Chapter 24: World War II, 1933-1945

Fascism

A radical form of totalitarian government that emerged in 1920s Italy and Germany in which a dictator uses propaganda and brute force to seize control of all aspects of national life.

What were the Neutrality laws?

A series of laws passed by Congress aimed at avoiding a second world war.

What did the Neutrality Act of 1935 prohibit?

The selling of weapons to warring nations.

Axis alliance

A military alliance formed in 1937 by the three major fascist powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Blitzkrieg

The German "lightning war" strategy characterized by swift, well-organized attacks using infantry, tanks, and warplanes.

What was the Lend-Lease Act?

Legislation that allowed the president to lend or lease military equipment.

In what year was the Lend-Lease Act enacted?

The Lend Lease Act was enacted in 1941

What was the purpose of the Lend-Lease Act?

To support countries whose own defense was deemed vital to the defense of the United States.

What year was the Atlantic Charter created?

The Atlantic Charter was created in 1941

Who were the main authors of the Atlantic Charter?

The main authors were Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill

What did the Atlantic Charter outline?

It outlined the war goals of the Allied Powers

What year did the attack on Pearl Harbor occur?

The attack occurred in 1941

What was the date of the attack on Pearl Harbor?

The attacked occurred on December 7, 1941

Which country conducted the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor?

It was conducted by Japan

What was the location of the attack on December 7, 1941?

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

What event prompted the immediate American entry into World War II?

The attack on Pearl Harbor

War Production Board

A federal agency created by Roosevelt in 1942 that converted America's industrial output to war production.

Who were the Tuskegee Airmen?

The U.S. Army Air Corps unit of African American pilots.

What impact did the Tuskegee Airmen have on the military?

Their combat success spurred military and civilian leaders to desegregate the armed forces after the war.

What was the Bracero program?

A system that permitted seasonal farmworkers from Mexico to work in the United States.

What type of contracts did the Bracero program involve?

Yearlong contracts.

What were War Relocation Camps?

Detention camps housing thousands of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.

When were Japanese Americans forcibly interned in War Relocation Camps?

From 1942 until the end of World War II.

What was Operation Overlord?

The Allies' assault on Hitler's 'Atlantic Wall.'

What was the 'Atlantic Wall'?

A series of seemingly impregnable fortifications and minefields along the French coastline created by German forces.

Who built the fortifications of the 'Atlantic Wall'?

German forces using captive Europeans for laborers.

What was the Yalta Conference?

A meeting of the 'Big Three' Allied leaders to discuss postwar arrangements.

Who were the 'Big Three' leaders at the Yalta Conference?

Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin.

What was one of the main topics discussed at the Yalta Conference?

How to divide control of postwar Germany.

What region's control was discussed at the Yalta Conference besides Germany?

Eastern Europe.

When was the Yalta Conference?

The conference was held in 1945

Holocaust

Systematic efforts by the Nazis to exterminate the Jews of Europe, resulting in the murder of over 6 million Jews and more than a million other "undesirables."

What were the Nuremberg Trials?

A series of trials of Nazi leaders by an international tribunal.

What did the Nuremberg Trials expose?

The full extent of Nazi atrocities.

What important precedents did the Nuremberg Trials set?

Important precedents for international law in the post-World War II era.

What year did the Battle of Midway take place?

The Battle happened in 1942

What was the significance of the Battle of Midway in World War II?

It was the turning point in the Pacific front.

What was the Japanese navy's status before the Battle of Midway?

It had not suffered a major defeat in 350 years.

What city was the first target of the atomic bomb?

Hiroshima

On what date was the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima?

August 6, 1945

How many people were killed immediately by the atomic bomb in Hiroshima?

78,000

What was the impact of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima?

It destroyed most of the city.