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U.S. 2 WW2

Terms in this set (75)

World War I
World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War, or the War to End All Wars, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918.
(1914 - 1918) European World War, Allies v. Central Powers
Europe
World War I originated here; War between Germany and Allied Powers. Europe developed anti-democratic governments due to the Treaty of Versailles.
Versailles Treaty
A peace treaty in 1919 that ended World War I and the war between Germany and the Allied Powers; included huge war reparations to be paid by Germany.
World War II
A global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945 and eventually formed the Allies and the Axis.
Allies
Britain, France, and Russia- Later joined by Italy
Axis Powers
Alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II.
Central Powers
Austria-Hungary, Germany, Ottoman Empire
Nationalism
Patriotic feeling, principles, or efforts - an extreme form of can be marked by a feeling of superiority over other countries
Militarism
the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.
Soviet Union
A Communist nation, consisting of Russia and 14 other states, that existed from 1922 to 1991; Joseph Stalin was the leader; not industrialized
Germany
Looked down upon due to Treaty of Versailles; Hitler became dictator, lead the Black Shirts which was also known as the Nazi Party; wanted to expand territory; Hitler promised to bring Germany out of depression.
Italy
They had a Red Scare, held many strikes due to communists and the Russian Revolution; Benito Mussolini used fear of communism to become a dictator; He promised to bring Italy our of a corrupt economy and he lead the Black Shirts which was the fascist militia.
Vladimir Lenin
Russian founder of the Bolsheviks and leader of the Russian Revolution and first head of the USSR; dies and Stalin takes over.
Adolf Hitler
Austrian born Dictator of Germany, implement Fascism and caused WWII and Holocaust.
Benito Mussolini
Fascist Dictator of Italy that at first used bullying and fear to gain power, then never had full power; started the fascists' movement.
Joseph Stalin
Stalin takes power after Vladimir Lenin dies; Communist dictator of the Soviet Union
Spain
Civil War - one side fascists - General Franco and was supported by Hitler and they weren't really in the war.
Francisco Franco
Fascist leader of the Spanish revolution, helped by Hitler and Mussolini
Dictators
Rulers with almost absolute power
Nazis
Hitler's National Socialist Party
Civil Liberties
Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens; freedoms to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair legal treatment
Industrialization
The development of industries for the machine production of goods.
Franklin Roosevelt
President of the US during Great Depression and World War II
Harry S Truman
Became president when FDR died; gave the order to drop the atomic bomb; 1945-1953
Isolationism
A policy of nonparticipation in international economic and political relations; avoiding involvement in world affairs
Neutrality
policy of supporting neither side in a war
Victory Gardens
Backyard gardens; Americans were encouraged to grow their own vegetables to support the war effort
Lend-Lease Act
The laws passed by the U.S. allowing us to give aid to our Allies in early WWII
Atlantic Charter
Declaration of principles issued by Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt; British and American statement of goals for fighting World War II; August 1941
America First Committee
1940 - Formed by die-hard isolationists who feared the U.S. going to war, they opposed the U.S. entering World War II and they blocked further aid to Britain
Appeasement
Satisfying the demands of dissatisfied powers in an effort to maintain peace and stability.
Neville Chamberlain
British Prime Minister who pursued a policy of appeasement toward fascist Germany
Winston Churchill
Prime Minister of Great Britain during WWII
Sudetenland
First place Hitler takes
Rhineland
Demilitarizes - France and Germany fought over
Czechoslovakia
Hitler continues - Munic Conference - But Hitler ends up taking more of Czechoslovakia
Non-Aggression Act
Agreement that Hitler (Germany) and Stalin (Russia) will not go to war with each other
Dunkirk
A site in France where Allies retreated (outnumbered & outgunned) and Great Britain set out to rescue around 300,000 soldiers.
Battle of Britain
A series of battles between German and British air forces, fought over Britain in 1940-1941
Holocaust
the Nazi program of exterminating Jews under Hitler
Jews
Followers of Judaism
Warsaw Ghetto
Largest Jewish ghetto during WW2 in the capital of Poland, holding over 400,000 Jews
Concentration Camps
Prison camps where people were enslaved until they died of exhaustion, disease, or starvation.
Japan
Because of the Great Depression in the U.S., Japan was forced to pay high tarrifs but this made it more difficult to import goods; used military government; wanted land and resources
Pearl Harbor
American military base attacked (bomb) by the Japanese on December 7, 1941; reason for the U.S. entering WW2
Japanese Americans
Lost a lot of civil liberties
Americans afraid Japanese were spies
Japanese stores and homes were vandalized when they were in internment camps
Internment Camps
Where the Japanese were forced to live temporarily, and isolates, after the Pearl Harbor Act due to the U.S. fearing they were spies for Japan.
Battle of Midway
The turning point in WWII Americans took all the islands in Japan back, (Pacific); fought in June, 1942
Battle of Leyte Gulf
The largest naval battle in history; American navy defeated the Japanese navy to retake the Philippines
Iwo Jima
Bloodiest Marine battle in history; an island close to Japan where the B-29 could refuel
Bataan Death March
Brutal march of American and Filipino prisoners by Japanese soldiers in 1942
D-Day
Allied invasion of France on June 6, 1944 during WW2
Okinawa
Site of important battle near Japanese mainland; last battle before atomic bombs; Allies won
Battle of the Bulge
WWII battle in which German forces launched a final large-scale counterattack that was forced back by the Allies in the west
Normandy/Omaha Beach
Shoreline in North France
Germany set up there waiting for Allies to attack
Battle of Stalingrad
a key Soviet victory during World War II that ended Hitler's effort to conquer the USSR; Battle during WW2 which the Red Army forced the Germans out of Stalingrad
Gen. Douglas MacArthur
lead troops into Korea;
Who said, "People of the Philippines, I have returned."
leader of Pacific Theater in WW2
Was commander of the American troops who was not prepared to fight an offensive war
George Marshall
US General, created plan for rebuilding Europe (Marshall plan)
United States general, who as Secretary of State organized the European Recovery Program
Two-Front War
War in which fighting takes place on two geographically separate fronts.
Germany's strategy where they would fight in the East against Russia and France in teh East.
Yalta Conference
The conference at Yalta held in the Crimea on February 4-11, 1945 brought together the Big Three Allied leaders. During this conference, Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt discussed Europe's postwar reorganization. The main purpose of Yalta was the re-establishment of the nations conquered and destroyed by Germany.
Kamikaze Pilots
Japanese suicide pilots; involving or engaging in the deliberate crashing of a bomb-filled airplane into a military target
Manhattan Project
A secret U.S. project for the construction of the atomic bomb
Atomic Bombs
Devastating new weapon used by the U.S. against Japan on August 1945.
Hiroshima
City in Japan, the first to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, on August 6, 1945.
Nagasaki
Japanese city in which the second atomic bomb was dropped (August 9, 1945).
Impact of War on U.S.
Women, African Americans, Economics, Political
American Power
The U.S was seen as a World Power and after the Atomic Bomb and both WW1 and 2, the world understands the U.S. is powerful.
United Nations
an organization of independent states formed in 1945 to promote international peace and security
The relationship between power and responsibility
When given power, there comes great resonsibility. Some can be responsible and use the power for good, to change the world for the better. However, some use the power for bad and became controllers of others and situations that they morally and ethically shouldn't. We can see this in Hitler, Stalin, Lenin and several other fascists and dictators.
The reasons countries go to war
Resources, Humanitarian, Religious, Political, Economical, Treaties, and Agreements etc...
The U.S. reluctance to join WW1 and why the U.S. entered.
The U.S. didn't want to join WW1 because, before the outbreak of war, Americans didn't want to get involved in European affairs at all. President Wilson won the election of 1914 on the premise that the United States would stay neutral in the war. However, the attack on Allied merchant vessels, especially the sinking of the cruise liner Lusitania, antagonized the US and made them sympathetic to the Allies. The U.S entered due to the Zimmermann Telegram, sent on 16 January 1917. This as a correspondence from the German government asking Mexico for help, and in return, Germany would help Mexico "reclaim the territory it lost to the US in the Mexican-American War". This threat convinced the US to enter the war on the side of the Allies.
The U.S. reluctance to join WW2 and why the U.S. entered.
The U.S. didn't want to join WW2 because as a nation they were just beginning to recover from the Great Depression and had just recently lost troops in WW1. President Franklin D. Roosevelt also won the election with a promise to not send out American soldiers to foreign wars. However, soon the death till in Europe was too much and the U.S. had to come to Great Britain's aid. In addition, the Pearl Harbor Attack was devastating and gave a reason for American soldiers to fight.
Multiple Choice:
The Axis Powers during World War 2 included:
a) Germany, Japan and Italy
b) England, France, and the U.S.
c) Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire
d) Poland, Italy, and Russia
A) Germany, Japan and Italy
Blitzkreig
A military tactic used by Germany
lightning war
Used massed tanks, combined with waves of aircraft and paratroopers, to break through and encircle enemy positions
Internationalism
a national policy of actively trading with foreign countries to foster peace and prosperity
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