30) Causes, key events, and consequences of U.S. participation in World War II

Question 1

Neutrality Acts (1930s)

Answer 1

• Expressions of a commitment to isolationism

Question 2

Lend-Lease Program (1941)

Answer 2

• Principal means for providing US military aid to foreign nations during WWII
• FDR authorized the sale of surplus military equipment to the Allies
• Used primarily to help GB and the SU resist Nazi Germany
• Permitted the US to support its war interests without being overextended in battle

Question 3

Pearl Harbor

Answer 3

• FDR froze Japanese assets in the US and halted shipments of gas to Japan
• Japan attacked Pearl Harbor after diplomatic negotiations with the US reached a stalemate

Question 4

WWII Internment Policies (1942)

Answer 4

• FDR ordered all Japanese Americans living on the West Coast be removed to “relocation centers” for the duration of the war
• Sent on the grounds that they were, allegedly, a potential security threat
• Korematsu v. US upheld the constitutionality of the internment of Japanese Americans as a wartime necessity

Question 5

Battle at Midway (1942)

Answer 5

• Code-breaking helped preempt and counter Japan’s planned ambush of its few remaining aircraft carriers
• US inflicted permanent damage on Japanese Navy
• Important turning point in the pacific campaign
• Victory allowed the US and its allies to move into an offensive position

Question 6

Mobilization of American Society during WWII

Answer 6

• “Rosie the Riveter” was a nickname given during WWII to American women who did industrial work in the 1940s
• Caused a significant movement of married women into the workforce

Question 7

D-Day (1944)

Answer 7

• Resulted in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control
• Allied forces landed on beaches of France’s Normandy region

Question 8

Manhattan Project

Answer 8

• FDR authorized

Question 9

Truman’s Decision to Use Atomic Bomb

Answer 9

• Continuing to use conventional weapons would result in the loss of thousands of American lives
• Using atomic bomb would persuade Japanese to surrender
• Ending the war against Japan as quickly as possible would prevent Soviet intervention
• Would convince SU of the need to be more cooperative in formulating its postwar plans

Question 10

Yalta Conference (1945)

Answer 10

• Second wartime meeting between Churchill, Stalin, FDR
• 3 leaders agreed to demand Germany’s unconditional surrender and began plans for post-war world
• Germany was to be split up into four zones of occupation as well as Berlin
• Stalin agreed to permit free elections in Eastern Europe and enter the Asian war against Japan

Question 11

Potsdam conferences (1945)

Answer 11

• Held in Berlin
• Last of the WWII meetings held by Churchill, Stalin, FDR
• Established a Council of Foreign Ministers
• Established a central Allied Control Council for the administration of Germany
• Came up with agreements on Germany’s economy, placing primary emphasis on the development of agriculture and nonmilitary industry
• Issued declaration for demanding an unconditional surrender from Japan
• War criminals would be brought to trial

Question 12

Japan Post-WWII

Answer 12

• Constitution drawn up 1947
• Transferred all political rights from the emperor to the people
• Warm crimes trials of 25 war leaders

Question 13

United Nations

Answer 13

• 1945