History B Exam - sophomore

  • Benito Mussolini

Italian Dictator. Took power in Italy and created a Fascist government. 

  • Fascism

Facism is a political ideology that puts the state ( country/gov) over the people. It relies on extreme nationalism. People have very little rights in this form of government. 

  • Vladimir Lenin

Leader of the USSR. Helped install communism after the October revolution. 

  • JosephStalin

Became dictator of the USSR after the death of Lenin. He had a goal to industrialize Russia, he did so but at the cost of the lives of millions of his own people. 

  • Collectives

A program put in place by Stalin. The government would take all private property and create collectives, and make the peasants work on them. Such as farms or factories. 

  • Adolf Hitler

Hitler would become dictator of Germany. He was inspired by Mussolini’s facism and instituted his own style of facism in Germany. 

  • Manchuria,

This was an area in north China and had a lot of resources. Japan will invade Manchuria in order to take their natural resources.

  • Neutrality Act of 1935

The United States wanted to be neutral and not get involved in another war in Europe. So Congress passed the Neutrality acts, which would make it illegal to sell weapons to any country at war. 

  • Axis Powers

This was a military alliance between Germany, Italy and Japan. 

  • Internationalism.

This was a belief that the United States should not be neutral and be involved in global affairs. Such as the war in Europe. FDR was an internationalist. 

  • Which nations did dictators govern during the years after World War I?

Stalin-USSR

Hitler-Germany

Mussolini- Italy

Franco- Spain

  • What events caused Roosevelt to become more of an internationalist?

After Japan invaded Manchuria ( Nanking Massacre) FDR became more of an internationalist. 

  • Why did antidemocratic governments rise to power in postwar Europe and Asia?

  1. Global Depression made the economy really bad. People became very desperate, so when a dictator made promises to fix all the problems, people were willing to follow. 

  2. Treaty of Versailles. Some would argue that the treaty of Versailles was too harsh. Germans felt humiliated - war reparations. 

  3. Weakness of League of Nations. The league of nations was weak, especially since the US was not a member of the league. They did not stop Hitler, rather they appeased him. 




Ch. 13.2

  •  Anschluss

Germany takes over Austria in a bloodless coup. 

  • Munich Conference

Britain, France and Germany met in Munich and agreed to give Germany part of Czechoslovakia ( Sudetenland). This is an example of appeasement. Hitler will quickly invade and take over the rest of Czechoslovakia and the League of Nations does not stop him. 

  • Appeasement

The league of nations wanted to avoid another war. So they would give Hitler things he asked for, in hopes that he would be satisfied and stop expanding. 

  • Blitzkrieg

“Lightning Fast” war. This was a strategy used by GErmany to quickly invade, use a lot of artillery and prevent their opponents from being able to regroup. This battle strategy allowed Germany to quickly invade and take over countries. 

  • Maginot Line

This was France’s fortified defense border with Germany. This would fail to protect France from an invasion because the Germans would go around it by going through Belgium. 


  • Winston Churchill

Leader of the United Kingdom. He helped lead his nation during WWII. 

  • Battle of Britain

This was an air battle. The Royal Air Force was able to successfully defend the United Kingdom from the German Luftwaffe ( airforce). This victory helped stop Germany from being able to invade Britain. 

  • Why did Europe’s leaders first try to deal with Hitler through appeasement?

They were hoping that by giving Hitler a little of what he wanted, he would be satisfied and stop. Therefore preventing another war in Europe. 

  • Why was the decision to leave French forces behind the Maginot Line disastrous for Europe?

Germany did not invade there. France was unable to repeal the invasion, because they put most of their troops there. Germany was able to quickly invade and take over France because of it. 

  • In what ways did Winston Churchill prove to be an effective leader for Britain as the war began?

He provided a morale boost and ensured his people that Britain could win. He also was able to convince the United States to provide military aid ( before the US declares war) which would help keep Britain in the War. 


Ch. 13.3

  • Nuremberg Laws

These were laws passed by the Nazi to discriminate against “non-aryans”. These Regulations passed by Germany that deprived German Jews of certain rights such as citizenship

  • Gestapo,

Nazi Secret police. 

  • Wannsee Conference 

This conference is where Nazi leaders created the “Final Solution”. This plan was to commit a genocide against Jews in Europe.

  • concentration camp

These were slave labor camps created by Germany. They would put millions in these camps such as Jews, Romani, Sinti, Prisoners of War, etc..

  • extermination camp

These were camps created by Nazis to kill millions of people as fast as possible. 

  • What early steps did Germany take in the persecution of Jewish people?

  • Planning and propaganda 1933-1939

    • Spreading anti semitic propaganda

    • Pass nuremberg laws

  • Expansion and violence 1939-1941

    • Increase of mob violence

    • Ghettoization

    • Labor camps

  • Dedication to Mass Killing

    • Nazi officials lay out plan for genocide

    • Nazi party begins genocide

  • Last 5 months of war 1945-1945

    • War is close to ending

    • Clear that germany is going to lose

    • Camps are being liberated

    • Nazi’s begin death marches

    • Marched prisoners to death

    • 250000 estimated deaths


  • What was the purpose of the Wannsee Conference?

This is where nazis create their plan for genocide. 


America First Committee

This was an organization that wanted the US to be neutral during WWII. They also were very against letting in refugees into the US from Europe. 

  • Lend-Lease Act

This is one of the amendments to the neutrality acts. The US knew that Britain could no longer afford to pay cash for weapons and supplies. So now the US could lend them the weapons. ( FDR knew we were never going to get the weapons back but this was a clever loophole to continue to help Britain.)

  • Hemispheric defense zone

British ships carrying arms and supplies from the US were being attacked by German subs in the Atlantic.  FDR could not order the Navy to protect the ships, since the US was still neutral (technically).  He declared that the entire western half of the Atlantic was part of the Western Hemisphere and therefore neutral too.  Then US ships could patrol the western Atlantic and radio the location of German subs to the British.


  • Atlantic Charter

A secret meeting between FDR and Churchill. FDR promises that he will try to get the US involved in WWII as soon as possible. They also made plans for post WWII. Such as all nations should have self determination. 

  • Strategic materials.

Strategic materials are materials important for fighting a war. Such as coal, iron, oil. 

  • ​ What early efforts did Roosevelt make to help the British?

He helped supply the allies with weapons and aid. He convinced congress to amend the neutrality acts.( lend-lease, bases for destroyers, cash and carry)

  • What was the hemispheric defense zone? Why was it developed?

German submarines were sinking British ships, coming to buy weapons from the US. So this defense zone was to help safely deliver aid to Britain. 

  • Why was the United States unprepared for Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor?

The US did not think Japan was capable of attacking Pearl Harbor because it was so far away from Japan. They thought an attack might happen but they were not expecting it to happen there. 

Ch. 14.1

  • Cost-plus, 

This would be a way to give government contracts quickly to factories. Essentially guaranteeing that factories would make profit if they produce war materials. This is how the  government would be able to mobilize for war so fast. 

  • War Production Board,

An office created by the government to supervise war productions. To make sure the US can mobilize as fast as possible. 

  • Office of War Mobilization

To settle disagreements between factories and the government. When it came to production.

  • Disenfranchised

Being deprived of rights.