Unit 9 – History – Flashcards
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Identify the types of governments that took power in Russia, Italy, Germany, and Japan after WWI.
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Germany: Nazism Russia: Communism Italy: Fascism Japan: militarism
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Describe the details of Americas turn to isolationism in the 1930s.
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Neutrality Acts - America didn't want to pick a side in the war because they believed it would cause beef with other countries -Outlawed arms sales or loans to nations at war -However, U.S. sends arms and supplies to Manchuria (China) because Japan never officially declared war
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Explain Hitler's motives for expansion and how Britain and France responded.
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Hitler's 1st target =Austria -German troops marched into Austria unopposed Hitler's 2nd target=Czechoslovakia -GB and France supposed to protect Czech -Hitler promised this would be his "last territorial demand" -To avoid war, they believed him and signed Munich Agreement (AKA Munich Pact)
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Describe the blitzkrieg tactics that Germany used against Poland.
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Blitzkrieg was first used by the Germans in World War Two and was a tactic based on speed and surprise and needed a military force to be based around light tank units supported by planes and infantry (foot soldiers). -Air force rained bombs over military bases, airfields, railroads and cities -Made use of tanks and powerful aircraft
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Summarize the first battles of WWII.
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the german navy couldn't compete with GB. Germany's air force conducted bombing raids to try to control British skies by destroying Britain's royal air force. continued through summer and fall -new device = radar = Helps plot paths of German planes
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Explain the reasons behind the Nazis' persecution of the Jews and the problems facing Jewish refugees.
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1) the jews were not of the arian blood so they were considered un-pure and evil 2) antisemitism 3) countries did not want to bring jews over including the US, there was a special ruling by congress not to accept jews before WWII
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Describe the Nazis' "final solution" to the Jewish problem and the horrors of the Holocaust.
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the plan to annihilate the jews of Europe was called the final solution. the genocide of the jews was the culmination which was a decade of german policy under Nazi rule and the realization of a core goal of the Nazi dictator, Adolf Hitler. to achieve the final solution, the Nazis boycotted all jewish shops and businesses. they concentrated jews in ghettos where there were not free to live and were to put to labor work without food supply. after that, they moved the jews into concentration camps where they gassed many jews young, old, and sick and put the remaining to work.
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Identify and describe the profound and lasting effects of the Holocaust on survivors.
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health, mental, PTSD, nightmares, financial (homes, property, belongings), lost family members...
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Describe the US response to the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939.
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People of U.S. didn't want anything to do with WWII after WWI. That's why it's widely speculated that the U.S. knew about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but let it happen, in order to build a sense of need within their people, to join the war. their response was they didn't want to go near it. They didn't feel it involved them, and they didn't see why they should have to join into it. there was no direct act of war against the US until Pearl Harbor although there were numerous incidents of German submarines casing causalities to the US navy in the Atlantic Ocean
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Explain how FDR assisted the Allies without declaring war.
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Pres. Roosevelt doubled the size of the US Navy, pushed for a military draft during peacetime (1st time), got authorization for the lend-lease act, gave Britain war supplies & old naval ships in return for military bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean.
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Summarize the events that brought the US into armed conflict with Germany.
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Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. The new problem is that Germany and Italy declared war on the US, and that we might have to fight a 2 ocean war. Italy, Germany and Japan were allies so if we fought one we had to fight them all.
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Describe the American response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
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The attack on Pearl Harbor settled the question of whether the US should go to war. The public had been divided over the question but the attack unified public opinion. Men flocked to recruting offices to join the military. The nation was completely ready to go to war. The reaction included strong anti-Japanese feeling that ended up being directed against Japanese-Americans. It was this aspect of the reaction that led to the internment of Americans of Japanese descent. the Americans put the Japanese-Americans into internment camps. the US navy start fighting the Japanese in the Pacific Ocean and the US joined Britain in bombing German territories.
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Explain how the US expanded its armed forces in WWII.
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After Pearl Harbor, Americans were enraged. They set out with the cry, "Remember Pearl Harbor." Young Americans joined the army willing to fight for their country, however there were still not enough for an all-out war. As a result the Selective Service System expanded. The soldiers went thorough basic training and became GI, government issue. Still, the needs of the military continued to expand causing George Marshall to push for the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps.
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Describe the wartime mobilization of industry, labor, scientists, and the media.
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Industry-factories went from making everyday objects to weapons and tools for the war, retooled to make bombs, mosquito nets, tanks, planes, etc., massive shipyards were made that produced liberty ships very quickly, here prefabricating was used Labor-Factories began hiring women and minorities after they found they could do the same job for less, Scientists-OSRD, DDT, penicillin, atomic bombing Media-As the war dragged on, people grew tired of propaganda and war themes. Hollywood responded with musicals, romances, and other escapist fare designed to take filmgoers away from the grim realities of war, if only for an hour or two.
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Trace the efforts of the US government to control the economy and deal with alleged subversion.
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Office of Price Administration, War Production Board, rationing
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Summarize the Allies' plan for winning the war.
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Germany's attack on their former allies, the Russians, brought Russia into alliance with the U.S. and Great Britain, providing another nation capable of supplying huge armies to attack Germany from the north. Once the D-Day Invasion succeeded, the plan was to defeat the Germans and Japanese by sea and air as well as on land. American naval superiority soon asserted itself in both the Atlantic and Pacific, and the once-mighty German Luftwaffe was also weakened significantly. Allied forces soon surrounded German armies from three sides, and Japan's military force eventually withdrew back to its home islands to brace for the expected Allied invasion.
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Identify events in the war in Europe.
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*Germany invaded Austria, Czechoslovakia, setting off the start of WWII *Germany invaded Poland and italy *Germany invaded France, capturing Paris *Germany bombed London (Battle of Britain) *US gave Britain warships & supplies in return for military bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean *Japan bombed Pearl Harbor which made the US join the war officially *Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Soviet Union defeated Germany at Stalingrad. *American & Allied Troops landed in Normandy, France for D-Day *Battle of the Bulge (Germany's last offensive battle)
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Describe the liberation of Europe.
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Liberation of France •Despite heavy casualties, Allies held the beachheads •Now, over a million troops •General George Patton advances to help liberate Paris **Freed the country from four years of Nazi occupation** •russians were fighting the Germans from the east while the allies were coming from the west and south
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Identify key turning points in the war in the Pacific.
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*Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Hawaii *US declares war on Japan, Germany declares war on US *US defeats Japan in Battle of Midway (TURNING POINT IN WAR IN PACIFIC) *Allies begin island hopping toward Japan *US drops 2 atomic bombs on Japan (Hiroshima & Nagasaki) in 1945 causing Japan to surrender and ending WWII
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Describe the Allied defensive against the Japanese
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they dropped an atomic bomb
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Explain both the development of the atomic bomb and debates about its use.
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Manhattan Project •Developed the atomic bomb •J Robert Oppenheimer •Truman knew Japanese would defend every inch of Japanese homeland •July, 1945-tested first bomb in Alamogordo, NM •The first atomic bomb was built; successfully completing the Manhattan Project •Tried to warn them to surrender, they didn't listen Debates: 1. Used for American defense 2. it was so destructive that it destroyed everything 3. if they didn't drop it, waste of money
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Describe the challenges faced by the Allies in building a just and lasting peace.
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With rebuilding, distraction, tragedy, and poor economy people had to come together to rebuild, be supportive and cooperate. Challenges arose amongst the allied people and government in overcoming the hatred, pain and cost
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Describe the economic and social changes that reshaped American life during WWII.
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-Time of opportunity for millions, jobs abounded, nation emerged as the world's dominant economic and military power, defense industries boomed -Average weekly pay rose, people began saving money for the future, workers invested in war bonds -Black people left the South -GI (government issue) = helped soldiers get education payed for
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Summarize both the opportunities and the discrimination African Americans and other minorities experienced during the war.
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African Americans: React to Discrimination and Racism Defended nation by joining military and work defense industries Founded the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) -interracial -confront urban segregation -staged sit-ins Racial violence sweeps across America Founded committees to improve race relations Mexican Americans: React to Discrimination and Racism Defended their country by joining military Zoot suit rebellion against tradition Led to Anti-Mexican "Zoot Suit Riots" Japanese Americans: React to Discrimination and Racism Defended country by joining military Fought against forced relocation Forced to sell homes, businesses, belongings Founded the Japanese Citizen League (JACL) Sought compensation for those forced into internment camps
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Joseph Stalin
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after V.I. Lenin died he took control of the county. focused on creating a model communist state. abolished all privately owned farms and replaced them with collectives. made agriculture and industrial growth the prime economic goals of the soviet union. had established a totalitarian government
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Totalitarian
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characteristic of a political system in which the government exercises complete control over its citizens lives. created by Joseph Stalin
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Benito Mussolini
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established a toleration regime in Italy, where unemployment and inflation produced biker strikes, some communist-led. he played on the fears of economic collapse and communism
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Fascism
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a political philosophy that advocates a strong, centralized, nationalistic government headed by a powerful dictator. stressed nationalism and interests of the state
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Adolf Hitler
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had followed a path to power similar to Mussolini's. had been a jobless soldier after WWI. he joined a struggling group called the national socialist german workers (nazi party). he promised to bring Germany out of chaos.
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Nazism
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political philosophy based on extreme nationalism, racism, and militaristic expansion that Adolf Hitler put into practice in Germany. banned Fascism
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Fransisco Franco
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rebelled against the Spanish republic. general who led the Spanish army officers.
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Neutrality Acts
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a series of laws to prevent US arms sales and loans to nations at war. this was passed in response to the fighting in Spain.
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Neville Chamberlain
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British prime minister who was invited to meet with Hitler. signed the Munich agreement which turned the Sudetenland over to Germany without a single shot being fired. his rival was Winston Churchill
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Winston Churchill
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Chamberlain's politcal rival in Great Britain
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Appeasement
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the granting of concessions to a hostile power in order to keep the peace
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Nonaggression Pact
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an agreement in which two nations promise not to go to war with each other
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Blitzkrieg
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from the German word meaning "lightning war" a sudden, massive attack with combined air and ground forces, intended to achieve a quick victory. these worked perfectly
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Maginot Line
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a system of fortifications built among France's eastern border. proved to be ineffective. the german army threatened to bypass the one during invasion of Belgium
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Charles De Gaulle
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a french general who fled to England where he set up a government-in-exile.
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Holocaust
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the systematic murder of jews and other groups in Europe by the Nazi's before and during WWII. murder of 11 million people across Europe, more than half of whom were jews
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Kristallnacht
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"night of broken glass" a name given to the night of November 9, 1938, when gangs of Nazi storm troopers attacked jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues in Germany. afterward, the Nazi's blamed jews for the destruction
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Genocide
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the deliberate and systematic extermination of a particular racial, national, or religious group.
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Ghetto
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a city neighborhood in which a certain minority group is pressured or forced to live. they were segregated jewish areas in certain polish cities. the Nazi's sealed off these places with barbed wire and stone wire. the bodies of victims piled up in the streets faster than they could be removed. people were forced to work in factories for German industry.
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Concentration Camps
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a prison camp operated by Nazi Germany in which jews and other groups considered to be enemies of Adolf Hitler were starved while doing slave labor or were murdered. families were often separated. they worked every day all day and those who couldn't handle it were killed
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Axis Powers
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the group of nations including Germany, Italy and Japan that opposed the allies in WWI.
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Lend-Lease Act
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a law that allowed the US to ship arms and other supplies without immediate payment to nations fighting the Axis powers
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Atlantic Charter
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declaration of principles in which the US and Great Britain set forth their goals in opposing the Axis Powers. both countries pledged the following: collective security, disarmament, self-determination, economic cooperation, and freedom of the seas.
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Allies
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in WWI, the group of nations originally consisting of Great Britain, France and Russia and later joined by the US, Italy, and others that opposed central powers.
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Hideki Tojo
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chief of staff of Japan's Kwangtung Army, who launched the invasion into China.
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Womens Auxiliary Army Corp
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US army unit created during WWII to enable women to serve in non-combat positions. after thousands of women had enlisted the US army dropped the "auxiliary" status, and granted them full US army benefits. they worked as nurses, ambulance drivers, radio operators, electricians, and pilots.
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Manhattan Project
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the US program to develop an atomic bomb for use in WWII. became the code name for research work that extended across the country
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Office of Price Administration
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an agency established by congress to control inflation during WWII. fought inflation by freezing prices on most goods. congress raised income tax rates and extended the tax to millions of people who had never paid before. rationed food
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War Production Board
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an agency established during WWI to increase efficiency and discourage waste in war-related industries. rationed food and materials vital to war effort
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Rationing
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a restriction of peoples rights to buy unlimited amounts of particular food an other goods, often implemented during wartime to ensure adequate supplies for military. under this system, households received books and coupons to be used buy goods
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Dwight D. Eisenhower
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american general who commanded an invasion of axis-controlled north america
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D-Day
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a name given to the day when the allies launched an invasion of the european mainland during WWII.
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George Patton
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a general who, with his third army, reached the Seine river in paris.
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Battle of the Bulge
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a month long battle in WWII, in which allies succeeded in turning back the last major german offensive of the war
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V-E Day
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"victory in Europe Day" on which general Eisenhower's acceptance of the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany marked the end of WWII in Europe. the war in Europe was finally over
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Harry S. Truman
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vice president who became the 33rd president.
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Douglas MacArthur
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general who was in command of allied forces on the islands. he left the Philippines with his wife, son and staff. he pledged to my thousands of men who did not make it out "i shall return"
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Chester Nimitz
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commander of American Naval forces in the pacific, moved to defend the island. his scout found the Japanese fleet
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Battle of Midway
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WWII battle that took place in early June. the allies decimated the Japanese fleet at midway, an island lying northwest of Hawaii. the allies then took the offensive in the pacific and began to move closer to japan
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kamikaze
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involving or engaging in the deliberate crashing of a bomb-filed airplane into a military target. in the Philippines, these pilots embarked on suicide missions, sinking 16 ships and damaging another 80
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J. Robert Oppenheimer
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an american scientist who developed the atomic bomb that was not only the ambitious scientific enterprise in history, but it was also the best-kept secret of the war
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Hiroshima
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an important Japanese military center. it then collapsed from the force of the blast, it now ceased to exist
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Nagasaki
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a Japanese city on the northwest coast of the island of Kyushu. this was also a place where a bomb was dropped. an estimated 200,000 people had died as a result of injuries and radiation poisoning caused by the atomic blasts
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Nuremberg Trials
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the court proceedings held in Nuremberg, Germany, after WWII, in which the Nazi leaders were tried for war crimes. the defendants, included Hitler's most trusted part officials, government ministers, military leaders, and powerful industrialists.
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GI Bill of Rights
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a name given to the serviceman readjustment act, provided financial and educational benefits for WWII veterans paid for by federal government. about 7.8 million verbenas, attended colleges and technical schools under this
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Congress of Racial Equality
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an interracial group by James Framer to work against segregation in northern cities
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Internment
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confinement or a restriction in movement, especially under wartime conditions
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Japanese American Citizens League
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an organization that pushed the US government to compensate Japanese americans for property the has lost when they were interned during WWII
