World War II Flashcards
Describe Totalitarian governments.
In totalitarian governments, the government has complete control over every part of public and private life. Totalitarian countries are led by a dictator.
What is a dictator?
A dictator is a political leader with complete control of the government.
What is fascism?
Fascism involves government featuring extreme nationalism, a dictator, one political party, and prejudice (racism) against some members of society.
What three countries made up the Axis Powers?
Germany, Italy, and Japan
Who was the leader of Germany during WWII?
Adolf Hitler
Who was the leader of Italy during WWII?
Benito Mussolini
Who was the leader of Japan during WWII?
Hideki Tojo
What was the name of Hitler’s political party/government?
Nazi
What goals did Germany have?
Return Germany to powerful position it had before WWI
Name three countries that had fascist governments during WWII.
Germany, Italy, and Japan
Name four countries that had totalitarian governments during WWII.
Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Soviet Union.
Why did WWII begin?
Great Britain & France warned Germany not to invade Poland, but Germany did so anyway. Great Britain & France declared war on Germany.
What was the Lend Lease Act?
The Lend Lease Act was when the US loaned Great Britain the materials it needs to fight the war.
What was the “date that will live in infamy”?
December 7, 1941, was the date that will live in infamy, according to FDR. It was the Japanese bombing of the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Which US battleship was sunk at the attack on Pearl Harbor with more than 1,000 servicemen on board?
USS Arizona
Who was president of the United States during most of WWII?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Who was prime minister of Great Britain during most of WWII?
Winston Churchill
Who was dictator of the Soviet Union during most of WWII?
Joseph Stalin
What type of government did the US and Great Britain have during WWII?
The US and Great Britain had democratic governments during WWII.
What type of government did the Soviet Union have during WWII?
The Soviet Union had a communist dictatorship during WWII.
What was D-Day?
D-Day was the battle that marked US entry into the war in Europe. It was a surprise attack by sea and air onto Normandy Beach against the German troops in France.
Who was Dwight D. Eisenhower?
Eisenhower was Supreme Allied Commander of ground forces in Europe.
What was the immediate result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor?
The US declared war on Japan the next day, entering WWII.
What was the name of the fictional woman on the propaganda poster who represented women working in the factories to manufacture wartime goods?
Rosie the Riveter
Why was food rationed during the war?
Food was rationed because it was in scarce supply. Rationing food meant that everyone would get their fair share.
Why did people plant victory gardens?
Food was scarce. Planting a garden meant that there would be more food for your family. In addition, if your family ate food grown in your garden, more food could be sent overseas to feed the soldiers.
What is propaganda?
Propaganda is communication that is meant to convince people to do a certain action or think a certain way.
What kind of scarce items were recycled to make war goods?
Metal, paper, rubber, etc.
What was the Holocaust?
The Holocaust was when the Nazis murdered six million Jewish people. Another six million non-Jews were also murdered.
What groups of people other than Jewish people were targeted by the Nazis?
Non-Jewish people who were targeted by the Nazis included Romani people, people with mental or physical disabilities, communists, trade unionists, resistance workers, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and a variety of others.
What is Anti-Semitism?
Anti-Semitism is the hatred of Jewish people.
Who was Cornelia Fort?
She was a Tennessee pilot who was flying when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor; joined the WAFS to fly planes from factories to military bases; killed in midair collision; first female pilot killed in line of duty
What was the Manhattan Project?
The Manhattan Project was the US secret project of building an atomic bomb.
Why was Oak Ridge, TN, important?
It was the “Secret City” built by the US government to be a building site for some components of the atomic bombs.
What was VE Day?
VE Day was “Victory in Europe Day” - the day that Germany surrendered.
Who was Douglas MacArthur?
MacArthur was the American general in charge of troops in the Pacific Theater.
What was Island Hopping?
Island Hopping was MacArthur’s strategy of winning and taking over one island at a time until the US forces reached the mainland of Japan.
Who was Harry S. Truman?
Truman became President of the US after the death of FDR.
What American president authorized the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan?
Harry S. Truman
What two Japanese cities suffered atomic bomb blasts?
Atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Why did the US make the difficult decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan?
The US dropped the bomb to end the war and avoid the loss of life of thousands of Allied soldiers.
What is VJ Day?
VJ Day is “Victory in Japan Day” – the day that Japan surrendered.
Who was Cordell Hull?
Cordell Hull was a Tennessean who was the Father of the United Nations. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
