Untitled Flashcards Set

Treaty of Versailles

Peace treaty that ended WWI; blamed Germany and imposed harsh reparations.

League of Nations

International peacekeeping organization formed after WWI to prevent wars.

Dawes Debt Plan (1924)

U.S. plan to help Germany pay reparations through loans and payment restructuring.

Manchurian Crisis (1931)

Japan's invasion of Manchuria that showed the weakness of the League of Nations.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)

U.S. president during the Great Depression and WWII; shifted foreign policy to support Allies.

Neutrality Acts of 1935–1937

Laws aimed at keeping U.S. out of foreign wars by restricting arms sales and loans.

Spanish Civil War (1936–1939)

Conflict between Republicans and Fascist Nationalists, previewing tactics for WWII.

Nanking (Nanjing) Massacre (1937)

Brutal killing of over 200,000 civilians by Japanese troops in China.

The Holocaust (1941–1945)

Systematic genocide by Nazi Germany that murdered approximately 6 million Jews.

S.S. St. Louis (1939)

Ship carrying Jewish refugees denied entry to Cuba and U.S.; symbol of global indifference.

Appeasement / Munich Conference (1938)

Britain and France allowed Hitler to annex Sudetenland, failing to prevent war.

Non-Aggression Pact (1939)

Agreement between Hitler and Stalin not to attack each other, dividing Eastern Europe.

'Cash and Carry' (1939)

U.S. policy allowing war materials sales to belligerents if paid in cash by buyer.

Lend-Lease Act (1941)

Allowed U.S. to supply Allied nations with materials on loan, increasing support.

Adolf Hitler

Nazi dictator of Germany who orchestrated WWII and the Holocaust.

Benito Mussolini

Fascist leader of Italy, allied with Hitler; overthrown in 1943.

Joseph Stalin

Totalitarian Soviet leader who signed the Non-Aggression Pact but later joined Allies.

Winston Churchill

British Prime Minister during WWII known for his leadership and speeches.

Atlantic Charter (1941)

Agreement between FDR and Churchill outlining postwar goals and basis for UN.

George S. Patton

U.S. general noted for leadership in North Africa and other WWII battles.

Douglas MacArthur

U.S. general in the Pacific who oversaw the liberation of the Philippines.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Supreme Allied Commander in Europe; led the D-Day invasion.

Invasion of Poland (1939)

Germany's invasion using Blitzkrieg tactics, prompting WWII declaration by Britain and France.

Blitzkrieg

'Lightning war' strategy featuring fast, coordinated attacks.

Battle of Britain (1940)

Air battle that marked Hitler's first major defeat; prevented invasion of Britain.

Pearl Harbor Attack (Dec. 7, 1941)

Japanese attack that led to U.S. entry into WWII.

Doolittle’s Raid (1942)

U.S. air raid on Tokyo that boosted American morale.

Bataan Death March (1942)

Forced march of American and Filipino POWs, symbolizing Japanese brutality.

Battle of Stalingrad (1942–1943)

Soviet victory that marked a turning point on the Eastern Front.

'Island Hopping' Campaign

U.S. strategy to capture key islands in the Pacific while bypassing others.

Battle of Midway (1942)

Decisive U.S. naval victory that marked a turning point in the Pacific.

Battle of Guadalcanal (1942–1943)

First major U.S. offensive in the Pacific; began Japanese retreat.

Battle of North Africa (1942–1943)

Allied effort to expel Axis forces from Africa, leading to Italian invasion.

Italian Campaign (1943–1945)

Allied invasion that led to Mussolini's overthrow.

Battle of Iwo Jima (1945)

Bloody battle for a key island near Japan, famous for flag-raising photo.

Battle of Okinawa (1945)

Last major Pacific battle influencing the decision to drop the atomic bomb.

Liberation of the Death Camps (1944–1945)

Allied discovery of Nazi camps revealing the Holocaust's horrors.

Yalta Conference (Feb. 1945)

Meeting of FDR, Churchill, and Stalin to plan postwar Europe.

Harry S. Truman

President after FDR, made the decision to drop the atomic bomb.

V-E Day (May 8, 1945)

Victory in Europe Day marking Germany's surrender.

Kamikazes

Japanese suicide pilots targeting Allied ships during WWII.

Manhattan Project

Top-secret project to develop the atomic bomb.

Atomic Bomb (Aug. 1945)

Bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki leading to Japan's surrender.

V-J Day (Aug. 15, 1945)

Victory over Japan marking the end of WWII.

Potsdam Conference (July 1945)

Meeting discussing postwar Europe and ultimatum to Japan.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Influential First Lady advocating for civil rights and women's issues.

Conscription (1940)

Peacetime draft law requiring men to register for military service.

Good Neighbor Policy

FDR's policy promoting cooperation with Latin America, ending interventions.

Japanese Internment (1942)

Forcible relocation of Japanese Americans to camps during WWII.

Korematsu v. United States (1944)

Supreme Court case upholding wartime internment as constitutional.

Rationing

Government-controlled distribution of goods to promote fairness during WWII.

War Production Board (1942)

Oversaw wartime production, converting factories for military use.

Rosie the Riveter

Symbol of women working during WWII, challenging traditional gender roles.

Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC)

First U.S. military unit for women in non-combat roles.

'Double V' Campaign

African American campaign for victory against fascism and racism.

Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)

Civil rights organization founded to fight segregation using nonviolence.

Bracero Program (1942)

Agreement with Mexico for temporary agricultural workers during labor shortages.

D-Day / Normandy Invasion (June 6, 1944)

Allied invasion of France that opened the Western Front.

Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944–Jan 1945)

Germany’s last major Western offensive; U.S. forces held strong.

How did life change on the homefront during World War II?

Life on the homefront changed dramatically. Rationing affected everyday goods like gas and meat. Women joined the workforce in record numbers, symbolized by "Rosie the Riveter." Factories shifted to war production, and propaganda encouraged unity and sacrifice. Civil liberties were challenged—especially through Japanese internment. African Americans and minorities pushed for civil rights, including through the "Double V" campaign.

Why did America’s role in the world shift after World War II?

The U.S. emerged from WWII as a global superpower with a strong economy and military. The devastation in Europe and Asia left the U.S. as a leader in rebuilding (e.g., Marshall Plan) and in creating global institutions like the United Nations. America's foreign policy shifted from isolationism to global leadership and containment of communism.

How would you describe FDR’s leadership during WWII?

FDR provided steady and confident leadership during crisis. He mobilized the economy, built strong alliances, supported Britain before direct involvement, and made key decisions like creating the War Production Board and signing the Lend-Lease Act. He reassured Americans through "Fireside Chats" and was elected to an unprecedented four terms.

In what ways did Americans rise to the challenge during WWII? In what areas did they fall short?

Americans rose to the challenge through mass enlistment, industrial production, and unity on the homefront. Civilians supported the war through rationing, war bonds, and working in war industries. However, the nation fell short in civil rights: racial segregation persisted, Japanese Americans were interned, and many women were forced out of jobs after the war.