American History Since 1877 - Unit 3

Merchants of Death

Book by H.C. Engelbrecht and F.C. Hanighen that critiques the arms industry and its influence on promoting the second world war

Blood and Profits

Book by Warren Pulley that criticizes big corporations for profiting from human bondage during World War II

One Hell of a Business

Book written by H.C. Engelbrecht that details Senate investigation of the munitions industry

Nye Committee

Senate committee investigating the connection between American munitions (arms, weapons) makers and the start of the war

A Farewell to Arms

Novel by Earnest Hemmingway that tells the story of an Italian lieutenant serving in the ambulance corps during WWI — anti-war literature

Neutrality Act of 1935

All arms shipments to belligerents were banned

Neutrality Act of 1936

Forbade the extension of loans to belligerents and banned purchases on credit

Neutrality Act of 1937

Belligerents purchasing materials in the U.S. had to do so in cash and transport the goods in ships other than American ships. Americans are forbidden to travel in belligerent ships

Ludlow Resolution

Proposed constitutional amendment that would require national referendum (general vote) before Congressional declaration of war would become valid

Munich Conference

A conference in which major powers agreed to appease Hitler by Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia

Non-Aggression Pact

Germany and the Soviet Union agree not to go to war against each other for 10 years

Neutrality Act of 1939

Passed in response to the outbreak of war in Europe—repealed the sentiment that belligerents couldn’t purchase ars from the U.S., but they still had to follow the “cash” system

Battle of Britain

Pivotal battle in which the Royal air Force defended the UK against Germany, preventing invasion

Lend-Lease Program

Offered service/resources to nations whose security was necessary for U.S. security during the war

USS Greer

Involved in the shooting war against German U-boats—fired on September 4th, 1941

USS Kearny

Involved in the shooting war against German U-boats—hit by a torpedo but not sunk on October 17th, 1941

USS Reuben James

Involved in the shooting war against German U-boats—sunk by torpedo on October 30th, 1941

December 7th, 1941

Attack on Pearl Harbor occurs

Impacts of the attack on Pearl Harbor and other places in the Pacific and Asia

Ends U.S. isolationism, unites the nation for war

Winston Churchill

The British Prime Minister during World War II

Doolittle’s Raid

Raid on the home islands of Japan which boosted U.S. morale and had a negative psychological impact on Japan who was doing very well prior to this

Battle of the Coral Sea

Battle between Australia/U.S. in which they defeated Japan and were no longer viewed as a threat to Australia

Battle of Midway

Major Japanese loss against U.S.—4 aircraft carriers sunk

Douglas MacArthur

American general who advocated for trying to obtain the Southwest Pacific in WWII (New Guinea, Dutch East Indies, Philippines) under Army command

Chester Nimitz

American fleet admiral that advocated for an island hopping strategy against the pacific in WWII under Navy command