History Exam Semester 2 - Multiple Choice Questions

What three things caused the financial collapse in the U.S.?

Uneven distribution of wealth, overproduction by business and agriculture, and many Americans were buying less post-war.

What did governments turn to post WWI and the beginning of the stock market crash?

Fascism.

What led to fascism in Italy?

Disappointment to gain more territory after the Paris Peace Conference; they wanted a leader who could take action and get them out of their failing democratic government.

Who took over as a fascist leader in Italy?

Benito Mussolini.

What did Mussolini do when he came to power?

Abolished democracy and all political parties, used secret police, sought to control the economy.

How did Hitler come to power?

After the Depression, people turned to him and his growing Nazi party for security; he was later given the role of chancellor by the President who thought they could control him.

What did Hitler do when he came to power?

Banned political parties and had opponents arrested; formed a protection squad and secret police.

What did Hitler do in 1933?

Started enforcing anti-semitism, using the Jews as scapegoats for Germany’s troubles since the war.

What was happening in the rest of the world during this time?

Britain and France tried to stay out of war and keep peace, while the U.S. supported isolationism.

Who did Hitler sign a 10-year non-aggression pact with?

Joseph Stalin.

What countries did the non-aggression pact say the USSR could take over?

Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia.

What happened on September 1, 1939?

The start of WW II, when Hitler launched a surprise attack on Poland.

How did WW II start?

Germany and Russia took over Poland.

What happened on September 3, 1939?

France and Britain declared war on Germany.

What happened on September 17, 1939?

Stalin sent Soviet troops to occupy the eastern half of Poland.

What mistake did Stalin make when they went to Poland to fight?

They were not prepared for the fight to take long.

What did Finland use to fight against Russia?

Reindeer.

What happened on April 9, 1940?

Hitler launched an attack on Denmark and Norway.

What happened in May of 1940?

Hitler took over France.

What was the rescue at Dunkirk?

Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of over 338,000 British and French soldiers.

What happened on June 14, 1940?

Germans had taken Paris.

What war strategy did the Germans and Britain use?

Dog fighting.

When did Germany’s air force begin bombing Great Britain?

The summer of 1940.

What two technological devices helped turn the tide in the RAF’s favor?

Radar and Enigma Machine.

What happened in March 1941?

British troops retreated to Libya.

What is General Rommel’s nickname and why is he called that?

Desert Fox, for defeating the British in Libya.

What happened from March to June 1942?

Rommel and the Axis powers continued to fight the British, defeating them.

What happened on the morning of June 22, 1941?

German tanks and aircraft began the invasion of Russia.

Did the German’s surprise attack on Russia work?

No, both sides were unprepared for the harsh winter.

What happened on December 7, 1941, and what were the effects?

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, killing thousands and prompting President Roosevelt to declare war on Japan.

What was Japan’s reputation at the time and what would they do to war prisoners?

Known for being conquerors and cruel, torturing their prisoners.

What was Midway Island and what happened there on June 4, 1942?

A key American airfield where American forces defeated the Japanese attack.

Who led a bombing raid on Tokyo in 1942?

Lt. Col James Doolittle.

What happened on November 8, 1942?

Operation Torch in Morocco and Algeria, led by Dwight Eisenhower.

What happened during the D-Day invasion?

Allies launched an attack on German-held France.

What happened during the Battle of the Bulge?

The Allies moved back into Germany, leading to Germany's retreat.

When was the war officially over in Europe?

May 9, 1945.

What was still going on with the U.S. during this time?

The War against Japan.

How did the U.S. finally defeat Japan?

They dropped two atomic bombs, leading to Japan's surrender.

What were the Nuremberg Trials?

An international military tribunal that tried high ranking Nazi officers for war crimes and genocide.