HISTORY WW2

What were three factors leading to the Great Depression? Describe how each factor contributed.

Stock Market Crash- Panicked people backed out and sold stocks 

Bank failures- Panicked people also took out their savings from banks in which some couldn’t provide 

Hawley Smoot Tariffs- raised tariffs in US then other countries raised their tariffs, led to decline of imports, exports, and global economy

How did the Dust Bowl affect the lives of those living in the area hit hardest? (3 ways) Refer to specific examples from the documentary and the Steinbeck reading.

• Forced many to migrate to places such as California - Steinbeck

• Health problems were developed due to the dust storms - Video

  • Respiratory issues like dust pneumonia and spread of diseases like measles and influenza 

• Economic pressure because of destroyed crops and livestock - Video

What are three reasons that the US entered WWII? What were the arguments of isolationists that were against it?

1. Attack on Pearl Harbor

2. Axis Powers’ Aggression (Japanese expansion and u-boats attacking ships in the Atlantic)

3. Defense of Allies and Global Democracy

Arguments of Isolationists:

• Avoiding another costly war

• Focus on domestic issues -  that one-third of our population is ill-fed, ill-housed and ill-clad

• Belief in neutrality and security

What were the causes and consequences of racial tensions in the US in the 1940s? Mention two different groups and be specific.

The causes of racial tension in the US in the 1940s:

• Discrimination against African Americans in the workplace, housing, and weren’t allowed to do certain jobs

  • Great MIgration bought AA to the North for more job opportunities during wartime 

  • 1943 Detroit Race Riot

• Bombing of Pearl Harbor caused fear against Japanese Americans

  • Sabotaging - mining coastal harbors

  • Poisoning veggies

Consequences:

• AA

  • Fair Employment Practices Committee

  • March on Washington 

• JA

  • Internment camps led to the JACL (Japanese American Citizens League)

  • Payments of reparations and restitutions for anyone who was forced into the camps

Describe the progression of the war in Europe - Where did the US/UK focus first? Next? Last? Why? Madison

First:

• North Africa

  • It would protect Mediterranean shipping lanes that provided the British with Middle Eastern oil via the Suez Canal 

• Invade Italy 

  • Captured Sicily in the summer of 1943

• Invade Normandy, France

  • D-Day

  • Press on to Paris

  • From Paris move towards Germany

Why? Get soldiers combat experience and secure resources.

Why were the battles of Midway, the Coral Sea and Guadalcanal so significant in the War in the Pacific?

Midway: It was a major turning point in the war and if japan captured the island they could reach mainland USA 

Coral Sea: First time the US stopped a Japanese attack during WW2

Guadalcanal: First major offensive win (we take territory from Japan), after we started island hopping in the Pacific, one of the bloodiest battles that ended in hand to hand combat.

What about the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa (two factors) shaped the US’ decision to drop the atomic bombs?

• Almost every single japanese person on those islands died, no one surrendered. So if we invaded japan the estimated losses would be in the millions 

• The japanese also had very fierce defending tactics that we struggled to move forward against - started using kamikaze pilots. 

• Death tolls and fierceness of fighting

What are three examples of the humanitarian efforts/effects that occurred as a result of WWII?

• United nations

  • Created so that there would not be another war like this

• GI Bill

  • Help men who served return to a normal life

• Nuremberg Trials

  • Trails that attempted to charge Nazi leaders for warcrimes

What issues were addressed at the Potsdam conference and how were they resolved?

• Stalin said he would allow free elections, but now he refuses because he occupies eastern Europe 

• They addressed what to do with Germany after the war

• Compromised to divide Germany into 4 zones

  • Each occupying country would take reparations from their zone