cold War was when the U.S and the Soviet Union fought each other indirectly, by trying to threaten each other by showing off their new technology and weapons. And they helped other countries win against each other.

Iron Curtain

The iron curtain was the idea that the Soviet Union put a “iron curtain” around parts of Europe forcing them to become communist countries. The whole idea was that no one could escape communism after it took over their country.

NATO

Stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Believed in safeguarding the freedom and security of all it’s members through political and military means.

Warsaw Pact

Had the U.S.S.R. Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Rumania. Believed in a communist government for everyone.

Containment

Policy implemented immediately fallowing World War II to halt global expansion of Soviet communism.

Nuclear Escalation

The Soviet Union and the U.S wanted to make sure that they didn’t have a disadvantage. So they were both trying to have better nuclear weapons, so they started making more. And they both started to place bombs around different countries.

Proxy War

Proxy Wars were little wars that the U.S and the Soviet Union would fight each other through supporting other countries and trying to beat each other. Like the space race.

The Korean War and Veitnam War as proxy wars

Both these wars were one country that got split up after WWI. So both countries took in different forms of government. Like how South Korea was a democracy and North Korea were communists. So the U.S and Soviets would support each other and tried to win.

2nd Red Scare / MaCarthyism

Everyone was scared that other people were communist so they would point the finger at others to try and get the blame off of them. And if they spoke out they were now communist so no one said anything about it.

The Space Race

The space race was when the U.S and the Soviet Union raced each other to see who could get someone to space first. In the end the Soviets had someone go to space first.

Cuban Missile Crisis

The Soviet Union was keeping their bombs in Cuba and the U.S didn’t like the idea of this so they sent spy planes that got shut down. There ended up being a battle that was call “The Battle of the Pigs” this war ended up having the Soviet Union take their weapons out of Cuba, and the U.S had to take their bombs out of Europe.

The Tet Offensive as a turning point (Vietnam War)

The U.S military gained almost all territory that was lost. The U.S public saw a bad street fight and the communist’s temporary occupation of the embassy in Saigon. This was a turning point because most people were ok with the war, but after this most Americans hated to war.