World War II Study Guide Part I
Political and Economic Conditions in Europe following World War I
Key Question: How did the post-World War I Europe set the stage for World
War II?
1. Political instability and economic devastation led to World War II
Causes
Key Question: What were the causes of World War II?
F Fascism-Political and economic devastation led to a rise in fascism
I Increased Unemployment-Millions of Europeans were jobless
G Great Depression-this is a worldwide problem
H High Inflation-Money started to lose its value in Germany when the
government printed money to pay its debts
T Too Much War Debt-Germany must pay off the war debt from World War I
according to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles
Fascism
Key Question: What is fascism?
1. A political philosophy in which total power is given to a dictator and individual
freedoms are denied and nationalism and, often, racism is emphasized.
Fascist Dictator
Leader of this Country
Adolf Hitler
Germany
Benito Mussolini
Italy
Hideki Tojo
Japan
2. These fascist dictators became known as the Axis Powers.
The Allies
Key Question: Which democratic nations and leaders were members of the
Allies?
Allied Leader
Nation
Franklin D. Roosevelt/ Harry S Truman
United States
Winston Churchill
Great Britain
Joseph Stalin*
Soviet Union
* Joseph Stalin was a communist dictator who joined the Allies after being invaded
by Germany.
Neutrality
Direct Involvement
Key Question: How did the United States change from neutrality to direct involvement?
1. Isolation: The United States was focused on managing the Great Depression and there were
many who did not want a repeat of the events (legacy) of WWI.
2. Lend Lease: The United States provided economic aid to the Allies (war supplies and old naval
warships) in return for the use of military bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean
3. Direct involvement: The United States joined the war after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor
War in the Pacific
Key Question: Why did war begin in the Pacific?
1. Tensions rose between Japan and the United States due to Japanese aggression in East Asia
2. On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor without warning
3. United States declared war on Japan
http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-100673/A-US-battleship-sinks-during-the-Japaneseattack-on-Pearl
World War II: Home Front
Key Question: How were Americans affected by the war in the United States?
1. WWII brought an end to the Great Depression because so many workers were
needed to produce war materiel
2. Rosie the Riveter: Nickname for women who took jobs in defense plants
3. Rationing and conserving resources: Americans were asked to make sacrifices because
some items were scarce.
4. Racial barriers were broken down (there was a need for workers) but discrimination
against African Americans continued
5. Internment camps: Locations where Japanese Americans on the west coast were forced
to live because of distrust and prejudice. Many Japanese Americans served honorably
in the armed forces.
http://farrit.lili.org/node/94