week 10 WORLD WAR II

Page 1: "Stars and Stripes on Iwo Jima"

• Song by Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys

• Reflects on the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima during WWII

  • Symbolizes victory through sacrifice

  • Honors the soldiers who fought and died there

  • Highlights emotions of pride and sorrow among troops

  • Old Glory as a lasting symbol of heroism

Page 2: WORLD WAR II

• Focus of the week's study

Page 3: Last Week On…

• Overview of previous topics discussed

  • End of the “Roaring 20s” and the Great Depression

  • Rise of Democratic politicians, notably FDR

  • Changing relationship between citizens and government

  • Creation of social safety nets: Social Security, AAA, WPA

Page 4: End of the Great Depression: Outbreak of War

• World War II: 1939-1945

  • The most devastating conflict in human history with ~80 million dead

  • Technologies utilized for violence: industrialized genocide, atomic bomb

  • The United States emerges as a world superpower

Page 5: Major Nations Involved

• Great Britain

• Italy

• United States

• Germany

• Soviet Union

• Japan

Page 6: Origins of the Pacific War

• 1931: Explosion in Manchuria leads to Japanese invasion

• 1932: Japan establishes the puppet state Manchukuo, igniting a war with China

• 1937: Full-scale invasion of China, notable atrocities like the Rape of Nanjing

  • Driven by desire for resources and regional dominance

Page 7: Pacific War 1937-1942 Overview

• Involvement of nations and regions in the conflict

  • Japan's dominance in Asia

  • Allies: Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, British India, Burma, China, etc.

  • Geographical spread of conflict including the Philippines, Guam, and more

Page 8: Early American Involvement: the Flying Tigers

• AVG = American Volunteer Group, known as Flying Tigers

• American volunteers joined the Chinese Air Force to fight against Japan

Page 9: Origins of the European War

• Aftermath of WWI: Treaty of Versailles led to German instability

• Rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party

  • Expansionist policies initiated

  • 1938: Germany annexes Austria, occupies Czechoslovakia

  • Policy of Appeasement by Britain and France

Page 10: The European War Begins

• September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland

  • Utilizes the Blitzkrieg strategy with new technologies

  • Destabilization of Europe, leading to global conflict

Page 11: European Map Overview

• Includes various allied and Axis territories during the war

Page 12: Early American Involvement: Eagle Squadrons

• American pilots joined the British Royal Air Force, renounced citizenship

• Participated as “Eagle Squadrons” before US officially entered the war

Page 13: Early American Involvement: Destroyers for Bases

• US provided Britain with obsolete warships in exchange for access to military bases

• Roosevelt's initiative to sidestep the Neutrality Act

Page 14: The US Enters the War: Pearl Harbor

• Shift from isolationism to support of Allies due to Lend-Lease Act

• US embargo on oil impacts Japan

• Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941

  • 2400 Americans killed, 19 warships destroyed

  • FDR’s “Day of Infamy” speech

Page 15: The US in the Pacific War: Island Hopping

• Japan's rapid expansion into various territories

  • Brutal treatment of POWs exemplified by the Bataan Death March

• US adopts island hopping strategy: Midway, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima

Page 16: The US in the Pacific War: Firebombing

• US bombing campaigns targeting Japanese cities made of wood

  • Severe civilian impact; massive casualties reported

  • Notable event: March 1945 firebomb raid on Tokyo

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Page 18: 1945: The Potsdam Conference

• Meeting of UK, US, and Soviet Union

  • Aimed at demanding unconditional Japanese surrender

  • No promises or guarantees given to Japan

Page 19: The Atomic Bomb

• Goal of quickly ending the war

  • US drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945

  • Resulted in massive destruction and civilian casualties

  • Japan's surrender closely follows bombing events

Page 20: Mobilizing America for War

• Selective Training and Service Act of 1940: Implemented the draft

• Many volunteered for service

• Frontline conditions were brutal

Page 21: Racial Prejudice During WWII

• Confusion observed between distinguishing Japanese from Chinese

  • Emotional outbursts against Japanese resulted in innocent Chinese victims

• Anthropological discussion on physical traits of Chinese and Japanese

Page 22: The Wartime Economy

• War efforts help to end the Great Depression

  • War Production Board manages industry shift

  • Implementation of price controls and rationing

Page 23: Naval Production Stats

• Overview of wartime ship production

  • Total of 1121 vessels produced including aircraft carriers, destroyers, etc.

Page 24: Women in World War II

• Shift in gender roles; women enter workforce in large numbers

• "Rosie the Riveter" symbolizes women's contributions

• Women served in military through Women’s Army Corps (WAC)

Page 25: Race during World War II

• WWII amplifies racial inequalities in the US

  • The Tuskegee Airmen represent African-American contribution

  • Detroit Race Riot of 1943 highlights racial tensions

Page 26: Race in the War: Executive Order 9066

• Over 120,000 Japanese Americans interned

  • Significant civil liberties violations

  • Loss of both liberty and property

Page 27: Everyday Life: Victory Gardens

• Japanese American internment impacts agricultural labor

  • Victory Gardens promote self-sufficiency

  • Eventually leads to Bracero Program, increasing Mexican immigration

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Page 29: Japanese-American Volunteers

• 442nd Infantry Regiment composed of Japanese-American volunteers

  • Segregated unit, highly decorated for service in Europe

Page 30: Ending the Second World War

• Yalta Conference in 1945 to discuss postwar arrangements

  • GI Bill aids in veteran reintegration through education and mortgages

  • Paris Peace Treaty in 1947 outlines new European borders.