Start of WWII
What event marked the start of World War II?
Germany invaded Poland.
How did women contribute to the war effort?
Victory gardens
Rationing
Buying war bonds.
Joining WAVES and the Women's Army Corps
Volunteering
Becoming nurses/secretaries
Taking over formerly male-dominated jobs such as working in factories
Joining a professional baseball league
What event directly led to the United States of America's entry into World War II.
- Bonus points (50): What date did this happen?
Pearl Harbor
December 7th, 1941.
Who was the "Father of the Atomic Bomb"
Robert J. Oppenheimer
Which president inspired the 2-term limit after serving over 3 terms in office?
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
What is fascism (what does it promote)?
A political ideology that promotes:
-Extreme nationalism.
-Nation/leader is more important than citizens.
Who were Nisei soldiers?
Japanese and Japanese American pilots that fought for the U.S.A. during WWII in segregated units.
Which battle is considered the turning point of the war in the Pacific?
The Battle of Midway
What was Los Alamos and why was it unique?
What is important about the 3 leaders that participated in the Yalta conference?
They represented the 3 major Allied powers at that point in the war.
Name 3 Allied and 3 Axis powers during WWII.
Allies: Axis:
-Great Britain -Germany
-France -Italy
-Soviet Union -Japan
-USA
What made the Navajo code talkers so effective?
Their language was self-contained; it had never been written down so there was no key to translating it.
Which battle is considered the turning point of the war in Europe?
The Battle of Normandy/ D-Day/ Operation Overlord.
What three possibilities did the developers of the atomic bomb believe could occur at the Trinity test?
1. It could be more powerful than they though and kill all testers present.
2. It could be a dud (a failure).
3. It could work as expected.
Name the 3 leaders who attended the Potsdam conference and explain why they did not agree with each other.
Truman, Churchill then Attlee, and Stalin. Truman and Churchill/Attlee did not trust Stalin because he did not follow the agreements of the Yalta conference.
Explain they Neutrality Acts and whether American actions between 1939 - 1941 supported these policies.
3 laws focused on keeping the USA out of WWII. After Germany invaded Poland, The USA changed some of the Neutrality Acts so the US could send weapons to France and Britain. After France falls, US pledges “all aid short of war."
What was the purpose of the Double V campaign?
Bonus points (50): Name one group of Black Americans that contributed to it with their skill in battle overseas.
Victory over fascism abroad and discrimination at home.
The Tuskegee Airmen
Which battle had the highest casualties in Europe and which battle had the highest casualties in the Pacific?
Europe - Stalingrad
Pacific - Okinawa
What was President Truman's justification for dropping the bomb on Hiroshima?
It would only be dropped on military personnel and they warned the Japanese, who failed to surrender/evacuate.
What did America assist/influence nations following World War II? Give 2 examples.
1. Spheres of influence in Europe especially in Germany/Berlin.
2. The Marshall Plan- The United States offered Aid to help Europe recover from the war
3. Took temporary control of Japan.
What was the National Origins Act and how did it impact Jewish refugees in the late 1930s and 1940s?
This law set quotas based on country of origin to limit how many people could enter the United States. This meant that the USA turned away Jewish refugees from Germany, Poland, and other affected areas after they hit their quota.
What was Executive order 9066 and how did Korematsu vs. the United States impact it?
Required Americans of Japanese ancestry to be forcibly relocated to camps in the desert.
The case upheld the order, stating it was justified for American security during times of war.
Why did Pacific battles after 1944 have higher casualties than those before 1944?
Battles after 1944 included a higher use of kamikaze pilots.
Did the United States make the correct choice in dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
Give 2 specific examples/evidence to support your response.
Pros:
-Made the USA a superpower
-Forced a surrender/saved American lives
Cons:
-Killed Civilians/ caused lasting suffering to victims.
-Exposed the power of the atomic bomb to other countries.
What was the purpose of the United Nations and who were the first 5 permanent security council members?
A peacekeeping organization designed to try and prevent World War III from happening.
5 permanent Security Council members:
China
France
Soviet Union
United Kingdom
United States.