1) In what places did the U.S. fight WWII? What were some of the key details of the fighting in
these locations?
Throughout the war, America fought in important places of WW2 that had greatly advanced its
technology and weaponry. The US mostly fought in the area where Japan took over, which was mostly
in China and the islands near the country. However, some battles, like Stalingrad, were taken in the
European war. With these battles brought new advances in technology. A key point of the battles was
when the research laboratories were established. With these new information, weapons, tanks, and war
supplies quickly grew better, meaning that they better more effective for the war. Also, the radar and
sonar were used to track Germans submarines and aircrafts. This greatly helped the Allies to track
down enemy and kill them off before they were attacked. This would usually occur during naval wars,
which developed between Germany and America during the war. With the radars, America had the
advantage.
2) How did the American people and the American government react to early news of the Holocaust?
Many Americans, and the American government for that part, ignored the Holocaust, focusing
their attention only on WW2. When ships came that boarded many Jews escaping the threat of the
Germans, America merely turned down their plea for help. This not only occurred in America, but also
the other European nations and much of the rest of the world. Many American leaders justified their
inaction by saying that involving America bombings in the camps would do very little and could risk
killing many of the Jews already there. Also, America was too into the war effort that they had really
just ignored the Jews.
3) In what ways was American home front mobilization during WWII similar to that of WWI? To
what extent did this mobilization during WWII help end the Great Depression? USE KEY
TERMS!
The American home front mobilization of WW2 was similar to that of WW1 because the
intense commitment to the war, the war productions board, and the new technology that advanced
weapons for the wars. Because of the mobilization of WW2, the Great Depression had finally ended.
After the Pearl Harbor Incident in 1941 had happened, all the tension before WW2 had disappeared
among many Americans, which was only replaced by the commitment to the war. There was never a
time that there were so many Americans fighting for their country. This was similar to that of WW1
because the US was united by nationalism to fight for their country. Also similar towards WW1 was
that they both had a war industries board and a war production board. However, these boards were
both ineffective and did not have much authority. They were mismanaged, and were mostly managed
by the military purchasing the products. Lastly, another that greatly influenced both wars was
technology in weapons and supplies. In WW1, airplanes, the navy army, and poisonous mustard gas
were used, which made a more modern war. In WW2, soldiers would use bombs, tanks, and atomic
bombs, which also proved very effective. The new technology promoted modern warfare by fighting
from afar, not the usual up-close combat. This had all helped the Great Depression of WW2 to end
because as more people were committed, they spent more money for the war, which had then funded
new technologies and then gave soldier the upper hand in battle. Mobilization for WW2 was similar to
that of WW1 because of the nationalism, the war boards, and the new technologies that had ended the
Great Depression.
4) Describe the situation for African Americans and women during WWII.
African Americans and women were able to experience more freedom now that they could take
part in the war, yet in reality, they could do little as racial prejudice and social injustice step in and
barred their way for equal rights. African Americans had tried to ask the government for racial justice
as they fighting the war with other white soldiers, yet the government denied them. But the CORE, the
Congress of Racial Equality, allowed Blacks to eat in restaurants. This proved that their commitment
and government assistance would erode away racial prejudice later after the war. As of during WW2,
though, blacks were treated with injustice, yet able to fight in the navy and air force because of the
need for manpower. However, they were usually given the most menial jobs. For women, since the
leave of men had left them much time and no money, they had to go out themselves to work. This
created more stress, which contributed greatly to limited child care, and had a rise in crimes. However,
when women worked in the army, they were mostly given jobs to create weapons and serve as clerks.
They were not given the opportunity to fight with the men, which resulted in the limited equality
between men and women. African Americans and women of WW2 were never able to gain equal
rights because there was too much status rigidness, yet they were eroding the social norms during
WW2.
5) Describe the situation for Native Americans and Mexican Americans during WWII.
Native Americans and Mexican Americans were able to enjoy mass employment and
economical booms, yet they had also experienced racial tensions during the war and in white society.
Since the demand for war supplies increase, more Native and Mexican Americans were able to find
jobs more easily. Native Americans also were able to have important a job such has the “CodeTalkers” and work in the army. They had faced so much opportunity that most never wanted to turn
back to the reservation. Yet, because of racial discrimination, some did not have enough money to live
in white society, and had to move back to their reservations. This showed that there was still white
prejudice against Native Americans. Because that face prejudice, they were given less money, which
had then given them not enough money to live in white society. For Mexican Americans, they were
also able to enjoy mass employment. However, since so many had to move to the cities to make
transportation to their jobs easier, white prejudice tensed in any parts of the cities. This tension then
created more prejudice towards these Mexican Americans, which resulted in a bad working
environment. Though they were able to enjoy their jobs, constant racial prejudice reminded them that
their statuses were not equal. Though Native and Mexican Americans were able to fight and serve in
the war directly and indirectly, they were face with prejudice all the time in reality.
6) Describe and evaluate the situation for Japanese Americans and the changing relationship
between the U.S. and China during WWII.
While Japanese Americans faced internment camps, America’s relationships with Chine greatly
improve as they worked together during WW2. it is quite unfair for Japanese Americans to have to be
locked up for being Japanese. Two thirds of Japanese Americans were actually born America, but
because of racial tension that had rose after the Pearl Harbor Incident, they were locked up. It was not
fair that though the Japanese were treated like prisoners and were isolated away, the Chinese was
seeing the benefit of the war. The Japanese and Chinese had always been treated with the same
prejudice before WW2, but after the internment of the Japanese, Chinese status in America greatly
improved. Because of the ongoing war with the Japanese to protect the Chinese from being invaded,
Americans realized the importance of the Chinese, which later resulted in the repeal of the Chinese
Exclusion Acts. The attitude towards Japanese Americans and Chinese Americans was very different,
in which the Chinese were getting the benefits while the Chinese were enjoying less racial injustice.
7) What were the key events that led to victory for America and its allies in Europe, North Africa, and the
Pacific? How did American leaders and forces particularly contribute to these key victories? USE KEY
TERMS!
Because of the contribution of American supplies and soldiers, America and its allies were able
to effectively take back France, invade Italy, and protect the Soviet Union from collapsing. By taking
France back, the Allies and Americans could easily attack Germany from the west. This also ended any
effective western offensive from the Germans. America played an important role in this because they
provided a mass amount of bombs. It was due to much of the bombing that the Allies were able to
regain France, and with that, attack Germany from the west. Also, by invading Italy, America and the
Allies also took back northern Africa and attack Germany from the south. Germany then lost control of
the south. America had played another important role in this matter because General Bernard
Montgomery led a successful American offensive to defeat the vast German army in the Northern
Africa. Lastly, America plated an important role in the revival of the Soviet Union because of the
battle at Stalingrad. This battle, successful by the Americans, drove of the Germany over in the Soviet
Union, preventing them from collapsing. This had also given the Allies the advantage of attacking
from the east. And with that, the Allies were able to fight Germany by surrounding it from the west,
east, and south. This led to the successful defeat of the Germans. By contributing soldiers and leading
successful battles, the Americans played an important role in the victory of the Allies.