Name____________________
Date___________
STUDY GUIDE-World War II
Vocabulary definitions to know:
1. dictator- a ruler who has total control of a country and its people
2. fascism-a political system in which the government controls all aspects of
life
3. mobilize- to get ready to fight
4. atomic bomb- extremely destructive weapon used in WWII
5. concentration camp- place where large numbers of people are held
prisoner and forced to work
6. newsreel-short news films shown at movie theaters
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7. What were some of the causes of World War II? Germany was upset
over the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, which led to economic problems,
the rise of dictators, and the military takeover of other countries.
8. What event led to the beginning of WWII? Germany’s invasion of
Poland
9. Who were the Axis Powers? Germany, Italy, and Japan
10. Why did Congress declare war on Japan?
Japan attacked Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii.
11. What was the nickname given to women who worked in jobs only men
had held before the war? Rosie the Riveter
12. Who were the Tuskegee Airmen? The Tuskegee Airmen were an elite
group of African American pilots trained at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.
These highly trained men flew alongside bombers in Europe to protect them.
Not one bomber was lost while being escorted by the Tuskegee Airmen.
13. What is the United Nations? The United Nations is an international
organization that was established to keep peace in the world.
14. How did the American people, including children, help with the war?
They put together supplies for soldiers, they collected materials for
recycling, they did without certain goods, and they raised their own food.