History WWII

What event officially started WWII?

• Germany invaded Poland in 1939

Who were the main dictators?

• Hitler (Germany)

• Mussolini (Italy)

• Stalin (Soviet Union)

• Japanese militarists (Japan)

Who believed fascism, and what was it?

• Strong central government, no opposition, violence, state over individual

• Mussolini (Italy)

Who believed Nazism, and what was it?

• Hitler (Germany)

• Extreme nationalism, antisemitism, expansion, loyalty to Hitler

Who believed communism, and what was it?

• Stalin (Soviet Union)

• Government controls economy/resources

Who believed militarism, and what was it?

• Japanese militarists (Japan)

• Strong military + expansion for resources

What alliance did Germany, Italy, and Japan form?

• Axis powers

What aggressive actions did Hitler take?

• Took Austria, Czechoslovakia, invaded Poland

• Violated Treaty of Versailles

What did Mussolini do?

• Invaded Ethiopia

What did Japan do?

• Invaded China (R*pe of Nanjing)

Why did the U.S. avoid entering WWII at first?

• Isolationism

  • Used FDR’s speech to show this

What did the Neutrality Acts do?

• Banned arms sales, loans, and travel to war zones

What was FDR’s “I Hate War” idea?

• He wanted to avoid war and reflect public fear of involvement

What was Cash and Carry and why was it important? (Helping Allies Without Fighting)

• Countries buy goods with cash and transport themselves

• Helped Allies but kept U.S. out of war

What was the Lend-Lease Act? (Helping Allies Without Fighting)

• U.S. gave/lent weapons to Allies

What did “Arsenal of Democracy” mean? (Helping Allies Without Fighting)

• U.S. supplying weapons to support Allies

What was the MAIN reason the U.S. entered WWII?

• Pearl Harbor

What events led up to Pearl Harbor?

• Helping Allies

• tension with Japan

• oil embargo

Why did Japan attack?

• U.S. cut off oil and blocked expansion

• because they hated us since in WWI we did not give them what they wanted with the treaty

What happened in the attack and what was the result?

• Planes destroyed ships and planes in Hawaii

• U.S declared war on Japan entering WWII

• Germany & Italy declared war on U.S.

How were soldiers recruited?

• Draft (Selective Service Act) + volunteers (enlisted after Pearl Harbor)

Was the army segregated and how?

• Yes, for people of color they had segregated Units commanded by white officers

Name minority groups that served.

• African Americans, Mexican Americans, Japanese Americans, Native Americans

How did WWII affect the economy?

• Ended the Great Depression

What did factories produce?

• War materials (planes, ships, weapons)

What role did women play?

• had to work (worked in factories) for their family as the men were in war

What was propaganda used for?

• Encourage support

• Unite people

• Influence opinions

What was the U.S’s strategy?

• U.S. chose “Europe First” (defeat Hitler before Japan)

What were the early victories for the U.S?

• North Africa & Italy

What was D-Day, and why was it important?

• Allied invasion of France

• VERY IMPORTANT:

  • Gave Allies a foothold in Europe

  • the start of pushing Germany back

What is V-E Day?

• Victory in Europe (Germany defeated)

What was island hopping, and why did we use it? (War in the Pacific (Japan))

• Taking key islands to move closer to Japan (moving from island to island)

• Avoid strong defenses and save resources

What was the Battle of Midway?

• Turning point—U.S. destroyed Japanese carriers

Why was Iwo Jima important?

• Base to attack Japan

• Very high casualties

What happened at Okinawa?

• Heavy casualties + kamikaze attacks

After the War what was decided at the Yalta Conference?

• Germany divided into 4 zones

• Stalin promised free elections

• Soviet Union said they would help fight Japan

• Plan for United Nations

Why did the U.S. drop the atomic bomb?

• End war quickly

• Avoid invasion of Japan

• Save American lives

• Japan wouldn’t surrender

• Show power (especially to Soviet Union)

Where were bombs dropped?

• Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Argument FOR the bomb?

• Ended war quickly

  • Japan had not surrendered even after losing major battles, so the bomb forced a quick end to the war. This prevented the fighting from dragging on for months and causing even more destruction.

• saved american lives

  • A U.S. invasion of Japan would have been extremely deadly. Battles like Iwo Jima and Okinawa showed that Japanese forces would fight to the death, so leaders believed the bomb would prevent massive American casualties.

• japan showed they would not surrender easily

  • Japan kept fighting despite heavy losses and used kamikaze attacks, showing how determined it was. Because of this, U.S. leaders believed strong action was needed to force surrender.

Argument AGAINST the bomb?

• Mostly civilians killed and Moral/ethical concerns

  • Most of the people killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were innocent civilians, not soldiers. 90% civilians

  • This made the bomb morally wrong because it caused massive suffering to people who were not directly fighting.

  • Survivors suffered radiation sickness and long-term health problems

• Japan was already close to defeat and other options could have been tried first

  • By 1945, Japan had lost important battles (Midway, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa), had weak resources and suplly shortage (no oil from US), and was struggling to continue the war.

    • Japan was already in a bad position, the bomb not necessary to end the war

  • The United States could have continued pressure, negotiated, or demonstrated the bomb without dropping it on cities. Since alternatives existed, using such a destructive weapon right away is harder to justify.

• increased tensions and helped start the cold war

  • Dropping the atomic bomb didn’t just end WWII—it also showed the world, especially the Soviet Union, how powerful the United States was. This created fear and distrust between the two countries. Instead of cooperation after the war, it led to competition and an arms race, where both sides built more and more nuclear weapons. This tension eventually became the Cold War. Because the bomb contributed to long-term global conflict and fear of nuclear war, it makes the decision harder to justify beyond just ending WWII.

  • The world lived under fear of nuclear war for decades

What is the main idea being expressed in this cartoon?

A. The United States is actively fighting in Europe
B. The United States is remaining isolated while war spreads in Europe
C. Europe is becoming more peaceful
D. The United States is helping rebuild Europe

B. The United States is remaining isolated while war spreads in Europe

What is the main message of this cartoon?

A. U.S. neutrality policies are effective and protective
B. The U.S. should avoid helping any other countries
C. Neutrality is dangerous and the U.S. should aid its allies
D. The U.S. should support the Axis powers

C. Neutrality is dangerous and the U.S. should aid its allies

What is the main idea of this cartoon?

A. Democratic leaders successfully stopped Hitler
B. Hitler relied on military strength alone to gain power
C. Democratic nations allowed Hitler to grow stronger through appeasement
D. Hitler was supported equally by all European nations

C. Democratic nations allowed Hitler to grow stronger through appeasement