U.S. History/Mr. DeNardo
Name _______________________________________________________________________
Study Guide for Test on World War II
U.S. Entry into World War II
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What are two reasons for the strong isolationist attitudes in the United States during the 1930s?
What impact did U.S. isolationism have on World War II?
What exactly were the Neutrality Acts? What effect did they have?
What two countries did Hitler take over in Europe before even one shot was fired?
What is appeasement?
How did England and France try to appease Hitler at Munich in 1938? Did appeasement work?
Hitler’s invasion of which country marked the start of World War II? What year was this?
What country did Hitler sign a non-aggression pact with in 1940, only to double-cross that country by attacking them
in 1941?
Which six countries of western Europe did Hitler take over in 1940?
Which was the only western European country that remained to confront Hitler in 1940? What did Hitler try to do to
this country? How successful was he?
What exactly was the U.S.’s “Cash & Carry” policy?
What exactly was the U.S.’s “Lend-Lease” policy and what two countries did it mostly support?
What was FDR’s “Four Freedoms Speech” about?
What two leaders signed the Atlantic Charter and what important principles were laid out in the Charter?
What countries and territories in Asia had been taken over by Japan before the attack on Pearl Harbor?
Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor? What had U.S.-Japanese relations been like in the years leading up to the war?
Who were the three main Axis Powers and the leaders of each?
Who were the five main Allied Powers?
Who was the U.S. leader during most of W.W.II? During the last days of W.W.II?
Who was the leader of Britain during the war? The leader of the Soviet Union? China?
Battles of World War II
21. Faced with a two front war, the Pacific theater against Japan and the North African/European theater against
Germany/Italy, what was the U.S. strategy?
22. What were five new military technologies that had a huge impact on how World War II was fought?
23. How was WW2 different for civilians than in past wars?
24. Who was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe?
25. Briefly describe the North African Campaign and why it was significant.
26. Briefly describe the Battle of Stalingrad and why it was the turning point battle of the European war.
27. Why did Stalin become frustrated with American and British military strategy in 1942?
28. Briefly describe the D-Day landing at Normandy and why it was significant.
29. Briefly describe the Battle of the Bulge and why it was significant.
30. Briefly describe the firebombing of Dresden and why it was significant.
31. Briefly describe the Battle of Midway and why it was the turning point battle in the Pacific war.
32. What was the U.S. main strategy for fighting the war against Japan?
33. Briefly describe the Battle of Guadalcanal and why it was significant.
34. Briefly describe the Battle of Iwo Jima and why it was significant.
35. Briefly describe the firebombing of Tokyo and why it was significant.
36. Which three leaders met at Yalta in February 1945? What were the four key things they agreed to at that conference?
37. In what order did the following events happen: D-Day, dropping of the A-bombs, Pearl Harbor, Stalingrad, Midway
U.S. Reaction to the Holocaust
38. What is anti-Jewish feeling called?
39. How did FDR react to the Holocaust? What actions did he or did he not take? What actions could he have taken to
decrease the number of those killed during the Holocaust?
40. How did the U.S. media react to the Holocaust? What actions did they or did they not take? What actions could they
have taken to decrease the number of those killed during the Holocaust?
41. How did the U.S. military react to the Holocaust? What actions did they or did they not take? What actions could
they have taken to decrease the number of those killed during the Holocaust?
42. How did the U.S. State Department react to the Holocaust? What actions did they or did they not take? What actions
could they have taken to decrease the number of those killed during the Holocaust?
Affects of World War II on Different Groups of Americans
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What were three ways that W.W.II affected American consumers?
What were three important ways that women were affected by WWII?
Who was “Rosie the Riveter” and what did she symbolize?
What happened to many of the women war workers after the war was over?
What were three important ways that Latinos were affected by WWII?
How did the U.S. government pay for the war?
How did the power of the U.S. government grow during World War II? In other words, what are three new powers
that the government exercised as part of conducting the war?
What were three important ways that African Americans were affected by WWII?
What were three important ways that Japanese Americans were affected by WWII?
What were three important ways that American GIs/Servicemen were affected by WWII?
What was the role of the Navaho Code Talkers during the war?
What were two reasons given to justify interning Japanese Americans during W.W.II?
What specific civil rights of Japanese Americans were violated when they were put into internment camps (think of
the Bill of Rights)?
What was the Supreme Court’s verdict in the case Korematsu v. U.S.?
What are “Zoot Suits” and what caused the Zoot Suit riots during W.W.II?
The Atomic Bomb
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What was the Manhattan Project and how many people were involved in its development?
On what two Japanese cities were the atomic bombs dropped?
What was the name of the plane and the pilot that dropped the first bomb?
What were three arguments given to justify dropping the atomic bomb on Japan?
What were three other options Truman had besides dropping the bomb on Japanese cities?
What were three arguments against using the atomic bombs?
The Aftermath of World War II
64. What were the Nuremberg Trials and why were they so significant?
65. What were the key effects of the seven-year U.S. occupation of Japan after the war?
66. What were four key consequences/results of World War II?
Essay Question
Be able to analyze the impacts of World War II on the lives of at least
four of the following groups of Americans: African Americans,
Japanese Americans, Mexican Americans, consumers, women. Be
prepared to consider both positive and negative impacts in your analysis.
Guidelines
1) Introduction: First paragraph should include some background information as well as a clear thesis specifically addressing the
prompt you choose.
2) Factual Support: Body of essay should include specific examples including names, events, policies and programs that support
your main ideas.
3) Analysis: Explain the links between facts you present and the prompt in your own words throughout the essay.
4) Writing Mechanics: Write clearly, in an organized manner and with proper spelling and grammar. Do not write in the first
person (“I think...” or “In my opinion...”).