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VUS. 11a
WWII: Causes and Events that led to American involvement in the
war including military assistance to the UK and the Japanese attack
on Pearl harbor
VUS. 11b
The major Battles and turning points of the war in North Africa,
Europe, and the pacific, Including Midway, Stalingrad, The
Normandy Landing, and Truman’s use of the atomic bomb to force
the surrender of Japan.
Warm-Up
 What caused America’s gradual
abandonment of her policy of neutrality?
Causes
 Hitler invades Poland on Sept. 1, 1939
 Followed by the Soviets invasion of Poland and
other Baltic countries from the east. (Nonaggression Pact)
The Beginning
 The United States was neutral for the first 2
years
 Meanwhile Germany overran France and most of
Europe
Lend-Lease Agreement
 The United States gradually begins to aid
Britain.
 In exchange for military bases in Bermuda and the
Caribbean the United States gives the British old
naval warships and supplies.
 “lending a garden hose to a neighbor whose house
is on fire.”
Japan
Japanese Aggression
 During the 1930’s Japan invades and
brutalized China in its pursuit of economic
domination in Asia
 The United Sates refused to recognize Japanese
conquests in Asia and imposes an embargo on
exports of steel to Japan.
 Both countries will negotiate to avoid war
“A day that will live in
infamy.”
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e99lfmm
DN0
Germany to Japan
 Following the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor, Hitler honored a pact with Japan and
declared war on the United States. The
debates over isolationism in the United
States were over. World War II was now a true
world war, and the United States was fully
involved.
Defeat Hitler First
 American allies (Britain, and the Soviet Union
after being invaded by Germany)
 Most American military resources were
targeted for Europe.
Island Hopping
Axis Strategy
 Germany hoped to defeat the Soviet Union
quickly, gain control of Soviet oil fields, and
force Britain out of the war through a
bombing campaign and submarine warfare
before America’s industrial and military
strength could turn the tide.
Battle of Britain
 In attempt to take over Britain , Germany
launches air attacks bombing much of
London
 Summer and
Autumn of 1940
Japanese Strategy
 Japan invaded the Philippines and Indonesia
and planned to invade both Australia and
Hawaii.
 Its leaders hoped that America would then
accept Japanese predominance in Southeast
Asia and the Pacific, rather than conduct a
bloody and costly war to reverse Japanese
gains.