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United States History
Topic 6: World War II (1931-1945)
6-3 – The United States Enters World War II
Key Terms
Japan Attacks the United States
embargo – (July 1940) the US tried to stop Japanese expansion into
Indochina by placing an embargo on important naval and aviation supplies
to Japan, such as oil, iron ore, fuel, steel, and rubber
Hideki Tojo – (1884–1948) Japanese prime minister (1941-1944);
known as “the Razor” for his sharp mind; after the war, he was tried for war
crimes and hanged in December 1948
1941 - throughout the summer Japan and the US attempted to
negotiate an end to their disagreement; in late November, the US rejected
Japan’s last offer; Tojo decided to deliver a decisive first blow against the US
Pearl Harbor – (December 7, 1941) American military base in
Hawaii; Japan’s mission was to eradicate the American naval and air
presence in the Pacific with a surprise attack
results – Americans lost nearly 2,500 people killed and most of their
ships and planes severely damaged or unusable; the US fleet was out of
commission for nearly 6 months, allowing the Japanese to expand – just as
they had planned; the US declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941
Q: How did Pearl Harbor change American opinion about the war?
Patriotism Inspires Rapid Mobilization
George Marshall – (1880–1959) US Army Chief of Staff (19391945); directed the military buildup, from coordinating and training troops to
overseeing the manufacturing and delivery of all the necessary supplies;
during the course of the war, more than 16 million Americans served in the
military
Women’s Army Corps (WAC) – (1943-1978) US Army group
established during World War II so that women could serve in non-combat
roles; fulfilled important functions as clerical workers, truck drivers,
instructors, and lab technicians; 150,000 women volunteered to serve
War Production Board (WPB) – (1942-1945) created to oversee the
conversion of peacetime industry to war industry; called for factories to
convert to airplane, tank, or bomb production
“production miracle” – the massive defense spending finally ended
the Great Depression; unemployment fell from 19% in 1938 to just 1.2% in
1944; in 1944 American production levels were double those of all the Axis
nations put together; Stalin said, “to American production, without which the
war would have been lost”
Q: Which was more important, military or industrial mobilization? Give two
reasons
The Early War in the Pacific
Douglas MacArthur – (1880–1964) was a leading U.S. general of
World War II and the Korean War. MacArthur’s strategies were integral to
U.S. success in the Pacific Theatre and in managing Japan during the
postwar period.
Bataan Death March – during World War II, the forced march of
American and Filipino prisoners of war under brutal conditions led by the
Japanese military
Battle of the Coral Sea – World War II battle that took place
between Japanese and American aircraft carriers in May 1942, halting the
Japanese advance in the Pacific
Q: What happened in the Pacific theater from December 1941 through May
1942?