american history unit 9: wwii

Background: Rises to power in the Soviet Union after Lenin's death, ascending to the top of the Communist Party.
Goals: Aims to modernize the Soviet Union through economic plans.
- Five-Year Plan: Implemented to increase industrial output. However, this plan leads to widespread starvation among farmers.
Regime: Characterized by brutality; dissent is not tolerated, and critical voices are often silenced.
Secret Police: Utilized to maintain control and eliminate opposition.

Background: Becomes the Fascist dictator of Italy.
Title: Known as "Il Duce," meaning "the leader."
Goals:
  1. Position himself as the only leader capable of fixing Italy’s economy.
  2. Recreate the glory of the Roman Empire.
  3. Reconquer North Africa to expand Italian territory.
Military Dictatorship: Establishes a strong military presence to enforce his regime.

Status: Thought to be a Japanese sun god, held divine authority in Japan.
Role: His position supported the aggressive military agenda of Japan during this period.

Background: Co-founds the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party) and assumes control over Germany.
Mein Kampf (1925): His autobiography where he articulates his ideology and future plans.
  - Ideologies Presented:
    1. Belief in the superiority of the Aryan race.
    2. Anti-communist sentiments.
    3. Anti-Semitism, blaming Jews for World War I and other national issues.
    4. Extreme nationalism and militarism.

Totalitarian Regime: Hitler abolishes all other political parties, establishing a regime that targets Jews, denying them citizenship and rights.
Military Expansion: Rebuilds the military, in direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles.
Economic Success: Fixes Germany's economic issues and begins to gain popularity as the Great Depression ends.

Munich Agreement:
- 1938: England and France meet in Munich to decide on the Sudetenland issue (Czechoslovakia's border region).
- Hitler promises not to expand further after taking Sudetenland, which later turns out to be false as he seeks Polish territories.
Non-Aggression Pact: Hitler and Stalin agree not to attack each other for ten years and decide to split Poland.
Outbreak of World War II:
- September 1939: Germany invades Poland, initiating World War II. Such actions violate previous treaties and agreements.

Battle of Britain (October 1940 - June 1941):
- Germany attempts to subdue Britain through extensive bombing campaigns, which the British resist.
Operation Barbarossa (June - December 1941):
- Hitler invades the Soviet Union, leading to severe losses on both sides.
- Stalin is stunned by this betrayal considering the signed agreements.

Neutrality Acts (1935, 1936, 1937): Laws enacted to keep the United States neutral in international conflicts by restricting trade with warring nations.
Cash and Carry (September 1939): Policy allows the U.S. to sell weapons to countries at war under strict conditions: payment in cash, upfront payment, and self-transport.
Selective Service and Training Act (August 1940): Mandatory registration for the draft for men aged 21-45.
FDR's 1940 Election: Unlike tradition, Franklin D. Roosevelt runs for a third term amidst rising international tensions.
Land Lease Act (March 1941): Established to funnel military supplies to nations vital to U.S. security, primarily targeting aid for Britain.

Trade Embargo: Due to Japanese aggression in China, the U.S. places a trade embargo, cutting off vital supplies including oil.
Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941): Japan launches a surprise attack, leading to significant losses and prompting a declaration of war from the U.S.
Axis Powers: Following Pearl Harbor, Germany and Italy declare war on the United States.

Total War: The concept that all societal levels, including politics and economics, should focus on supporting the war effort.
Propaganda: Led by figures such as Walt Disney to boost morale and enlist support for the war.
War Bonds: Similar to liberty bonds, these were sold to finance military efforts and were repaid with interest post-war.
Office of Price Administration: Responsible for rationing essential goods to support military supplies and manage resource distribution.

Penicillin: A crucial antibiotic saving countless soldiers’ lives.
Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD): Funded innovations like radar and sonar technology, which improved wartime effectiveness.
The Manhattan Project: A top-secret endeavor creating the atomic bomb.

African Americans:
- Order 8802: FDR's directive to end racial discrimination in defense industries.
- Tuskegee Airmen: Noted for their success as bomber escorts, showcasing the capability of African Americans in military roles.
Women in the Workforce: The war prompted many women to join the labor force, symbolized by "Rosie the Riveter." They worked in factories and took on various roles while military service was limited to non-combat support units.

Jungle Warfare: American soldiers faced extremely harsh conditions in the Pacific theater, where combat was brutal and often deadly.
Island Hopping Campaign: A strategy to capture key islands to facilitate the approach towards Japan.

Yalta Conference (February 1945): A meeting among FDR, Stalin, and Churchill to discuss the post-war reorganization of Europe.
- Yalta Accords: Outline the division of Germany into four occupation zones, demilitarization, trials for war criminals, and the foundation of the United Nations.
V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day): Germany surrenders on May 8, 1945, leading to the end of the European conflict.
Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Japan's refusal to surrender leads to the deployment of atomic bombs, culminating in V-J Day (Victory Over Japan Day) on September 2, 1945.