Key Notes for Upcoming Exam - History ( Alan )

Test Structure and Key Topics

• Total Questions: 15 questions

  • Five questions on Aggressive Nationalism and Denial

  • Five questions on Stages of World War II

  • Five questions on the Cold War and related topics

Aggressive Nationalism and Denial

• Definition: A situation where nations strive to prove their military superiority, while others refuse to accept the signs of impending conflict.

  • Examples:

  • Germany, Italy, Japan as aggressors.

  • Other nations' denial of the reality of renewed militarism leading to war.

  • Impact: This duality sets the stage for the onset of World War II.

Stages of World War II

1. Stage One: Reaction to Pearl Harbor

   • Events: East Side Detention, Doolittle Raid over Tokyo, early battles.

   • Outcome: Awakens America to the reality of war.

2. Stage Two: Anti-Submarine Warfare

   • Challenge: Dominance of German U-boats in the Atlantic.

   • Solution: Introduction of sonar technology to locate and destroy submarines.

3. Stage Three: North African Campaign

   • Challenges: Desert warfare and advanced German tanks.

   • Adaptation: The shift to desert tactics and tank warfare.

4. Stage Four: European Assault

   • Key Event: D-Day landing in Normandy (June 6, 1944).

   • Outcome: March across Europe, leading to victory in May 1945.

5. Stage Five: Pacific Strategy

   • Leapfrogging strategy: Focused on capturing strategic islands instead of all occupied territories.

   • Major Battles: Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

   • Conclusion: Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki end the war with Japan.

Cold War Concepts

• Definition: A prolonged state of political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union.

• Key Events:

  • Berlin Blockade: Soviet closure of East Germany, leading to the Berlin Airlift (1948-1949).

  • NATO Formation: Military alliance formed in response to the Berlin Blockade, uniting Western nations.

• McCarthyism:

  • Definition: Fear-driven witch hunts for alleged communists in government and society.

  • Impact: Widespread paranoia and accusations leading to loss of jobs and reputations.

• Space Race:

  • Definition: Competition between the U.S. and Soviet Union to achieve milestones in space exploration.

  • Significant Events: Launch of Sputnik and attempts to establish U.S. satellite dominance.

• Post-War Suburbanization:

  • Levittowns: Planned suburban communities for returning veterans and their families, aided by the GI Bill.

  • Demographic Shift: Movement to suburbs often segregated and affected by federal policies.

• Brown v. Board of Education:

  • Supreme Court ruling mandating the desegregation of schools, although implementation varied and faced resistance.

Conclusion

• Test Date: Thursday

• Preparation Notes: Review aggressive nationalism, stages of World War II, following Cold War events, and specific examples for detailed knowledge.