World War II Exam Flashcards
Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. First attack on US soil. Made the US join the war, because the US was isolationist until this point.
Winston Churchill
Prime Minister of UK (Britain). He is apart of the allies. Works closely with FDR and Stalin. Part of the Big 3.
Joseph Stalin
Soviet leader, he is apart of the Allies. Part of the Big 3: FDR and Winston Churchill. Communist government.
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty to end WWI in 1919. Blamed Germany for everything. Leads Germany to invading other countries, imperialism, to solve economic hardships.
VJ Day
Victory over Japan day. Marks the official end of WWII. Deadliest wars in history. August 1945. Dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Franklin D Roosevelt
American President. He declares war on Japan. Big 3 along with Stalin and Winston. Dies at the end of war, Vice President Truman becomes President.
Rationing
The government determines how much product you are allowed to buy. Purpose of it is prevent hoarding, and also to send supplies to the war front. Women and children are the ones upholding the rationing rules.
Atomic Bomb
August 1945 United States drops first ever nuclear bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Killed 100-200,000 people, most civilians. Dropping the bomb helps lead to surrender. Will lead to Cold War tension.
the Rape of Nanking
Late 1930s Mass killing and raping of Chinese citizens by Japan. Japanese fighting is brutal. Japan is also doing imperialistic. Another example to motivate the Allies.
Appeasement
Signed in 1938. Policy to appease Germany despite Germany breaking the Treaty of Versailles and taking over land. Allowed allies to restock militaries and supplies for war.
Anti-Semitism
History of hate against Jewish people. Hitler was using this long history to motivate Germans to isolating and killing Jews.
Fascism
Exalts a nation or race above the needs of individuals. Right Extreme. Fascists Dictators: Hitler, Mussolini, Hirohito, Tojo. AKA Axis Powers.
Communism
Soviet Union is communist. No private property, everyone is equal, everyone shares everything. Fear of communism spreading after WWII (Start of Cold War). Extreme Right.
Axis
Group of fascist allies: Germany, Italy, Japan.
The Allies
Group of allies formed for WWII to oppose Axis Powers: United Kingdom, Soviet Union, China, United States, Italy, France