Download World War II

World War II Begins
Write On
Grade 5
In this activity you will:
Learn how and why the World War II
began.
 Famous leaders that contributed to
the start of the war
 When the United States entered the
war
 How it effected the people

The Rise of Dictators
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Four countries were led by dictators
because of the Depression.
1. Germany-Adolf Hitler
2. Italy-Benito Mussolini
3. Japan- Emperor Hirohito
4. Soviet Union-Joseph Stalin
German Dictator, Adolf Hitler
A dictator that used military aggression
against the rest of Europe to secure his
goals for Germany.
Italy-Benito Mussolini
Soviet Union-Joseph Stalin
A dictator that was against Hitler. “Hitler’s fascism
is a right wing reaction to Stalin’s communism.”
Emperor Hirohito
Japan also had a militaristic government
that was seeking to expand their nation’s
power.
Why does the war begin?
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When did the World War II begin?
September 3, 1939
Why?
Germany thought the terms of the Treaty of
Versailles were unfair. Germany wanted to avenge
itself by taking over Europe. They felt they were a
superior.
Three countries: Japan, Italy, and Germany
formed an alliance called the Axis Powers. They
wanted to take over other countries in Europe.
Germany

Hitler thought Germans
were a superior people.
Europe’s response to the Axis
Powers
Leaders tried to avoid war with
Hitler’s aggression with a policy of
appeasement, giving into his
demands.
 Didn’t work because Germany
invaded Poland.
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The Beginning of World War II
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Germany declared war on Poland.
Britain and France declared war on
Germany.
Germany defeated France and started
bombing Great Britain.
Germany invaded the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics or the USSR (Russia)
How does the United States get
involved?
The United States was hesitant to
get involved at first.
 They believed that Europe should
handle its own problems,
 But, Roosevelt wanted to help Great
Britain, France, and Soviet Union
supplies.
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Great Britain and Free France
Winston Churchill
Charles de Gaulle
Why did the US get involved?
December 7, 1941 the Japanese
attacked Pearl Harbor. * This harbor
was a base used by the Navy.
 Roosevelt asked Congress to
declare war on Japan.
 Germany and Italy declared war on
the US to support Japan.
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Axis Powers VS. Allied Powers
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Axis Powers
– Germany
– Italy
– Japan
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Allied Powers
– United States
– Great Britain
– Soviet Union
– Free France
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.
Allied Powers Strategies
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The invasion of North Africa
The invasion of Italy
The invasion of Normandy, France.
Pacific Island Hopping
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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 idea was to capture certain key
islands, one after another, until Japan
came within range of American bombers.
Hopping from Island to Island
Germany’s Downfall
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The invasion of Normandy 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.
Invasion of Normandy, France
Fear of another attack from Japan
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The Japanese
Americans faced the
worst discrimination,
following the bombing
of Pearl Harbor.
The United States
feared that the
Japanese Americans
would help Japan
attack the U.S.
Japanese Americans
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President Roosevelt ordered about
110,000 Japanese Americans be put in
internment camps.
Japanese Americans were made to leave
their homes and businesses. Imprisoned
without proof of disloyalty.
Some Japanese Americans served in the
American military in the European theater.
Japanese Internment camp
The death of a President
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Suddenly his hand fell, with
the fingers twitching. One of
his cousins asked if he had
dropped something, and he
murmured "I have a terrific
headache." Then,
Roosevelt's arm fell to his
side, his head sagged, and
his entire body slumped in
the chair. It was 1:15 p.m.
After serving 4 terms as
President, Franklin D.
Roosevelt died, April
12,1944.
Downfall of Japan
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As President Truman preparations for the
invasion of Japan, scientists successfully tested
the world’s first atomic bomb. It was Truman's
decision of whether to risk many more American
lives with an invasion of Japan or to use the
atomic bombs.
The Atomic Bomb
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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.
Americans at War
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The war led to the production of:
* Airplanes
* tanks
* other war supplies
If the men were off fighting who took
over the men’s jobs?
Women
Women went from
this to…
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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.
“Rosie”
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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 1960s.
The Great Recovery
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The economy was finally pulled out of the
depression by the war effort as everyone
went to work to help win the war.
Women and the War
Women carried out many of the same
duties they had during World War I.
 This time they took on even more
responsibilities such as:
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Serving in the armed forces
Making maps
Flying more planes to airfields in Europe
and the Pacific
The Federal Government
Gained more power over the people
 Took control of businesses
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Setting prices
Wages
Due to a great need for supplies
overseas many supplies had to be
rationed in the U.S.
War on the Homefront
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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.
War on the Homefront
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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
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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 American Airmen
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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.
African American Soliders
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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.
African Americans New Position
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The experiences of
African Americans
serving their
country at home
and abroad helped
to lay the
foundation for the
Civil Rights
movement of the
1960s.
Results of the War
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.
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Germany’s Fate
 Germany
was
divided into
four zones
and occupied
by the four
Allied powers.
What happened to Germany?
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Soon the United
States, Great Britain
and France united
their zones and
helped to create a
democratic
government in what
became known as
West Germany.
Soviet Union’s East Germany
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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 in the
eastern European nations
that they liberated from
German occupation.
US back on top of the
economy
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Key developments in technology,
aviation, weaponry, and communication
had a huge impact on World War II and on
the economy of the US both during the
war years and in the postwar period.
US back on top of the economy
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With the increase in production necessary to sustain
the war effort, the economy of the United States
experienced a boost, lifting the nation out of the
Great Depression.
US back on the top of the
economy
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Medical advances in
the treatment of
infection and disease
such as penicillin have
helped to prolong the
lives of many
Americans and
contributed to an aging
population.
Aviation
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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 significantly
because of the technology of the airplane.
Communications
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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, lap tops, cell phones and ipods.
World’s 1st Digital Computer
Weaponry
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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.
Atomic Technology
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Atomic technology has had a significant
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 extensive
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.