How WW2 Ended & How It's Connected to the Cold War / Dropping Atomic Bombs on Japan

Wednesday - April 9, 2025

What’s another word for the four major historical events we’re required to learn about in American History?

Epochs

What are the four epochs?

WW1, WW2, Cold War, Age of Terror

When was WW1?

1914 - 1918

What event occurred in 1919?

The Treaty of Versailles

When was WW2?

1939 - 1945

When did WW2 end in Japan and the US main focus shifted to Russia?

1945

When was the Cold War?

1945 - 1989

What 2 limited (proxy) wars happened during the Cold War?

The Korean & Vietnam War

When did most civilians believe would be an end to all wars?

1990 - 1991

When did the ‘Age of Terror’ begin and ‘end’?

September 11, 2001 - Today

In the ‘Age of Terror’, people worry about?

Terrorist Organizations + Afghanistan & Iraq War

In the 1990s & again in 2015, Democrats supported what kind of approach on Foreign Policy?

Globalism

Republicans support what kind of approach on Foreign Policy?

Competitive

What’s the name of the project started by FDR in 1940?

The Manhattan Project

What was the Manhattan Project for?

Creating an atomic bomb before Germany

Where was the Manhattan Project’s secret location?

Oak Ridge, TN

In 1944, which term was FDR drafted for and who was his VP?

FDR’s 4th term & Harry Truman (unknown)

When did FDR die? What happens to his VP?

April 12, 1945 & Truman becomes President

When did Truman find out about FDR’s secret Manhattan Project?

Day 1 as President

When did Germany surrender in WW2?

May 8, 1945

May 8, 1945 is also known as?

VE Day (Victory in Europe)

In July 1945, both Truman and Stalin are wondering what to do about Japan, a dictatorial nation (Hirohito). Where do both leaders meet to discuss a joint plan for Japan?

The Potsdam Conference

How did the Potsdam Conference go?

Communication sucked & neither leader came up with a joint plan for Japan

What did Truman discover during the Potsdam Conference with Stalin present?

The US’ Nuclear Bomb test worked in Trinity, New Mexico

On August 3, 1945, Truman returns to the US and has two options for handling Japan in an effort to bring an end to WW2 there. What are those options?

He can either a) choose land invasion or b) nuke them to end the war quickly

Russia’s leader, Joseph Stalin could be described as?

horrible, intimidating

Before becoming VP and President of the US, who was Harry Truman?

a Senator from Missouri who also owned a clothing shop

What happened on August 6, 1945?

The US bombed Hiroshima, Japan, killing 80,000 people in minutes.

What happened on August 9, 1945?

The US dropped another bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, killing 60,000 people in minutes.

When was V-J Day (Victory in Japan) accomplished?

August 14, 1945

In March of 1946, how are Truman and Stalin giving speeches about one another in separate countries?

Both leaders are talking sh!t about the other