World War II

Dictator

A ruler who has complete power over a country

totalitarian state

country where a single party controls the government and every aspect of the lives of the people

Franklin D. Roosevelt

President of the United States during most of the Depression and most of World War II.

Adolf Hitler

German Nazi dictator during World War II (1889-1945)

Joseph Stalin

Communist dictator of the Soviet Union

Benito Mussolini

Fascist dictator of Italy (1922-1943). He led Italy to conquer Ethiopia (1935), joined Germany in the Axis pact (1936), and allied Italy with Germany in World War II. .

Winston Churchill

Prime Minister of Great Britain during WWII

Harry Truman

Became president when FDR died; gave the order to drop the atomic bomb

Isolationism

A national policy of avoiding involvement in world affairs

Blitzkrieg

"Lighting war", typed of fast-moving warfare used by German forces against many countries in Europe.

Appeasement

A policy of making concessions to an aggressor in the hopes of avoiding war. Associated with Neville Chamberlain's policy of making concessions to Adolf Hitler.

Holocaust

A methodical plan orchestrated by Hitler to ensure German supremacy. It called for the elimination of Jews, non-conformists, homosexuals, non-Aryans, and mentally and physically disabled.

Nuremberg Laws

1935 laws defining the status of Jews and withdrawing citizenship from persons of non-German blood.

Pearl Harbor Attack

Dec 7 1941; Japanese attack American naval base and airforce in Oahu; US declares war on japan, Italy and Germany declare war on US

Pearl Harbor Speech

"US suddenly and deliberately attacked by Empire of Japan." "We need to defend ourselves from future treachery."- Roosevelt 1941 This speech was given the day after the attack at Pearl harbor and FDR asks congress for a declaration of war.

D-Day

June 6, 1944 - Led by Eisenhower, over a million troops (the largest invasion force in history) stormed the beaches at Normandy and began the process of re-taking France. The turning point of World War II.

Fighting in Europe

The Americans had a continuous aerial bombing of many cities in Germany and German occupied countries. The allies invaded Italy first and then opened a second front through France. The Americans won many hard fought battles fighting their way towards Germany.

Fighting in the Pacific Theater

America vs. Japan. Amphibious invasions, short and intense battles, high casualty rates, intense heat and oppressive rain, atrocities inflicted by both sides.

Homefront during WWII

What was happening here at home during WWII. Women Workforce, War Industry, Rationing of Supplies, Japanese Internment

War Production

Industry converted from consumer goods to defense production in 1940 and 1941. Mass production techniques were adopted and America out produced the eney.

Rationing

Restricting the amount of food and other goods people may buy during wartime to assure adequate supplies for the military. Sugar, coffee, gasoline and canned goods were among those things rationed.

Victory Gardens

Gardens that citizens planted to raise their own vegetables, so that food could be sent to the troops.

Junk Rally

A recycling effort to collect and reuse materials made scare by war. Things that were collected - rubber and metal items.

Rosie the Riveter

A propaganda character designed to increase production of female workers in the factories. It became a rallying symbol for women to do their part.

Japanese Internment

Japanese and Japanese Americans from the West Coast of the United States during WWII. Roughly 110,000 me, women and children-were sent to hastily constructed camps called "War Relocation Centers" in remote portions of the nation's interior. The government was afraid of spies.

Allied Powers

Alliance of Great Britain, Soviet Union, United States, and France during World War II.

Axis Powers

Alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II.

Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

This was the final event of World War II. The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. Japan surrendered soon after.

Truman's use of the atomic bomb

President Truman made the decision to use the atomic bomb to end the war and force the Japanese to surrender.