11.7 Study Guide

Question 1

Rome-Berlin Axis

Answer 1

In 1936, Italy and Germany formed an alliance known as the Rome-Berlin Axis

Question 2

Appeasement

Answer 2

The Policy European leaders adopted to give in to Hitler’s demands in an attempt to avoid war was known as appeasement.

Question 3

Non-Aggression Pact

Answer 3

The Non-Aggression Pact is a mutual agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union not to attack each other.

Question 4

What event marks the beginning of WWII?

Answer 4

The invasion of Poland by Germany will officially start WWII.

Question 5

Neutrality Acts

Answer 5

To ensure that the U.S does not become involved with any countries at war, Congress passes the Neutrality Act.

Question 6

How will the U.S. respond to invasions by Germany, Italy, and Japan?

Answer 6

The US will remain neutral despite the invasions by Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Question 7

How will the U.S. respond to the rise of military dictatorships in Germany and Japan?

Answer 7

As military dictatorships in Germany, Italy, and Japan rose, the US tried to remain isolated and neutral from the conflicts.

Question 8

The Lend-Lease Program

Answer 8

In 1941, FDR proposed the Lend :ease Bill which gave the president the right to loan war weapons and war supplies to countries at war.

Question 9

Why did Japan plan to attack the U.S.?

Answer 9

Japan will respond to the US cutting off oil and other supplies by planning to attack the U.S Pearl Harbor.

Question 10

Why did the Japanese decide to attack the U.S. at Pearl Harbor?

Answer 10

Japan believed an attack on the U.S. naval fleet at Pearl Harbor would destroy the American Pacific fleet and give them a free hand in the Pacific.

Question 11

What event would finally push the U.S. into WWII?

Answer 11

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 will be what finally pushes the U.S. into WWII.

Question 12

What event finally pushed the U.S. into the war?

Answer 12

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Question 13

What was the date of the attack at Pearl Harbor?

Answer 13

December 7, 1941

Question 14

What did the Allies agree would be their first priority in the war?

Answer 14

Shortly after Pearl Harbor, FDR and Churchill decided to defeat Germany first then Japan.

Question 15

Explain the significance of the efforts made by the Tuskegee Airmen, 442nd Regiment, and the Navajo Code Talkers during WWII.

Answer 15

These minority groups distinguished themselves and advanced the cause of civil rights.

Question 16

Tuskegee Airman

Answer 16

The Tuskeegee Airman, an African American group of pilots, became a highly decorated group.

Question 17

442nd Regiment

Answer 17

The Japanese American 442nd Regiment was the most decorated ethnic group.

Question 18

Navajo Code Talkers

Answer 18

A group of Navajo became part of the Marine signal corps. They outwitted the Japanese by sending messages in the Navajo language.

Question 19

D-Day

Answer 19

On June 6, 1944, Gen Eisenhower directed the largest land, sea, and air invasion in history. 175,000 Allies came ashore in Normandy, France.

Question 20

Battle of the Bulge

Answer 20

In December 1944-January 1945, Germany mounted its last offensive attack of the war.

Question 21

Holocaust

Answer 21

The Holocaust is the mass killing of Jews and other groups considered undesirable by the Germans.

Question 22

What was the U.S. response to European Jews fleeing German persecution?

Answer 22

Strict immigration policies prevented most Jews from entering the U.S.

Question 23

Why did Roosevelt accept Stalin’s demands at the Yalta Conference?

Answer 23

Stalin pretty much controlled the conference because Roosevelt felt he needed the USSR to support the U.S against Japan. Roosevelt also wanted the USSR to joic the United Nations

Question 24

Explain the significance of the Battle of Midway

Answer 24

A month later, at the Battle of Midway, the U.S. claimed a major victory which greatly crippled Japan’s ability to carry on an offensive war. The Battle of Midway was considered a turning point in which the U.S. began taking back the islands in the Pacific.

Question 25

Island Hopping

Answer 25

To counter Japan’s advantage, the U.S. adopted a strategy of “island hopping”-to methodically take one Japanese held island one by one.

Question 26

What did the U.S. begin to realize about Japan after the Battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa?

Answer 26

After fierce battle at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the U.S. began to realize that Japan might never give up and surrender.

Question 27

Why was the Battle of Okinawa so important to the U.S.?

Answer 27

The Battle of Okinawa was also important because, if captured, the U.S. would have a good staging area to launch an invasion of Japan.

Question 28

Manhattan Project

Answer 28

The Manhattan Project-The secret development of atomic weapons for the U.S. military in New Mexico.

Question 29

Where was the first atomic bomb dropped?

Answer 29

Aug. 6 1945, the Enola Gay dropped the 1st atomic bomb, Little Boy, on Hiroshima.

Question 30

Why did Truman finally make the decision to drop the bomb?

Answer 30

Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb was controversial and is still today:

• His reasoning was to save more American and Japanese lives than would have been lost by invading Japan.
• To demonstrate to the Soviet Union that the U.S. was more of a superior country.

Question 31

What event marked the end of WWII?

Answer 31

When Japan still did not surrender, the U.S. dropped second bomb, this one on Nagasaki. On Aug. 14, 1945 Japan surrendered and WWII was over.

Question 32

Four Freedoms Speech

Answer 32

The “Four Freedoms” speech laid out a vision for a world in which war would be less likely.

Question 33

What was the main purpose of American Propaganda during WWII?

Answer 33

The U.S. government used propaganda to convince Americans to support the war.

Question 34

What did industry focus on during WWII?

Answer 34

Industry focused on defense products.

Question 35

Why did auto making stop during WWII?

Answer 35

Auto making stopped during WWII so the factories could be converted to war production.

Question 36

Why did the government start to use rationing during WWII?

Answer 36

Rationing was used to control demand and distribute scarce goods fairly.
-Shoes, sugar, and gasoline

Question 37

How did the government address the needs for things like shoes, sugar, and gasoline during WWII?

Answer 37

Rationing

Question 38

Which groups filled the shortage of factory workers during WWII?

Answer 38

Women and minorities began replacing men and filling the shortage of factory workers. WWII will create new opportunities in the workforce for women and minorities.

Question 39

How did family life change for Americans during WWII?

Answer 39

Family life will change as a result of WWII. Children will be left unattended while parents worked long hours.

Question 40

What was one of the main problems American migrant war workers faced during WWII?

Answer 40

Many migrant war workers from the 1940’s moved to large industrial cities and experienced housing shortages.

Question 41

Where were the Japanese Americans relocated to shortly after Pearl Harbor?

Answer 41

Internment camps

Question 42

Why were Japanese Americans relocated to internment camps?

Answer 42

On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the removal of Japanese Americnas from the West Coast. Roosevelt made the decision because he believed the Japanese could be working as spies.

Question 43

How did the Supreme Court rule on the Internment Camp cases?

Answer 43

In the 1940’s, the Supreme Court will uphold the wartime policies that denied Japanese Americans their civil liberties. The Supreme Court also upheld the internment of Japanese Americans by ruling that the actions were necessary for national security.

Question 44

What was the main outcome of the Korematsu vs. United States?

Answer 44

Authorizes the removal of Japanese Americans from their homes

Question 45

Which group was found to have had their civil rights violated during WWII?

Answer 45

The Japanese Internment would later be found to be a violation of civil rights.

Question 46

What issue did minority groups have to deal with in the U.S. during WWII?

Answer 46

Japanese Americans, African Americans, and Mexican Americans all faced discrimination in the Army and from the government.