Unit 5 Lesson 9: Entering WWII

Question 1

What did Japan do in 1937?

Answer 1

In 1937, Japan began an all-out war against China. Japanese planes bombed China’s major cities. Thousands of people were killed.

Question 2

What did Japan do in the City of Nanjing (China)?

Answer 2

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 3

How did American leaders feel about Japan’s advance on China?

Answer 3

The Japanese advance into China alarmed American leaders. 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. 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 American citizens feel about Japan’s invasion 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 President Roosevelt react to Japan’s invasion?

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. As you will read, Roosevelt would eventually try to apply economic pressure to Japan to halt its military aggression. However, Japan sped up its attacks. 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 6

What was Hitler doing and how did he violate the Treaty of Versailles? How did the other countries react?

Answer 6

In Europe, Hitler continued his plans for German expansion. In 1938, just two years after occupying the Rhineland, Hitler annexed Austria. This action again violated the Treaty of Versailles. Once again, Britain and France took no action against Germany.

Question 7

Why did Hitler claim Sudetenland?

Answer 7

Later that year, Hitler claimed the Sudetenland, the western part of Czechoslovakia. He justified his demand by claiming that the Sudetenland contained many people of German heritage.

Question 8

How did Britain and France react to Hitler claiming Czechoslovakia?

Answer 8

Britain and France had signed treaties to protect Czechoslovakia but were reluctant to go to war. The two nations sought a peaceful solution. In September 1938, the leaders of Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met in Munich, Germany.

Question 9

What happened at the Munich conference?

Answer 9

At the Munich Conference, 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. This practice of giving in to aggression in order to avoid war is known as appeasement

Question 10

what is apeasement?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Did the policy of appeaseamnt work?

Answer 11

The policy of appeasement failed. Nazi Germany seized the rest of Czechoslovakia the very next year. At last, Britain and France realized that they had to take a firm stand against Nazi aggression.

Question 12

What was Hitlers next target?

Answer 12

Poland.

Question 13

What was the Nazi Soviet pact?

Answer 13

In August 1939, he signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact with Stalin. The two rival dictators agreed not to attack each other. Secretly, they also agreed to divide Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe.

Question 14

How did Hilter use a blitzkrieg to fight against Poland, who won and how?

Answer 14

In September 1939, Hitler launched a blitzkrieg, or lightning war, against Poland. This new tactic involved rushing concentrated forces with superior firepower into a specific area to scatter the enemy and penetrate deeply into enemy territory. Unable to withstand modern German planes and tanks, the Poles soon surrendered.

Question 15

What did the Soveit Union do to Poland and what was there reasoning?

Answer 15

Meanwhile, the Soviet Union seized eastern Poland. Stalin’s forces also invaded Finland and later annexed Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. Stalin claimed that these steps were needed to build Soviet defenses.

Question 16

Two day after Hitler’s invasion of Poland Britain and France did what?

Answer 16

Two days after Hitler’s invasion of Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany. A new world war had begun

Question 17

Who were the axis powers?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Before the war was over, the Allies would include who?

Answer 18

Britain, France, the Soviet Union, the United States, China, and 45 other countries.

Question 19

What happened in the Spring of 1940?

Answer 19

In the spring of 1940, Hitler’s armies marched north and west. In April, they smashed through Denmark and Norway. In May, they overran Holland and Belgium and pushed into France. Hitler’s ally, Italy, also attacked France.

Question 20

How did Britain try to help France?

Answer 20

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 21

When and why did France surrendor?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

How did Britain react to France surrendoring?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What was Operation Sea Lion?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

How did Germany vs Britan go?

Answer 24

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 25

After the invasion of Poland, how did Americans and the Presdeient feel?

Answer 25

After the invasion of Poland, President Roosevelt announced that the United States would remain neutral. He knew that most Americans favored the Allies but did not want to go to war.

Question 26

At the same time, Roosevelt sought ways to help the Allies, what are somethings he did to help out?

Answer 26

• He asked Congress to repeal the neutrality law that banned the sale of arms to warring nations
• 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 27

What did US do to prepare for war?

Answer 27

The United States also took several steps to prepare for war. 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 28

How did the election of 1940 go?

Answer 28

The threat of war persuaded FDR to run for a third term in 1940. His decision broke the precedent set by George Washington of serving only two terms as President. Still FDR was elected

Question 29

By late 1940, Britain was running out of cash. Roosevelt boldly suggested lending supplies to Britain. He proclaimed that Britain was defending democracy against totalitarian forces. What was the Lend-Lease Act

Answer 29

Despite opposition from isolationists, Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act in March 1941. 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 29

Much of the American public remained anti-communist. President Roosevelt had condemned Stalin’s totalitarian rule, but he decided to extend Lend-Lease aid to the Soviet Union. After much debate, Congress approved extending the aid to the Soviets. What did Hitler do that encourage FDR to do this?

Answer 29

In June 1941, Hitler launched a surprise invasion of the Soviet Union. 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 29

What was the Alantic Charter?

Answer 29

n 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 30

What was Japan doing in the early 1940s?

Answer 30

The Japanese had seized much of China. After Germany defeated France in 1940, Japan took control of French colonies in Southeast Asia. In September 1940, the Japanese signed an alliance with Germany and Italy.

Question 31

How did the US try to stop Japans aggression?

Answer 31

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 32

How did Japn and America try to compromise?

Answer 32

Japanese and American officials met in November 1941. 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. As the talks limped along, Japan completed plans for a secret attack on the United States.

Question 32

What did Japn do on Dec 7 1941?

Answer 32

On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, Japanese planes swept through the sky. They sank or seriously damaged 19 American ships, destroyed almost 200 planes, and killed about 2,400 people.

Question 33

How did Japansese leaders think Americans whould react?

Answer 33

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. Instead, Pearl Harbor united Americans in their determination to fight.

Question 34

What 2 mistakes did Japan make?

Answer 34

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 35

How did US join the WW?

Answer 35

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.