Vocab
Fascism
A single-party political system that is led by an all-powerful dictator with no separation of powers or independent court system.
The Draft
The system for selecting individuals for compulsory (required) military service, used extensively during World War II.
Battle of Midway
A decisive naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that took place in June 1942, marking a turning point in favor of the Allies.
Appeasement
Giving in to threats or aggression in order to avoid war.
Tuskegee Airmen
A group of African American military pilots who fought in World War II, overcoming significant racial discrimination.
Rosie the Riveter
A cultural icon representing American women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II.
Lend-Lease Act
The law that allowed the United States to sell arms and equipment to Britain and other Allied countries before officially entering World War II.
Navajo Code Talkers
Native American Marines who used their language to create an unbreakable code for secure communications in the Pacific Theater.
VE Day
Victory in Europe Day, celebrated on May 8, 1945, marking the end of World War II in Europe.
Pearl Harbor
A U.S. naval base in Hawaii that was attacked by the Japanese on December 7, 1941, leading the United States to enter World War II.
Island Hopping
A military strategy used by the Allies in the Pacific War, involving capturing specific islands and bypassing others.
Manhatten Project
A secret U.S. project during World War II to develop the atomic bomb. The U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, leading to the end of the war.
Internment Camps
Places where Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and confined during World War II, due to fear of espionage.
Kamikazi
Japanese pilots who conducted suicide attacks against Allied ships during World War II.
VJ Day
Victory over Japan Day, celebrated on August 15, 1945, when Japan announced its surrender, effectively ending World War II.