American History - World War 2

Appeasement

Accepting demands in order to avoid conflict. Allied countries appeased Hitler's actions to avoid war.

The Munich Conference

1938 conference at which European leaders attempted to appease Hitler by turning over the Sudetenland to him in exchange for promise that Germany would not expand Germany's territory any further.

Neutrality Act of 1935

Made it illegal for Americans to sell arms to any country at war. FDR's attempt at avoiding war.

Neutrality Act of 1937

Forbade the shipment of arms to the opposing sides in the civil war in Spain. Americans couldn't travel on warring ships.

Neutrality Act of 1939

European democracies might buy American war materials on a "cash-and-carry basis"; improved American moral and economic position

The Cash-and-Carry Act

Allies pay the US cash for arms and carry them away in their own ships

The Lend-Lease Act

1941 law that authorized the president to aid any nation whose defense he believed was vital to American security. The US would "lend" them war materials.

"A Date which will live in infamy"

December 7th, 1941

Women's Auxiliary Army Corp (WAAC)

U.S. army unit created during World War II to enable women to serve in noncombat positions.

Office of Price Administration

WWII office that installs price controls on essential items to prevent inflation and to make sure Americans could still afford necessities.

War Production Board (WPB)

A government agency set up to oversee production of war materials during World War II. Industries shifted from peacetime to wartime production.

Fireside Chats

Informal talks given by FDR over the radio; sat by White House fireplace; gained the confidence of the people.

D-Day

Allied invasion of France on June 6, 1944. Largest amphibious attack in history. Led by Eisenhower. Allies returned to Europe and would begin to defeat Hitler.

Rationing

A limited portion or allowance of food or goods. Used during WW2 to reserve food for soldiers.

Victory Gardens

Americans were encouraged to grow their own vegetables to support the war effort.

The Battle of Stalingrad

Unsuccessful German attack on the city of Stalingrad during World War II from 1942 to 1943, that was the furthest extent of German advance into the Soviet Union.

Executive Order 9066

FDR's order to place all Japanese Americans in Internment Camps

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Two Japanese cities on which the U.S. dropped the atomic bombs to end World War II.

Manhattan Project

A secret U.S. project for the construction of the atomic bomb.

Harry Truman

Took over presidency after FDR's death; made the decision to dropped atomic bombs.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

American General who began in North Africa and became the Commander of Allied forces in Europe. Led attack of D-Day.

Robert Oppenheimer

United States physicist who directed the project at Los Alamos that developed the first atomic bomb (1904-1967)

V-E Day

May 8, 1945; victory in Europe Day when the Germans surrendered

V-J Day

Victory in Japan

Battle of Midway

A decisive naval battle in June 1942 that turned the tide of the war in the Pacific against Japan. The US would stopped Japanese progression in the Pacific and started pushing them back towards Japan.

D-Day

June 6, 1944; the Allied invasion of Normandy in World War II, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control.