Study guide unit 10 us history

Fascism- the government has total control, a strong military and a strong central leader.

Neutrality Acts- banned U.S. from providing weapons or loans to fighting countries (belligerents) in 1930s

Lend-Lease Act- U.S. gave aid (loaned money and shipped weapons) to help britian and the USSR to stop Germany

Isolationism- a policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries.

Allied Powers- United Kingdom, the United States, the Soviet Union, and France

Axis Powers- Germany, Italy, and Japan

Pearl Harbor Attack- Surprise attacked by the Japanese on December 7th, 1941. 

Arsenal of Democracy- FDR used this phrase to describe “Home front” production of military supplies for U.S. and its allies in WW2. Total war on enemies . support all allies with mass and stock production.

Mobilization-  the action of a country or its government preparing and organizing troops for war

Double V Campaign- Started by black americans after the war. They now knew how strong they could be, and aimed to fight enemies on the battle field, while fighting racism on the home front. 

Tuskegee Airmen- Trained black men to fight in air crafts. Won many awards, but when they returned home, they were still seen as black people.  

Japanese Internment - Many were incarcerated in concentration camps. Told to evacuate the are or be charged. Many anti-japanse legistlation were spread, as they bacame targets of discrimination and violence.

Executive Order 9066- Inclined the army to remove anyone who proved a threat in military exclusive areas. 

Korematsu v. United States- They ruled that interning Japanese Americans during the war for purposes of military necessity  was constitutional. 

Nuremberg Laws- Anti-Jewish statues enacted by Germany on Sep 15,1935

Took away German Citizenship from jewish on Germans 

Placed severe restrictions of Jews, prohibited from marrying non-Jews, attending schools or universities, holding government jobs, practicing laws or medicine or publishing books. 

Final Solution- To eliminate all Jews through mass extincion. 

D-Day-  Allied forces invaded beaches in Normandy, France to liberate Western Europe from Nazi control. Opened a Western front, forcing Germany to fight a two-front war

V-E Day-

Nuremberg Trials-  a series of trials conducted by the Allied powers following World War II, holding Nazi leaders accountable for crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity

Island Hopping-

Battle of the Midway-  took place near the Midway Atoll, a tiny island northwest of Hawaii. The U.S navy ambushed the Japanese fleet, sinking 4 Japanese carriers. 

Manhattan Project-

GI Bill-

___________________________

Broad Questions to know

What was America’s stance at the beginning of WWII?
At the start of WWII, America followed a policy of isolationism, wanting to avoid involvement in foreign conflicts. The government passed Neutrality Acts in the 1930s to ban the sale of arms to nations at war. While public opinion began to shift over time, most Americans initially wanted to stay out of the conflict.

Follow-up:

-How did America specifically not get involved?

By passing Neutrality Acts, refusing to sell weapons or give loans to countries at war, and avoiding alliances that might drag them into conflict. This allowed the U.S. to avoid taking sides until the threat grew too large.

What is Facism and how did it lead to the rise of Dictators?

Fascism is a political system where a strong central government, usually led by a dictator, controls all aspects of life. It emphasizes nationalism, militarism, and loyalty to the state. After WWI, economic hardship and fear of communism allowed leaders like Hitler in Germany and Mussolini in Italy to rise to power by promising stability and national greatness.

Reasons for Japanese Imperialism?

Japan pursued imperialism to gain natural resources, land, and economic power, as it lacked raw materials like oil and rubber. Japan also felt disrespected by Western powers, including anti-Japanese immigration laws in the U.S., and wanted to assert itself as a global power through military expansion into Asia and the Pacific. 

Role Women played during WWII?

Many worked on the home from– taking up jobs of men in factories, and every day jobs. 

How did Pearl Harbor affect Japanese Americans during WWII?

After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, fear and racism led the U.S. government to force over 120,000 Japanese Americans, most of them citizens, into internment camps under Executive Order 9066. These were not death camps like in Europe, but people lost their homes, jobs, and freedoms due to suspicion and prejudice.

What was America’s strategy in the Pacific Theater during WWII?

America used a strategy called island hopping—capturing strategic islands one by one, moving closer to Japan while bypassing heavily fortified ones. This allowed the U.S. to build bases and cut off Japanese supply lines, helping them advance toward Japan. 

How did the Atomic Bomb affect the war for Americans?

The dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 led to Japan’s surrender, ending World War II. For Americans, it meant victory without needing a costly invasion of Japan, but it also raised ethical questions about civilian casualties and nuclear warfare.

Significance of the Nuremberg Trials?

The Nuremberg Trials (1945–1946) held Nazi leaders accountable for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. They established the precedent that individuals—even heads of state—can be held legally responsible for atrocities, and helped lay the foundation for international law.