WWII

The Great Depression

A global economic crisis that began in 1929 and contributed to the rise of dictatorships in Europe.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended World War I, which imposed harsh penalties on Germany and contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler.

Joseph Stalin

The leader of the Soviet Union who ruled with totalitarian control.

Benito Mussolini

The dictator of Fascist Italy who allied with Nazi Germany.

Adolf Hitler

The dictator of Nazi Germany known for his totalitarian regime and the atrocities of World War II.

Aryans

A term used by Hitler to describe Germans as the 'master race'.

Munich Conference

A meeting in 1938 where Britain and France gave in to Hitler's demands in an effort to avoid war.

Appeasement

The policy of conceding to the demands of an aggressor in order to maintain peace.

Blitzkrieg

A new type of warfare employed by Germany, meaning 'lightning war', characterized by swift air and ground attacks.

Isolationism

A foreign policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups.

Neutrality Act of 1935

Legislation that made it illegal for U.S. businesses to sell arms to foreign countries.

Neutrality Act of 1937

Legislation that required foreign countries to pay for U.S. goods with cash instead of credit and carry them on their own ships.

Dunkirk

Location of a significant evacuation of Allied troops in 1940 after Hitler ordered a ceasefire.

Kristallnacht

The 'Night of Broken Glass,' when Jewish properties were destroyed and families terrorized.

Bataan Death March

The forced march of 75,000 Allied soldiers by the Japanese army in 1942. The Japanese marched those soldiers 60 miles with no food or water. Over 6,000 died or were executed.

Doolittle Raid

An American surprise air raid on Tokyo in 1942, which boosted American morale. It showed the Japanese that the U.S. could attack their mainland at any time.

Midway

The U.S. ambushed and defeated the Japanese fleet in a significant battle in the Pacific Theater (sinking 4 of their aircraft carriers). It was a turning point of the war in the Pacific because Japan was on the defensive for the remainder of the war.

Island-hopping strategy

A military strategy used by the U.S. to capture strategic islands and bypass others during World War II.

Iwo Jima

An important battle site that provided a critical base for attacks on Japan.

Okinawa

The last major battle of the Pacific that was critical for staging attacks on Japan.

Manhattan Project

The secret U.S. project for developing the atomic bomb (first nuclear bomb).

V-J Day

Victory over Japan Day, marking the end of World War II.

Hideki Tojo

The Prime Minister of Japan during World War II, known for his militaristic policies.

The Nye Committee Report

A report investigating why the U.S. entered World War I, suggesting profits for arms manufacturers influenced the decision. Americans believed businesses influenced the decision to go to war (more support for isolationism).

Nazi Nuremberg Laws

Laws enacted to protect German blood and honor, stripping Jews of citizenship and rights.

Selective Services Act

The first peacetime draft in U.S. history, implemented during World War II, after Hitler takes Poland.

Women’s Army Corps (WAC)

The first group of women to serve in the U.S. Army other than nurses during World War II.

Rosie the Riveter

The symbol of the campaign to hire women to do industrial jobs during the war. A cultural icon representing women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II.

A. Phillip Randolph

The founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, significant in advocating for African American labor rights. A major union for African American railroad workers.

Korematsu v. the United States

A Supreme Court case that ruled Japanese internment during World War II was legal, because it has based on military urgency, not race.

Lend-Lease Act of 1941

Legislation allowing the U.S. to lend or lease arms to countries vital for U.S. defense. The US could send weapons to GB if they promised to return or pay rent for them after the war.

Final Solution

The Nazi plan for the extermination of Jews during World War II.

Rape of Nanking

A horrific episode during the Second Sino-Japanese War where Japanese troops committed mass atrocities in Nanking.

Jews' reluctance to leave Germany

Mainly due to the belief that conditions would eventually improve.

Kristallnacht

A pivotal event marked by the destruction of Jewish properties and the start of open violence against Jews.

Nazi orders for Jewish immigration

Restrictions that prevented Jews from taking wealth out of Germany.

Civilian internment

The practice of detaining individuals from enemy nations, including Japanese Americans during World War II.

Blitzkrieg warfare

A military tactic that combines air power and fast ground forces to overwhelm the enemy.

U.S. oil embargo on Japan

A response to Japanese aggression that cut off oil supplies and contributed to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Atomic bombing of Hiroshima

The first use of atomic weapons in war, dropped by the U.S. on Japan on August 6, 1945.

Atomic bombing of Nagasaki

The second atomic bomb dropped by the U.S. on Japan, leading to the end of World War II.

Declaration of the Allied Powers

The collective decision made by the Allies to resist Axis aggression during WWII.

The 99th Pursuit Squadron

The first African American squadron to see combat in World War II was known as the Tuskegee Airmen. They flew over 200 missions without losing a single member to enemy aircraft.

Cash and Carry policy

A provision of the Neutrality Act requiring warring nations to pay cash for goods and transportation.

FDR's revision of the Neutrality Act

An adjustment allowing the U.S. to sell warships to Great Britain in exchange for military bases.

Appeasement at Munich Conference

The strategy of conceding to Hitler's demands as a means of preventing war.

Allies in WWII

The union of countries including Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States.

Axis Powers in WWII

The union of countries including Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy.

Post-war outlook of American society

Reflected changing social dynamics and increasing participation of women and minorities post-WWII.

European front of WWII

The theater of war in Europe, marked by major battles against Nazi Germany.

Lasting impact of WWII on global dynamics

Significantly reshaped international relations and set a foundation for the Cold War.

Role of propaganda in WWII

Used to rally support and demonize enemies, influencing public perception and morale.

Pearl Harbor attack

A surprise military strike by the Japanese navy against the United States on December 7, 1941.

Significance of Iwo Jima

Provided a strategic base for bombing runs on Japan and marked significant U.S. military involvement.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

The two cities where the U.S. dropped atomic bombs, leading to Japan's surrender.

Bataan Death March significance

Reflects the brutal treatment of captured soldiers by the Japanese military during WWII.

Cuba and the St. Louis incident

A notable event where Jewish refugees were refused entry into Cuba, leading to tragic outcomes.

General Douglas MacArthur

Commander of Allied forces in the Pacific, known for his strategy and leadership.

Chester Nimitz

Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Naval Fleet in the Pacific during WWII.

Harry S. Truman and WWII

U.S. President who made the decision to use atomic bombs against Japan.

Pacific Theater of WWII

The area of conflict in the Pacific Ocean during World War II.

Role of the United Nations post-WWII

Established to promote international cooperation and prevent future conflicts after WWII.

Conditions that encouraged dictatorships in Europe

The Great Depression and the Treaty of Versailles (created economic and political instability)

European Dictators and Their Countries

• Joseph Stalin: Soviet Russia

• Benito Mussolini: Fascist Italy

• Adolf Hitler: Nazi Germany

Joseph Stalin

Soviet Russia’s Dictator

Benito Mussolini

Fascist Dictator of Italy

Adolf Hitler

Nazi Germany Dictator

Mein Kampf

A book written by Hitler where he claimed Germans (Aryans) were the "master race.”

Munich Conference

A meeting where Britain and France attempted to appease Hitler by allowing him to take the Sudetenland to avoid war.

Start of WWII

After the Munich Conference, Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia and on September 1, 1939, he invaded Poland, beginning WWII.

Hitler’s Western Expansion

After taking Poland, Hitler turned west and quickly conquered France.

Battle of Britain

Hitler's failed attempt to conquer England (after conquering Poland and France) through aerial bombings.

Hitler’s Mistake at Dunkirk

Ordered a ceasefire, which halted the German advance for three days and allowed over 300,000 Allied troops to be evacuated across the English Channel.

The "Miracle" at Dunkirk

British forces rescued 338,000 Allied soldiers, preventing their destruction.

Neutrality Act of 1939

Allowed the U.S. to sell warships to Britain in exchange for military bases.

The Allies

Great Britain, France, Soviet Russia, and the United States.

The Axis Powers

Nazi Germany, Imperialist Japan, and Fascist Italy.

Japan’s Government Shift

Transitioned from a democracy to a military-controlled government (like Germany).

Hideki Tojo’s Invasion of Manchuria

Japan invaded Manchuria and Indochina for natural resources.

U.S. Response to Japan’s Expansion

Imposed an oil embargo, leading to tensions that resulted in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Japan attacked the U.S. on December 7, 1941, in response to the oil embargo.

Jewish Reluctance to Leave Germany

Many Jews believed conditions would improve; later, they were trapped due to visa backlogs (100k applications).

Jewish Immigration Restrictions

Jews couldn’t take money out of Germany, U.S. visa laws were strict, and anti-Semitism limited acceptance of refugees.

Restrictions of Nuremberg Laws

Stripped Jews of citizenship, banned intermarriage, banned voting, Jews with German-sounding names had to adopt Jewish names, identified as “j” for Jewish in passports, and restricted jobs (law + medicine) and businesses.

Famous Jewish Refugees

Albert Einstein, Otto Frank’s family, and Frederic Morton’s family.

The S.S. St. Louis Incident

A ship carrying Jewish refugees was denied entry to Cuba and the U.S., forcing passengers back to Europe, disembarking in France, Holland, Belgium, and GB. Within 3 years, the first three countries fell to Nazi domination.

The Tuskegee Airmen

The first African American squadron in WWII, known for their success in air combat.

"Double V" Campaign

Encouraged African Americans to fight against racism abroad and at home.

Navajo Code Talkers

Native American Marines who used their language to create unbreakable codes.

Internment Camps

Japanese, Germans, and Italians in the U.S. were placed in camps during WWII.

Selective Service Training Act

Required new recruits to undergo eight weeks of basic military training.

War in the Pacific

Led by General Douglas MacArthur (Army) and Admiral Chester Nimitz (Navy).

Japan’s Objective

Expansion across the Pacific.

The Philippines and Douglas MacArthur

Japan captured the Philippines, forcing MacArthur to flee, but he vowed, "I shall return."

Bataan Death March

After Japan’s victory in the Philippines, they forced 75,000 Allied troops on a brutal march, killing over 6,000.

Doolittle Raid

A U.S. air raid on Tokyo that boosted American morale.

Battle of Midway

A turning point in the Pacific where the U.S. destroyed four Japanese aircraft carriers.

V-J Day

"Victory over Japan" Day, marking Japan’s surrender.

Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Hiroshima: August 6, 1945; Nagasaki: August 9, 1945.

The Potsdam Declaration

Truman warned Japan of "prompt and utter destruction" if they didn’t surrender.