America and World
War II
APUSH
Mr. McElhaney
AP Outline
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21. The Second World War
The rise of fascism and militarism
in Japan, Italy, and Germany
Prelude to war: policy of neutrality
The attack on Pearl Harbor and
United States declaration of war
Fighting a multi-front war
Diplomacy, war aims, and wartime
conferences
The United States as a global
power in the Atomic Age
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22. The Home Front During the
War
Wartime mobilization of the
economy
Urban migration and demographic
changes
Women, work, and family during
the war
Civil liberties and civil rights during
wartime
War and regional development
Expansion of government power
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Treaty of Versailles
Good Neighbor Policy
Washington Naval Conference, 1922
Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928
Stimson Doctrine
Trade Agreements Act
Neutrality Act
Axis Alliance
Munich Agreement
Lend-Lease Act, 1941
German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
Selective Training and Service Act
Tripartite Pact
Maginot Line
Battle of Britain/ Operation Sea Lion
Atlantic Charter, 1941
Hideki Tojo/Japan
War Powers Act
Charles A. Lindbergh (1930s)
America First Committee
Johnson (Foreign Securities) Act, 1934
Tydings-McDuffie Act, 1934
Reciprocal Trade Agreements, 1934-1940
Europe then Japan
National War Labor Board
Japanese-American Internment
Terms to Know
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Eisenhower
D-Day
Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (G.I. Bill)
Neutrality Acts, 1935-1940
Buenos Aires Conference, 1936
Four Freedoms Speech
Rosie the Riveter
War Production Board
Tuskegee Airmen
Phillip Randolph
Wartime Conferences
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Casablanca
Cairo
Teheran
Quebec
Yalta
Potsdam
Manhattan Project
Robert Oppenheime
Los Alamos, Alamogordo
Harry S. Truman
Nagasaki
Marshall Plan
Iron Curtain
Questions- Pre-World War II
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Basic questions you should be able to answer:
How does the US public respond to Japanese, Italian,
and German militarism and aggression in the 1930’s?
Was it inevitable that the United States was going to
join the War?
How does the Roosevelt administration try to stay out
of the growing conflicts in Europe and Asia and what
finally pushes the US into the conflict?
How was FDR’s “Good Neighbor” policy a departure
for American politicians since the 1890’s?
Quiz 3-13
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3.
Respond to two of the following:
How did FDR reinforce the policy toward
Latin America begun by the Hoover
administration?
Explain how the Stimson Doctrine is applied
in relation to China.
What action does Congress take in an effort to
support American neutrality?
Quiz 3-14
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Can the British and French be justifiably
criticized for appeasing Hitler? Explain
United States Status After WWI
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After WWI US is considered Isolationist by many,
because of the desire to stay out of international
politics (not a member of League of Nations…Wilson
and Republicans)
Few international treaties:
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Washington Naval Conference-limits naval armaments
Kellogg-Briand Pact-outlaws war
Dawes Plan- reorganizes German WWI debt payments
Trade drives American motives
Reduction of interference in Latin America
Above all- popular opinion in US is to stay out of
foreign wars!
FDR and Foreign Affairs
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Similar to Wilson wanted to use power to maintain
order
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Moral and just principles
However, must abide by public opinion which is Isolationist
Appoints Cordell Hull as Secretary of State
Basic views:
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Isolation is not a lasting policy
Technology impacts distance of oceans
Important to maintain American interests
Reciprocal Reduction of Tariffs- will help the
economy= countries that reduce tariffs, US will also
reduce tariffs= more trade for both partners
“Good Neighbor” Policy
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FDR wanted to continue the cordial relations with the
world and Latin America in particular
Continued attempt begun with Hoover
Cooperation and non-interventionist
Example: 1933 Montivideo International ConferenceUruguay
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Repudiated the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe
Doctrine
Withdrew troops from Haiti
Did not send troops to Cuba
1936 FDR visited Buenos Aires, arranged meeting of
LA nations supporting peace movement
Mussolini-Italian Right Wing
Dictator
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Came to power in 1922
Right Wing, anti-Socialist and Communist
Wanted greatness like the Roman Empire for
Italy
Repressive but not too extreme- (no
concentration camps)
Nationalist
Invades Somalia (1935) and Ethiopia in 1936
Halle Selassie
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Ethiopian Emperor- Condemned the
invasion of his country in the League of
Nations
This was a perfect example of the failure
of the League- no way to enforce peacebeyond economic sanctions
Haile Selassie is regarded as the Messiah
of the African race by followers of the
Rastafarian movement. The word
''Rastafarian'' comes from Selassie's precoronation name, Ras Tafari.
Hitler Rises to Power
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Germany has problems
Economic Depression
Conflict with Socialist/Communists against
Right Wing Groups- Nazis are one group
Nazis gain significant power in Reichstag
(German legislature) 1933 and Hitler ascends to
Chancellor (similar to Prime Minister-executive
branch)
Factors that Contributed to Hitler’s
Rise
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Economic depression
Treaty of Versailles (Peace Treaty Germany and Allies
World War I)
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Striped Germany of land (East Prussia, Danzig and empire)
Striped Germany of military, navy, air force
Allies had a right to intervene (Saar Basin Rhineland, many
resources)
German had to take explicit blame for the war
Pay War Repartitions
Socialists/Communists vs Right Wing groups were
fighting for control
Created conditions for popularity of Nazis for some
German voters
Hitler and Hindenburg
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New Chancellor and Old President of Weimar
Republic
Hitler-Once in Power
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Hitler vows to make Germany great again
To “Claim it’s rightful place in the Sun.”
Reichstag fire = Hitler has emergency powers
Hitler begins to implement his plan- (found in his book
Mein Kampf)
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Rearm Germany
Unite the German people in one country (all German speaking
people; 1938 Anschluss- political unity between Austria and
Germany, later Czchechoslovakia and East Prussia (part of
Poland)
Ethnically Cleanse German Territory (all non-Aryan…Jews,
Gypsies)
Expand East “Lebensraub”- into Russian lands, Destroy
communists
European Appeasement
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One of the huge lessons of World War II that is brought up
again and again is the idea of Appeasement (giving in to
demands as an expedient to avoid a conflict or difficult struggle)
The powers of France, Great Britain and others in Europe have
been accused of appeasing Hitler when they should have
stopped his early demands.
The idea is that perhaps Hitler could have been stopped. Before
he was too powerful.
By giving in to Hitler’s demands, it encouraged him to push
further and brought another Global War
British Prime Minister Nevielle Chamberlain will always be
remembered for his appeasement of Hitler. (“Peace in Our
Time”)
Why did the Allies appease Hitler?
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Treaty of Versailles- Peace was too harsh
All consuming desire for peace
Rearmament
Nationalism- create one nation, racial, ethnic
homogeneity, with strength and a traditional spiritual
location
AnschlussChamberlain and Munich= Sudetenland,
1939 Poland and the Polish Corridor-Danzig- NaziSoviet Non-aggression Pact
1941 Lebensraum and Operation Barbarossa-
Failure of the League of Nations
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Recall the League of Nations was designed to prevent
war
Problems: US is not part of
It did not have an enforcement capability- especially
could not use force
Only weapon was economic embargo and public
pressure
When Japan, then Italy, and later Germany pursue
aggression invading other countries (Manchuria,
Somalia, Ethiopia, Spanish Civil War, and
Czchoslovakia)
The international body will have little or no effect
China Still Weak
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After WWI China remains weak
“Open Door” Reinforced
Nationalists (Kuomintang) Sun-Yat Sen and
Chiang Kai-shek- Friendly to United States
Fighting over control with Communist forces of
Mao Tse Tung
Japan
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Wanted to expand it’s empire similar to France, Britain,
and the US.
Want to control China’s abundant natural resources
Japan was angry regarding the Washington Naval
Conference (1921- Harding Admin, set limit for
Japanese Navy, subordinate position to US and Britain,
reinforced the “Open Door” policy, all nations can
trade with China.
Japanese nationalists rise in power and asserted that
power in Manchuria
Japan invades Manchuria 1931
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Russo-Japanese War- begins Japanese interest in
Manchuria (Rivals of Russians, and economic
interests, raw materials)
Japanese military asserted rights to Manchuria
Military- incident with Chinese forces is an
excuse for full takeover of Manchuria, new
name is Manchukuo.
Later to further weaken China, Japan will bomb
Shanghai- over a boycott of Japanese goods
Results of Japanese invasion of
Manchuria
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US President was Hoover (1932)
Hoover responds with the Stimson Doctrine- (Secretary of
State under Hoover) refusing to acknowledge results of gains
made by aggressionUS will not recognize territorial changesLeague of Nations condemns the attack on China
Japan subsequently withdraws from League of Nations (League
is essentially ignored)
No country wants war and China will suffer greatly when Japan
attacks full scale invasion 1936(caution very graphic see Rape of
Nanjing)
200,000 civilians killed
Japan proclaims new order in Asia, and essentially closes the
“Open Door”
Chinese Fight
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Chiang Kai-shek resists the Japanese and moves
capital to Chunking and even unites with the the
Communists- Mao Tse Tung for the duration of
the war.
American Neutrality
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The Neutrality Act of 1935- members of congress, wanted to
keep America out of war
Popular idea, US entered WWI because of bankers and
industrialists
Imposed an embargo on warring nations
Forbade American sale of war goods and ships from
transporting munitions to belligerent countries
Gave president power to prohibit Americans traveling on
belligerent ships
Neutrality Act 1936- forbade loans to belligerent countries
Neutrality Act 1937- response to the Spanish Civil War
 Goods from the US to warring nations had to be paid for in
cash (2 years only)
More Neutrality
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Many groups in America wanted Isolation
Irish, German- Americans
Midwesterners, Anti-Communists, Anti-Semites, liberals
who wanted continue reform, and pacifists
Ludlow Amendment- Isolationist support was so
great that- an amendment to Constitution was
proposed, that only in case of attack or invasion could
US declare war. (not approved)
Spanish Civil War
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Loyalists-Democratically elected Socialists are attacked by
Francisco FrancoInsurgents- Generalissimo Francisco Franco- Nazis and Italian
Fascists support with 50,000 troops, planes, and tanks.
Loyalists are supported by Soviet Union and International
Brigades (Foreign volunteers- For Whom the Bell Tolls)
American Neutrality Acts – hurt the loyalist
cause
FDR wanted to help but was hampered by
isolationist law makers
Picasso’s painting of German bombing of
ancient city of Gurenica, during Span Civ War-
German-Soviet Non Aggression Pact
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August 23, 1939- Hitler and Stalin sign a secret
agreement to partition PolandGermans invade Poland in the West
Russians invade Poland in the East
World War II in Europe begins- France and
Britain had guaranteed Polish sovereignty
US responds with a renewed Neutrality act
1939- “cash and carry” would aid allies alone
Non Aggression Pact
The “Phony War”
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September 1939-April 1940
Germany rapidly beat Poland “Blitzkrieg”
France and Britain mobilized and waited for attack
April 1940 Denmark, Norway,
May 1940 Belgium and France
Dunkirk- 300,000 British troops escape the continentChurchill now in charge
Paris Falls June 1940
England stands alone “Battle of Britain”
Battle of Britain
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Brits were alone as of June 1940
Winston Churchill, the new prime minister summed up the
British attitude:
“We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall
fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we
shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the
air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We
shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on
the landing grounds, we shall fight in the
fields and in the streets, we shall fight in
the hills; we shall never surrender.”
United States Reacts to War
Debate 1940:
Isolationist or Internationalist
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Isolationists
America First Committee
Charles A Lindberg
“Intervention is
detrimental to American
interests”
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Internationalists
Committee to Defend
America
Best way to keep US out
of war is to Help allies
fight the Germans
Roosevelt is sympathetic
Lend Lease
Wining the War
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To what extent was the mobilization for war a
key factor in the American victory?
How is the American home front and
mobilization in WWI similar to the home front
and mobilization in WWII and how are they
different?
Roosevelt’s Four Freedom’s Speech
January 1941
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To congress, State of the Union, focus on war preparedness
“…the future of all the American Republics is today in
serious danger.
That is why this Annual Message to the Congress is unique
in our history.
The need of the moment is that our actions and our policy
should be devoted primarily-almost exclusively--to meeting
this foreign peril. For all our domestic problems are now a
part of the great emergency.
Just as our national policy in internal affairs has been based
upon a decent respect for the rights and the dignity of all
our fellow men within our gates, so our national policy in
foreign affairs has been based on a decent respect for the
rights and dignity of all nations, large and small. And the
justice of morality must and will win in the end.
Four Freedoms Continued
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“The first is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in
the world.
The second is freedom of every person to worship God in
his own way--everywhere in the world.
The third is freedom from want--which, translated into world
terms, means economic understandings which will secure to
every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitantseverywhere in the world.
The fourth is freedom from fear--which, translated into world
terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a
point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a
position to commit an act of physical aggression against any
neighbor--anywhere in the world.”