Download World War II Begins

World War II Begins
The principal events related to the United States’ involvement in World War II:
1. The rise of European dictators such as _Benito Mussolini_ in Italy and
___Adolf Hitler___ in Germany as a result of the Depression.
2. ___Adolf Hitler_____ was a dictator and used military aggression against the
rest of Europe to secure his goals.
3. __Joseph Stalin___ was also a dictator, he was opposed to Hitler. Indeed
Hitler’s fascism (centralized control of a country) is a right wing reaction to
Stalin’s communism (control the means of production).
The Japanese had a __militaristic__ government that was seeking to expand their
nation’s power. Dictators in Germany, Italy and Japan formed an _alliance_ called
the _Axis_ __Powers_. The goal of the Japanese was to establish control of the
Far East in order to assure the economic prosperity of the Japanese people.
At first, the European leaders tried to avoid war and responded to the aggression
of Hitler’s Germany with a policy of _appeasement__, giving in to his demands.
The Germans thought that the treaty that ended World War I was _unfair_. The
goal of Germany was to avenge itself for this treaty by taking over _Europe__.
Hitler thought the Germans were a _superior_ people.
When Germany invaded _Poland_, allies __France__ and _Great Britain__
declared war on Germany. Soon Germany had defeated France and was bombing
Great Britain. Germany also invaded the _Union of Soviet Socialist Republics_
(U.S.S.R.). The Congress of the United States passed laws that required President
Roosevelt to maintain an official policy of neutrality or __isolationism__. However
President Roosevelt tried to help the British leader, __Winston_ _Churchill__;
the leader of the free French, _Charles de Gaulle_; and the leader of the Soviet
Union, _Joseph Stalin__, with supplies.
After the Japanese bombing of the U.S. Pacific fleet at _Pearl Harbor_, Hawaii
President Roosevelt asked the United States Congress to _declare_ war on
_Japan___. Germany and Italy then declared war on the _United_ _States_ in
order to support their ally, Japan, becoming the _Axis Powers_. The United
States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union became known as the __Allied
Powers__ or the Allies.
The goal of the _Allied Powers_ was to stop the _Axis Powers_ and defeat them
unconditionally so that they could not _invade_ other countries again.
The strategy used by the Allied powers in the European theater including the
1. __Invasion of North Africa___
2. __Invasion of Italy____
3. __Invasion of Normandy, France___
The purpose of the _island__-__hopping__ strategy in the Pacific theater to get
within range of the gasoline tank capacity of American bombers and ultimately to
__invade___ the Japanese home islands.
The invasion of _Normandy, France_ led to the eventual surrender of the Axis
powers in Europe, but the Allied powers continued to struggle against a
__Japanese___ army that was determined to fight to the last man.
Japanese Americans faced the worst __discrimination__, following the bombing
of __Pearl Harbor, Hawaii__,
__110,000__ Japanese Americans were moved to internment camps in the
western deserts of the United States. (An internment camps is a prison camp.)
Japanese Americans
Made to leave their _homes_ and _businesses__ with little warning, they were
imprisoned behind barbed wire fences without the right to a trial and without
_proof_ that they were disloyal. Nonetheless the Japanese Americans continued
to be loyal to the __United States__. Some of them served with distinction in
__military__ units in the European theater.
President Truman
When President _Franklin D. Roosevelt___ died, Vice-President Harry S
___Truman__ was sworn in as President. As the preparations for the invasion of
Japan continued, scientists successfully tested the world’s first ___atomic
bomb___. The decision of whether to risk many more American lives with an
invasion of Japan or to use the atomic bombs fell to _Pres. Truman_. The United
States dropped two bombs, one on _Hiroshima__ and a second on _Nagasaki_,
which led to the surrender of the Japanese and brought about the end of World
War II.
On the Homefront
Women, as the _homemakers_, were responsible for _rationing_ and _victory
gardens__. More women also began to work outside the home in greater numbers.
They took the place of _husbands_, _sons_ and _brothers_ in factories and built
airplanes, trucks and ships.
Although women sometimes faced discrimination, ‘__Rosie the Riveter___’ became
an icon of the period. Women expected to return __home__ when the war ended
and the _soldiers__ returned to their jobs, but many missed the workplace. This
__wartime__ experience helped lay the foundation for the women’s movement of
the _1960_s.
The economy was finally pulled out of the _Great Depression_ by the war effort
as everyone went to work to help win the war.
World War II had a _social impact__ on the United States that would have long
term political effects. The nation came together as each American was
encouraged to “_Do Your Part_” in the war effort.
Each and every American was called upon to conserve scarce materials by
contributing to __scrap metal drives__ and planting “_Victory Gardens_.”
However voluntary conservation was not enough and Americans were required to
use _ration_ booklets.
African Americans
African Americans demanded the right to _wartime jobs__ and President
Roosevelt ordered that they be given opportunity.
Many more African Americans moved to cities in the _north_ and on the _Pacific
Coast_to work in wartime industries.
African Americans made some strides in the military during the war, such as the
_Tuskegee Airmen__; however, they still served in segregated units and were
often called upon to do the _dirtiest_ and most _dangerous_ jobs.
The role played by African American soldiers in the war and the treatment by
whites on the homefront after the war ended prompted President Truman to
order that the army be _desegregated__ after the war.
The experiences of African Americans serving their country at _home_ and
__abroad (overseas)__ helped to lay the foundation for the _Civil Rights
movement of the 1960’s__.
War Results
As a result of the war, _political boundaries__ of some nation-states were
changed and some governments were altered.
 The United States established a _democracy_ in occupied Japan.
 Germany was divided into __four_ and occupied by the four _Allied Powers_.
 Soon the _US_, __Great Britain__ and _France_ united their zones and
helped to create a democratic government in what became known as _West
Germany_.
 The Soviet Union established a _communist_ government in East Germany.
_Berlin_, the former capital of Germany, was similarly divided although it
was located entirely within the _Soviet_ zone. The Soviet Union also set up
puppet regimes (a country that has no independence, it is part of another
country) in the eastern European nations that they liberated from __German
occupation_.
***NOTE***
o Although the United States emerged from the war as a dominant world
power, it would soon find itself in confrontation with its World War II
ally, the Soviet Union. The Cold War had its roots in differences in
wartime priorities between the United States, Great Britain and
France, and the Soviet Union.
US back on top of the economy
Key developments in __technology__, __aviation_, __weaponry__, and
_communication_ had a significant impact on World War II and on the economy of
the United States both during the war years and in the postwar period.
The increase in _production_ necessary to help in the war effort, the economy of
the United States experienced a __boost_, lifting the nation out of the _Great
Depression_.
_Medical advances_ in the treatment of infection and disease such as penicillin
have helped to extend the lives of many _Americans__ and contributed to an
aging population.
Aviation
Aviation innovations included improved _bombers_ that were able to fly farther
and the use of _RADAR_ to track these planes and to spot __enemy planes__. By
the end of the war, _jets_ were being developed.
After the war, _personal_ and _business_ air travel and the _transportation of
goods_ around the world grew a lot because of the technology of the airplane.
Communications
Secret communications _codes_ developed during the war contributed to the
development of _computer systems__ designed to break those codes. The first
computers were room-sized machine. The computer industry has grown
tremendously in the last __60 years_ and as a result Americans enjoy almost
instant access to _information_ through the use of their _personal computers_
and _lap tops__.
Weaponry
Advances in weaponry were made in response to __wartime needs__. The two
atom bombs that were dropped on _Japan_ were developed by a team of
__scientists_ in the United States who were trying to beat the __Germans_ to
the technology.
*****NOTE*****
 Although Albert Einstein encouraged President Franklin D Roosevelt
to establish the Manhattan Project that developed the bomb, he was
not involved in the process. More known for his theory of relativity
(e=mc2)
Atomic technology has had an important impact on the _economy_ of the United
States since World War II.
The __arms race__ started as a result of America’s exclusive control of the atom
bomb. This race to develop new and better _bombs_ and ways to deliver them to
the target have resulted in widespread __government spending__ which has both
__stimulated the economy__ and __focused spending on the military___.
Peacetime uses of nuclear technology may include a __clean_ and _renewable_
source of energy however Americans are __cautious_ about this technology.