Download 11th Grade WWII Part 1: Study Questions and Vocabulary

11th Grade WWII Part 1: Study Questions and Vocabulary
1. Describe the causes of World War II.
2. Explain the debate over U.S. neutrality and its thawing
in 1941.
3. Explain why and how the U.S. government interred
Japanese Americans.
4. Describe how the war was fought in the Pacific.
5. Explain how D-Day was a major turning point in
World War II.
6. Be able to define, use, and give examples of the
following vocabulary terms.
Vocabulary Terms
1. colonies - lands ruled by a stronger nation
2. economy - financial affairs of a country
3. revolution - overthrow of a government
4. reparations - money paid for war damages
5. empire - a nation that rules itself and others
6. ideology - set of beliefs
7. fascism - ideology characterized by a one-party dictatorship, massive military, extreme national
pride, government control over the economy, and strict limits on the rights of citizens
8. inflation - rise in the costs of goods and services
9. communism - political system under which all property and business are owned “in common” under
strict government control
10. paramilitary - army that is not part of a nation’s forces
11. alliance - countries that agree to work together and defend one another in war
12. neutrality - non-participation in a conflict
13. belligerent - country taking part in a war
14. blitzkrieg - German “lightning fast” attack of coordinated air and ground forces
15. charter - agreement
16. conscription - required military service; a draft
17. isolationism - policy of avoiding involvement in world affairs
18. embargo - official ban on trade with another country
19. civilians - people not in the military
20. internment - imprisonment, locked up
21. discrimination - unfair treatment based on race, religion, gender, national origin, etc.
22. rationale - an explanation of reasons
23. sabotage - deliberate damage or destruction
24. civil rights - freedoms that all citizens should have
25. due process - the right to proper legal procedures and justice
26. pardon - forgiveness, release from punishment
27. retreat - to fall back or run away
28. siege - surrounding a place to cut off supplies as a means to force surrender
29. amphibious - operates on land and water
30. kamikaze - Japanese suicide pilot in W.W. II
Bare Minimum Answers to Study Questions (questions in bold)
Describe the causes of World War II.
I. World War II was essentially caused by W.W.I and its harsh peace treaty.
II. Europe and Germany were destroyed, the latter severely punished.
III. The economic conditions of the Great Depression made a terrible situation even worse, leaving
Germany and Italy ripe for fascist dictators to come to power.
IV. Then their large military and empire expansion fueled their nations’ economies, leading directly
to war.
Explain the debate over U.S. neutrality and its thawing in 1941.
I. As Europe moved closer to war, U.S. neutrality acts were passed forbidding the sale of munitions
to belligerents.
II. Many argued that problems in Europe did not pose a threat to the U.S. and the nation was too
strong to be attacked.
III. Anti-isolationists argued the country’s responsibility as a global leader to protect people from
fascist dictators.
IV. Early blows to the Allies, such as the fall of France, shocked many Americans out of their
isolationism.
V. FDR signed the Atlantic Charter and Lend-Lease Act by 1941.
VI. Any pretense of neutrality ended with the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
Explain why and how the U.S. government interred Japanese Americans.
I. After Pearl Harbor many feared “Japanese” people, even those born here, would spy for their
“homeland” or commit sabotage.
II. So FDR authorized the military to remove Japanese immigrants and citizens from the West Coast
and relocate them into internment camps.
III. Many disagreed, arguing Japanese Americans were being deprived of their civil rights.
IV. Years later, the U.S. government apologized for its W.W. II actions.
Describe how the war was fought in the Pacific.
I. In general terms Japan quickly conquered a vast area of Pacific islands. The Allies did not begin
to take the offensive until after their victory at Midway.
II. Then slowly, using their “island-hopped” strategy, bypassing heavily defended areas to more
easily capture islands where they set up bases for further attacks, the Allies regained land.
Explain how D-Day was a major turning point in World War II.
I. Once North Africa, Italy, and the Soviet Union were under Allied control, the next step was to free
France.
II. The invasion codenamed Operation Overlord was planned for D-Day, June 6, 1944.
III. Thousands of Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy and pushed the Nazis back out
of France and towards Germany.