Download - Sweet Home Central School District

TEST REVIEW
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Name ____________________________
In the 1930’s, dictators around the world embarked on a path of aggression. While they were on their reign of terror, the
US again initially attempted to remain out of the conflict (isolationist).
Leaders
Adolf Hitler
Country
Germany
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Benito Mussolini
Italy
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Joseph Stalin
Soviet Union
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Military Leadership &
Emperor Hirohito
Japan
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Government- Policies
Totalitarian State (military). Used anger over harsh treaty of
Versailles from WWI and blame of Jews (scapegoats) to gain
support and “Blind” loyalty.
Fascism (militarism, extreme nationalism). Use economic and
communist fears to gain complete control over government,
press, free speech, and to eliminate all other political parties.
Totalitarian State (military). Creation of a single political party
that controls government and every aspect of the people’s lives
(Communist Nation)
Military Rule & Imperialism. Felt the Japanese race was “purer”
than all other Asian races and had to extend their superiority.
The totalitarian and fascist leaders controlled and censored the media. They used nationalism and the economic
desperation of their people to win support, and they used fear/terror to control the masses.
o Adolf Hitler rose to power for many reasons some of which included: economic & political desperation of the
people of Germany, use of extreme nationalism, and his movement to “scapegoat” place blame for problems the
nation faced on others (Jews).
o Totalitarian States such as those mentioned above, often maintained their extreme governmental power by
expressing the belief that success of the nation rested in the idea that the “ requirements of the state are more
important than the rights of the individual”. Anyone who went against this was considered dangerous and should
be punished.
o The people of the totalitarian controlled countries were clearly willing to sacrifice liberty in return for economic
stability. This is a testament to how desperate the times were.
Angered over the losses, embarrassment, and economic difficulties following WWI, many nations took extreme measures in
government and blaming others to find order and purpose. European nations could not solve the serious economic
problems following WWI, which added to the growing tensions and hostility. The League of Nations, once proposed by
Woodrow Wilson and created between European nations, had also been ineffective.
As Germany began to rearm its military and move into other territories (clearly violating the Treaty of Versailles) other
European nations (Britain & France) chose to initially follow a policy of appeasement. Appeasement means they gave in to
the aggressions of Germany and ignored their actions in order to try to avoid war & hope they would stop. This began when
Germany took Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland’s as its own.
The problems and tensions were clearly rising in Europe and Asia but the US was determined to still remain neutral. The US
government passed the Neutrality Acts (ban on sale of arms and loans to other countries).
As terror, attacks on the Jews, and imperialist actions (Germany invading Poland) began to rage through Europe and Asia,
Alliances formed:
o Allies- France, Britain, Soviet Union (US, China, and 45 other nations by war’s end)
o Axis- Germany, Italy, Japan
Causes of WWII:
o M.A.I.N. (Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism)
o Treaty of Versailles caused resentment from Germany & Italy (punishment/land lost)
o Aggression & Imperialism of Axis countries
o Britain’s policy of Appeasement encouraged Germany (Germany re-arms)
o League of Nations failed to keep peace
o Germany invades Poland & Japan invades China/Manchuria to begin conflict
Despite the aggression overseas and the invasions, the US still vowed to remain neutral.
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In response to the embargo on trade the US placed on Japan, & the US’s refusal to bargain with Japan, an attack was made
on a US naval base in Hawaii known as Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941 the naval base experienced a surprise aerial
attack by Japanese Kamikaze pilots killing approximately 2400 Americans and sinking the USS Arizona. Numerous other
American bases abroad were also hit. The American people were outraged, America was now at war.
 Women stepped up again during the war effort to raise money and to fill the jobs the men who had left for war left behind.
They both contributed in the actual war itself too. Women continued to serve as nurses and informants.
 EUROPEAN THEATRE:
 ASIAN THEATRE:
 Despite some early defeats, a series of Allied military successes helped turn the tide of battle in Europe. Between 1942 &
1944 the US came to the Allies aide and invaded German occupied areas in France, Soviet Union, and Pacific Islands. In
addition, they were able to invade and take Italy under their control. The Invasion of Normandy, France (D-Day) was a
major turning point of the war for the Allies. Here allied troops landed on the beaches and freed France from German
control. This was a major blow to the German morale.
 By April of 1945 Italy had been taken by the Allies, and Germany was collapsing. American troops closed in on Berlin and air
raids pounded the city. In response, Adolf Hitler, unwilling to accept defeat, committed suicide in his underground bunker.
This was now known as “V-E Day” (Victory in Europe Day).
 The only aggressor left to halt at this point now was Japan, and Japan refused to surrender. America and the Allies used
their “Island Hopping” strategy to take back one island at a time in the Pacific eventually getting closer and closer to Japan
itself. But according to traditional Japanese culture a warrior followed a “Bushido” code of the warrior in which surrender
was seen as weakness and unacceptable. Due to this the Japanese fought on despite warnings from the Allies about the
possible use of new weapons of mass destruction on their lands. The Japanese ignored the warnings and as a result in
August of 1945 two Atomic bombs were dropped on Japan on the islands of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The loss of life from
this measured in the hundreds of thousands and the injuries were far more. After the bombings the war was over and
Japan surrendered.
 In the aftermath of the war the Allies uncovered other horrors that had taken place. They found the Nazi death camps
known as concentration camps where millions were murdered and imprisoned. During the war the Nazis’ tortured,
murdered, and destroyed much of the Jewish population. Over 6 million died in this Holocaust. In addition, Slavs, gypsies,
Poles, and individuals with physical & mental disabilities were also targeted among many more.
o The Holocaust is seen as one of the world’s worst acts of genocide and human rights violations.
 As the full length of the Nazi brutality in the Holocaust was unveiled the Allies decided to put Nazi leaders on trial for war
crimes and hold them responsible. The trials were known as the Nuremberg Trials. Through this system thousands of
Nazi’s were imprisoned and 12 were put to death. In addition some Japanese military leaders were tried and convicted as
well.
 Impacts of War:
o Boundaries in Europe again changed dramatically just as it did with WWI.
o European colonialism declined (Africa/Asia)
o Nuremberg Trials (Nazi’s were held responsible for their war crimes against humanity). This set the precedent that
individuals could be punished for their part in state sponsored crimes.
o United Nations replaced League of Nations and is more successful because ALL major powers joined
o Human losses- The war in total claimed more than 75 million lives between (combat, the holocaust, and the
Atomic bombings)
o Europe was again destroyed and needed to be rebuilt
o Occupation of West Germany and Japan by western Europe & US, and of Eastern Germany by Soviets.
Key Vocabulary:
o Totalitarian-where a single party controls government & every aspect of people’s lives
o Fascism- Political system rooted in militarism, extreme nationalism, & blind loyalty to the government
o Nazi- Member of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party in Germany during WWII
o Concentration Camp- a prison death camp used by Nazi’s in WWII to torture and kill civilians
o Appeasement- Practice of “giving in” to aggression in order to avoid war
o Blitzkrieg- Swift attacks launched by Germany in WWII (massive bombings)
o Rationing- Putting limitations on the amount of food and certain goods people can by in order to save
o Island Hopping- Allies strategy in WWII of capturing Japanese held islands to gain control of the Pacific
o Holocaust- The slaughter & torture of Europe’s Jew’s by the Nazi’s before and during WWII
o Nuremberg Trials- Nazi war crime trials held between 1945-46 (12 executed/thousands jailed)
o Genocide- the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national
group (EX: Holocaust)