U5L9 Entering World War II

Question 1

In 1937, Japan began an all-out war against China. Describe how they occupied northern and central China.
(1937)

Answer 1

Japanese planes bombed China’s major cities. Thousands of people were killed. In the city of Nanjing alone, some 300,000 civilians and prisoners of war were murdered in a six-week massacre. Japanese troops defeated Chinese armies and occupied northern and central China.

Question 2

Why were American leaders surprised about the Japanese advance into China?

Answer 2

They felt it undermined the Open Door Policy, which promised equal access to trade in China. It also threatened the Philippines, which the United States controlled.

Question 3

Why didn’t the United States help China by standing against Japanese forces?
(1937)

Answer 3

Nevertheless, isolationist feelings remained strong among the American people and kept the United States from taking a firm stand against the Japanese.

Question 4

How did the American people react to the Japanese attack on China?

Answer 4

Americans were angered by Japan’s invasion of China. The United States did not want Japan to become an imperial power in Asia. However, the country did not support going to war against Japan. For many, the conflict in Asia was far away. It did not have a direct impact on their lives.

Question 5

How did Roosevelt react to the invasion?

Japan invasion vs China

Answer 5

President Roosevelt reacted to the invasion with a speech denouncing Japan’s “reign of terror and international lawlessness,” but he maintained his neutral stance.

Question 6

Why did Japan want Britain and Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia?

Answer 6

Japan is an island nation with limited natural resources. It had its eye on British and Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia that were rich in oil, rubber, and other raw materials that its military could use.

Question 7

In 1936, which country did Germany (Hitler) occupy?

Answer 7

Rhineland

Question 8

In 1938, which country did Germany annex?

Answer 8

Austria

Question 9

German expansion went against which treaty?

Answer 9

Treaty of Versailles

Question 10

Once Germany expanded into Rhineland and Austria, what did Britain and France do about it?

Answer 10

Nothing

Question 11

In 1938, after Austria was annexed, what land did Germany claim?

Answer 11

Sudetenland, the western part of Czechoslovakia

Question 12

How did Hitler justify his actions of claiming Sudetenland?

Answer 12

He justified his demand by claiming that the Sudetenland contained many people of German heritage.

Question 13

What did Britain and France do to protect Czechoslovakia?

Answer 13

Britain and France had signed treaties to protect Czechoslovakia but were reluctant to go to war. The two nations sought a peaceful solution.

Question 14

What was the Munich Conference?

Answer 14

In September 1938, the leaders of Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met in Munich, Germany. To discuss the treaties to protect Czechoslovakia

Question 15

What happened at the Munich Conference?

Answer 15

Hitler promised that Germany would seek no further territory once it had acquired the Sudetenland. To preserve the peace, Britain and France agreed that Germany should have the Sudetenland.

Question 16

What is the definition of appeasement?

Answer 16

This practice of giving in to aggression in order to avoid war is known as appeasement.

Question 17

Did the appeasement between Britain, France, and Germany work?

Answer 17

The policy of appeasement failed. Nazi Germany seized the rest of Czechoslovakia the very next year.

Question 18

After Britain and France realized that the appeasement didn’t work, what did they realize?

Answer 18

At last, Britain and France realized that they had to take a firm stand against Nazi aggression.

Question 19

In August 1939, Hitler signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact with Stalin. What did the Nazi-Soviet state?

Answer 19

The two rival dictators agreed not to attack each other. Secretly, they also agreed to divide Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe.

Question 20

When did Hitler declare war against Germany?

Answer 20

September 1939

Question 21

What tactic did Germany use against Poland?

1939

Answer 21

Blitzkrieg, or lightning war.

Question 22

What was the Blitzkrieg tactic?

Answer 22

This new tactic involved rushing concentrated forces with superior firepower into a specific area to scatter the enemy and penetrate deeply into enemy territory.

Question 23

Why did Poland lose the war against Germany?

1939

Answer 23

They were unable to withstand modern German planes and tanks, the Poles soon surrendered.

Question 24

When Germany won the war against Poland, what part of Poland did they occupy? During the same time, what did Stalin’s forced occupy?

Answer 24

Meanwhile, the Soviet Union seized eastern Poland. Stalin’s forces also invaded Finland and later annexed Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Question 25

What was Stalin’s reason for claiming Finland and later annexed Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia?

Answer 25

Stalin claimed that these steps were needed to build Soviet defenses.

Question 26

What started world war 2?

Answer 26

Two days after Hitler’s invasion of Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany.

Question 27

What were the Axis powers?

WW2

Answer 27

Italy, Japan, and six other nations joined Germany to form the Axis powers.

Question 28

What was the Allied powers?

WW2

Answer 28

Before the war was over, the Allies would include Britain, France, the Soviet Union, the United States, China, and 45 other countries.

Question 29

In April, Hitler smashed through Denmark and Norway. In May, they overran Holland and Belgium and pushed into France. Hitler’s ally, Italy, also attacked France. How did Britain help France in the war against the Axis powers?

Answer 29

Britain sent troops to help France resist the assault. The British and French, however, were quickly overpowered. By May, the Germans had forced them to retreat to Dunkirk, a French port on the English Channel. In a bold action, the British sent every available ship across the channel to rescue the trapped soldiers.

Question 30

What caused France to surrender to Germany?

WW2–1940

Answer 30

Unhindered, German armies entered France and marched on to Paris, the French capital. On June 22, 1940, barely six weeks later, France surrendered.

Question 31

How did the fall of France affect Britain?

Answer 31

Britain now stood alone.
…
Even so, the new prime minister, Winston Churchill, was confident.

Question 32

What was Operation Sea Lion?

Answer 32

Hitler’s plan to invade Britain, codenamed Operation Sea Lion, became a massive air battle.

Question 33

Describe the Battle of Britain?

Answer 33

German planes dropped bombs on London and other British cities during the Battle of Britain. British fighter pilots fought back, gunning down nearly 2,000 German planes. By late 1940, after months of bombing, Hitler gave up his planned invasion of Britain.

Question 34

How did Britain’s brave stand against Hitler affect the U.S.?

Answer 34

In the United States, Americans listened to radio reports from London. Hearing of Britain’s brave stand against Hitler, Americans wondered how much longer they could stay out of the war.

Question 35

Why didn’t many Americans support going to war with Japan?

Answer 35

The conflict in Asia was far away. It did not directly impact American lives.

Question 36

What happened at the Munich Conference?

Answer 36

Hitler promised that Germans would not seek any more land after the acquisition of the Sudetenland.

Question 37

What made Britain and France declare war on Germany?

Answer 37

Hitler’s invasion of Poland

Question 38

How did Roosevelt try to help the Allies?

Arms and goods

Answer 38

He asked Congress to repeal the neutrality law that banned the sale of arms to warring nations. Isolationists blocked the move, but FDR won a compromise. The United States could sell arms to the Allies under a “cash-and-carry” plan. The Allies had to pay cash for the goods and carry them away in their own ships.

Question 39

How did Roosevelt try to help the Allies?

Ships

Answer 39

By 1940, German submarines had sunk many British ships. Roosevelt agreed to give Britain 50 old American destroyers. In exchange, Britain gave the United States 99-year leases on military bases in Newfoundland and the Caribbean.

Question 40

How did the U.S. prepare for war?

Answer 40

Congress approved greater spending for the army and navy and set up a military draft. It was the first time young men were required to serve in the army during peace.

Question 41

Why were isolationists against getting ready for war?

Answer 41

Isolationists opposed these moves, especially aid for Britain. “I have been forced to the conclusion that we cannot win this war for England, regardless of how much assistance we extend,” warned Charles Lindbergh, the hero pilot of the 1920s.

Question 42

How did many other Americans feel about getting ready for war?

Answer 42

Many other Americans, however, felt that the United States had no choice. If Britain fell, Hitler might control the Atlantic Ocean.

Question 43

The threat of war persuaded FDR to run for a third term in 1940. What did this the defy?

Answer 43

His decision broke the precedent set by George Washington of serving only two terms as President.

Question 44

Roosevelt won the election and was able to run three terms.

Answer 44

Yep that’s it.

Question 45

What was the Lend-Lease act?

Answer 45

It allowed sales or loans of war materials to “any country whose defense the President deems vital to the defense of the United States.” Under Lend-Lease, the United States sent airplanes, tanks, guns, and ammunition to Britain and other Allied nations.

Question 46

Why was the Lend-Lease Act set in place?

Answer 46

Britain was running out of money,

Question 47

In June 1941, Hitler launched a surprise invasion of the Soviet Union. How was this a turning point in the war?

Answer 47

The attack, which took Soviet leadership off guard, was the largest invasion force in history. The invasion proved to be a vital turning point in the war, as it brought the Soviets over to the Allied side. It also meant that the Germans had to fight on two fronts instead of one.

Question 48

After the Soviet Union became Allies, what was America’s view on Communism?

Answer 48

Much of the American public remained anti-communist.

Question 49

Roosevelt had condemned Stalin’s totalitarian rule, but he decided to extend Lend-Lease aid to the Soviet Union. What did Congress think of this?

Answer 49

After much debate, Congress approved extending the aid to the Soviets.

Question 50

What was the Atlantic Charter?

Answer 50

In August 1941, Roosevelt and Churchill issued the Atlantic Charter, which set goals for the postwar world. The two leaders agreed to seek no territory from the war. They pledged to support “the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live.” The charter also called for a “permanent system of general security” similar to the League of Nations.

Question 51

Who was Japan allied with?

Answer 51

Germany and Italy

Question 52

How did the U.S. try to stop Japanese aggression?

Answer 52

The United States tried to stop Japanese aggression by refusing to sell oil and scrap metal to Japan. This embargo angered the Japanese because they badly needed these resources.

Question 53

In November 1941, why did the United States and Japan meet up?

Answer 53

Japan asked the United States to lift its trade embargo. The United States called on Japan to withdraw its armies from China and Southeast Asia. Neither side would compromise.

Question 54

After the fail of compromising with the U.S. what attack did Japan bring onto the U.S.?

Answer 54

On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, much of the American Pacific fleet was peacefully anchored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Suddenly, Japanese planes swept through the sky. In less than two hours, they sank or seriously damaged 19 American ships, destroyed almost 200 planes, and killed about 2,400 people

Question 55

What did Japanese leader think the attack on Pearl Harbor would make the U.S. do?

Answer 55

The attack was a desperate gamble by Japanese leaders. They knew they lacked the resources to win a long war with the United States. They believed, however, that Americans were weak and had no stomach for fighting. The Japanese thought the sneak attack would force the United States to beg for peace immediately.

Question 56

What motivated Americans to fight in WW2 against Japan?

Answer 56

The attack on Pearl Harbor

Question 57

What mistakes did Japan make when bombing Pearl Harbor?

Answer 57

The Japanese made two other mistakes. First, they failed to sink the aircraft carriers stationed at Pearl Harbor. The carriers were at sea at the time of the attack. Second, the Japanese did not bomb the fuel oil tanks in Hawaii. Oil and aircraft carriers would become two keys to American victory in the war that followed.

Question 58

What happened when American declared war on Japan?

Answer 58

Congress declared war on Japan. In response, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. Americans were now united in the cause of freedom. Even isolationists backed the war effort.

Question 59

How did the attack on Pearl Harbor affect American live’s?

Answer 59

men left schools and jobs to enter the war. The economy sped up to provide the necessary supplies. A new wartime society developed with a surge in patriotic feeling. For Japanese-, Italian-, and German-Americans, the war also brought difficulties. Many in the country viewed them with suspicion.