US History - Unit 10

Chapters 24 and 25

D-Day

The Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control.

VE-Day

Victory in Europe Day, celebrated on May 8, 1945, marking the formal acceptance of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender.

Genocide

The deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, ethnic, national, or cultural group.

Atomic Bomb

A weapon that uses nuclear reactions to create an explosion, notably used by the United States on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

Manhattan Project

A secret U.S. government research project during World War II that developed the first nuclear weapons.

Appeasement

A diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding war by making concessions to an aggressor, notably practiced by Britain and France towards Nazi Germany.

Non-aggression pact

An agreement between two or more countries to not engage in military action against each other, such as the 1939 pact between Germany and the Soviet Union.

Adolf Hitler

The leader of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945, known for initiating World War II and the Holocaust.

Roosevelt and WWII

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the U.S. President during most of World War II, leading the nation through the Great Depression and the war.

Lend-lease act

A U.S. program that provided military aid to foreign nations during World War II, allowing the transfer of arms and supplies to allies.

Battle of Britain

A significant air campaign waged by the German Luftwaffe against the United Kingdom in 1940, marking the first major defeat of Hitler's military forces.

Battle of the Atlantic

A prolonged naval conflict during World War II between the Allies and the Axis powers for control of the Atlantic sea routes.

WAAC

Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, established in 1942, allowing women to serve in non-combat roles during World War II.

Steps toward WWII

A series of events and policies, including the Treaty of Versailles, economic instability, and the rise of totalitarian regimes.

Causes of WWII

Factors including the Treaty of Versailles, economic depression, expansionist policies of Axis powers, and failure of appeasement that contributed to the war.

President Truman

became U.S. President after Roosevelt's death in 1945 and made the decision to use atomic bombs against Japan.

US commander in Europe

General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War II.

GI Bill of Rights

Legislation passed in 1944 providing various benefits to returning World War II veterans, including education and housing assistance.

Internment camps

Detention centers where Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated during World War II due to fears of espionage.

Battle of the Bulge

The last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II, launched in December 1944.

Nisei

Japanese Americans born in the United States, many of whom were interned during World War II.

US and neitrality

The initial stance of the United States at the beginning of World War II, characterized by isolationism and reluctance to engage in foreign conflicts.

Atlantic Charter

A joint declaration by the United States and Britain in 1941 outlining the goals for the post-war world, including self-determination and economic cooperation.

Axis Powers

Germany, Italy, and Japan

Allied Powers

United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union

American families and WWII

changes in roles, economic contributions, and social dynamics.

Reasons the US joined the war

The attack on Pearl Harbor, economic interests, and the desire to support allies contributed to the U.S. entry into World War II.

US economy during WWII

shifted to a wartime production model, leading to economic growth, job creation, and the end of the Great Depression.

Nuremberg Trials

A series of military tribunals held after World War II to prosecute prominent leaders of Nazi Germany for war crimes.

US reaction to the Holocaust

included limited immigration policies and delayed military intervention to stop the genocide.

Winston Churchill

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II, known for his leadership and speeches that inspired British resistance against Nazi Germany.

Pearl Harbor

The surprise military attack by the Japanese on December 7, 1941, which led to the United States' entry into World War II.

Effects of WWII on women and minorities

increased employment opportunities for women and minorities, changes in societal roles, and movements for civil rights.