US History 11: World War II & Cold War Key Concepts

What event marks the official beginning of World War II?

The Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939.

What was the response of Great Britain and France to the Nazi invasion of Poland?

They declared war against Germany.

What were the main reasons Americans did not want to enter World War II?

Isolationist sentiment and a desire to avoid foreign conflicts.

What steps did FDR take to prepare the country for war?

He initiated the Manhattan Project, 'Cash and Carry', Peacetime draft, Lend-Lease Act, and promoted the 'Arsenal of Democracy'.

What event prompted US entry into World War II?

The attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan.

Why did FDR approve the internment of Japanese-Americans in 1942?

Due to wartime fears and suspicions of espionage.

How did World War II impact the American economy?

The government controlled the economy to produce arms and supplies, leading to increased manufacturing.

How did women contribute to the war effort during World War II?

They managed rationing, collected scrap materials, bought war bonds, and worked in factories.

Where did the United States first commit troops in the Western theater?

North Africa.

How was victory achieved in the Pacific theater?

Through the Battle of Midway and the Island Hopping campaign.

How did World War II change America's position in the world?

It emerged as a superpower and a leader in global affairs.

What was the outcome of the US and Soviet Union's face-off over Berlin?

Berlin was divided between the Soviets and US Allies, leading to the Berlin Airlift.

Why did the United States intervene in Korea in 1950?

To defend South Korea and contain communism.

What was the outcome of the Korean War?

An armistice was signed in 1953, but no peace treaty was established.

Why is the Cold War considered 'cold'?

Because the US and Soviet Union never engaged in direct military conflict.

What was the main reason for the rivalry between the US and Soviet Union after World War II?

Disagreements over government and economic systems.

What is containment in the context of Cold War foreign policy?

Preventing the spread of communism.

What was the Marshall Plan?

A program to support free peoples against communist aggression.

What does M.A.D. stand for?

Mutually Assured Destruction.

What was the significance of Pearl Harbor?

It led to the US entering World War II.

What was the Double V Campaign?

A campaign for victory against racism at home and against fascism abroad.

What was D-Day?

The Allied invasion of Normandy to establish a foothold in Europe.

What was the Holocaust?

The systematic genocide of approximately 13 million people during World War II.

What is the Iron Curtain?

The division between Western Europe and Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe.

What was the purpose of the Lend-Lease Act?

To provide military aid to foreign nations during World War II.

What were concentration camps?

Detention centers for Japanese Americans during World War II, not death camps.

What was the significance of the atomic bomb?

It led to Japan's surrender and is traditionally viewed as having spared more lives than a full invasion.