History vocabulary

  1. Cash and Carry (1939): This was a policy adopted by the United States before its entry into World War II. Under this policy, belligerent nations could purchase only nonmilitary goods from the U.S., and they had to transport the goods using their own ships.

  2. Lend-Lease (1941): A program initiated by the United States during World War II to provide military aid to Allied nations. The U.S. would lend or lease war supplies to countries considered vital to the defense of the United States.

  3. Allied Powers (WWII): The coalition of nations, including the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and others, that opposed the Axis Powers during World War II.

  4. Axis Powers (WWII): The alliance of nations, including Germany, Italy, and Japan, that opposed the Allied Powers during World War II.

  5. Munich Conference (1938): A meeting in Munich, Germany, where British and French leaders agreed to appease Adolf Hitler's territorial demands in an attempt to avoid war. It is widely seen as a failed policy of appeasement.

  6. Four Freedoms Speech (1941): A speech by President Franklin D. Roosevelt outlining the four essential human freedoms that should be protected worldwide: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

  7. Executive Order 9066 (1942): Issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, this order authorized the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

  8. Korematsu v. U.S. (1944): A landmark Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, stating that it was a military necessity.

  9. Double V Campaign (1942): A campaign for African Americans during World War II that advocated for victory over racism abroad (in the war) and victory over racism at home.

  10. Rosie the Riveter: A cultural icon representing the women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II, symbolizing the contribution of women to the war effort.

  11. A. Philip Randolph: A prominent African American labor leader and civil rights activist who organized the March on Washington Movement and played a key role in the Double V Campaign.

  12. Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC): Created in 1942, it was the first official U.S. Army unit for women during World War II, allowing them to serve in non-combat roles.

  13. Executive Order 9981 (1948): Issued by President Harry S. Truman, this order desegregated the U.S. military, marking an important step in the civil rights movement.

  14. Doolittle Raid (1942): A U.S. air raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities, demonstrating that Japan was vulnerable to American air attack.

  15. Operation Overlord (1944): The codename for the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, which marked the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe.

  16. Island Hopping: A military strategy employed by the Allies in the Pacific theater, involving capturing key islands to gradually move closer to Japan.

  17. Big Three: Refers to the leaders of the Allied Powers during World War II – Franklin D. Roosevelt (U.S.), Winston Churchill (U.K.), and Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union).