U.S Involvement in
WWII
U.S 7A, 7D, 7G,17A,19B,7F
We will understand how the U.S aided allied forces in
Europe, how the U.S entered WWII as a result of
Pearl Harbor, the sacrifices made by U.S citizens
during WWII and the violation of the constitutional
rights of Asian Americans after the attack on Pearl
Harbor.
What would you do if
your home was bombed?
Allied vs. Axis Powers
Allied Countries
Axis Countries
*formed by treaty of London 1914 and reinstated in 1939-1945
*formed by treaties by Germany, Japan , and Italy in 1936 and then a
military alliance in 1939
France
Poland
Great Britain
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
South Africa
United States
Soviet Union
China
Belgium
Germany
Japan
Italy
Austria
Hungary
Bulgaria
The Ottoman Empire
Who were on the Allies side?
These were countries that opposed the
Axis Powers during WWII. These
countries included:
France
Poland
Great Britain
Australia
Canada
New Zealand
South Africa
United States
Soviet Union
China
Belgium
and other small nations. Alliance formed
by the Treaty of London in 1914 and
reinstated in 1939-1945.
Who were on Axis Powers?
side?
These were countries that were against
the Allied Powers during WWII. These
countries included:
Germany
Japan
Italy
Austria
Hungary
Bulgaria
The Ottoman Empire
Axis Powers alliance formed by treaties by
Germany, Japan , and Italy in 1936 and then a
military alliance in 1939.
7E: analyze major military events of World War II, including the Battle of Midway, the U.S. Military advancement
through the Pacific Island, the Bataan Death March, the invasion of Normandy, fighting the war on multiple fronts, and
the liberation of concentration camps;
Multiple Front War: World War II was
fought in three major areas.
(Europe/North Africa and the Pacific.)
Each of these fronts was important to the
Allied efforts to win the war.
Italy = North Africa and
Europe
In Europe the main targets were
Germany and Italy.
In the Pacific the main target was
Japan.
Germany = Europe
In Africa, the main target was Italy.
Japan = Pacific
Lend Lease Act 1941
After France fell Britain was the
only country actively at war with
the Nazis.
We needed to take action or
Hitler would take over the
eastern hemisphere and
possibly us next, but we still did
not want to get fully involved.
We provide loans, defense
gear, supplies, and aide to
China, England, & Russia
SE : US.7A: identify reasons for U.S. involvement in World War II, including
Italian, German and Japanese Dictatorships and their aggression, especially
the attack on Pearl Harbor.
US gives up its policy of Isolationism whey it
passes the Lend Lease Act in 1941.
Lend Lease Act =
provided foreign troops with
defense gear and promised to
lend or lease 7 billion dollars
in supplies to any country the
President designated.
The US also built a military
base in Greenland and
established the Atlantic
Charter with England. They
committed to fight fascism.
How did the Lend Lease Act signal U.S abandonment
of their policy of isolation?
In what ways did the U.S still seem isolated?
Germany took over France by
their Blitzkrieg tactic which
means “lightning war”. The
Germans would hit their target
hard and move forward leaving
populations in panic.
After Germany took France
Britain was next.
Blitzkrieg = German “lighting War” : The use of tanks, infantry, artillery, and air power.
Using such force at high speed to break through enemy lines. This keeps the enemy offbalance, making it difficult to react as the front moves on. Used during 1939- 1941.
Starting In July 1940 Germany began its
campaign bombing Britain.
Listen to the following radio broadcast from
U.S Journalist Ed Murrow during a
bombing raid in Britain.
Ed Murrow CBS broadcast to the U.S from
London
What year were bombing raids started on
Britain by the Germans?
How did the British try to protect themselves
during bombings?
Japan formed a pact with Germany to attack
American forces in Europe and Southeast Asia.
The attack on Pearl Harbor was intended as a
preventive action in order to keep the U.S.
Pacific Fleet from interfering with military
actions the Empire of Japan was planning in
Southeast Asia.
Japan invaded parts of Southeast Asia for
natural resources .
SE : US.7A: identify reasons for U.S. involvement in World War II, including
Italian, German and Japanese Dictatorships and their aggression, especially
the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Pearl Harbor = December 7, 1941 – “a day that will live in infamy”.
Japanese planes attacked the U.S. Naval Base in Hawaii. This event
brought the United States into WWII. Over 200 Japanese airplanes
attack and bomb Pearl Harbor on the Island of Hawaii.
Pearl Harbor Clip
The following day President Roosevelt asks congress for a
declaration of war against Japan.
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which
will live in infamy—the United States of America
was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval
and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”
In your groups continue your notes sheet and
use the reading packets to analyze actions
taken at home as the U.S mobilized into World
War II.
How does FDR’s Executive Order 9066 violate
the Constitution?
How is Japanese internment ironic when
thinking about World War II?
While the Supreme Court never ruled that the
removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans
was unconstitutional, historians and political analysts
have described the violations which they
believe occurred.
RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
• Freedom of religion
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of press
• Right to assemble
VIOLATIONS
• Japanese Americans’ religious freedoms were
violated with respect to the practice of Eastern
religious beliefs. The practice of the Shinto religion
was prohibited in the camps.
• Japanese Americans were denied the guarantee of
freedom of speech and press with the
prohibition of using the Japanese language in public
meetings and the censorship of camp
newspapers.
RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
• Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures
VIOLATIONS
• The FBI searched homes of Japanese Americans
often without search warrants, seeking any
items identified as being Japanese. Items that
appeared as contraband such as short-wave radios
were confiscated.
Clip On Japanese Internment
The War Effort
In your groups use your study guide and the
reading packets to detail the contributions of
the battles, individuals, & military leaders.