U.S. History World War II Test Review Guide
Test Date: Wednesday 2/17
This unit encompasses 3 ½ weeks of study! Starting on Jan 25th . Therefore, you must utilize your class
notes, homework, and classwork very thoroughly to get ready! The unit started with the rise of Fascism
and Totalitarian leaders in Europe, highlighted both the war front and the home front, and ended with
victory for the Allies in Europe and the Pacific. If you missed any notes, as per usual, you must get them
from my DHS website.
Know the significance of the following key terms, people, places, events, etc.
On the Eve of World War II & U.S. Isolationism
Problems with Post-WWI: Treaty of Versailles
Economic Inflation in Germany
Weimar Republic
Hitler’s Rise to Power/Nationalist Socialist Party
Mein Kampf
Hitler Youth
Benito Mussolini’s Rise to Power
Fascism
Dictatorship
Totalitarianism
Hitler’s Militarizing Rhineland, & Anschluss &
Sudetenland
Policy of Appeasement
Blitzkrieg
Battle of Britain & Bombing of Coventry
Non-Aggression Pact
Axis Powers
Japan’s Actions Post-WWI (Imperialism)
Rape of Nanjing
U.S. Oil Embargo w/ Japan
U.S. Isolationism vs. Interventionism
Neutrality Acts
FDR’s Quarantine Speech
Lend-Lease Act
Atlantic Charter
Cash-and-Carry (helping out Britain)
Pearl Harbor Attack
FDR’s Day of Infamy Speech
Home Front Efforts
Total War
Mobilization the Armed Forces
New Military Bases
Mobilizing Industries
Women’s Roles & Rosie the Riveter
Rationing
Victory Gardens
War Bonds
Office of War Information (Propaganda)
Mable Gerkin & Aircraft Industry
Japanese Internment
Korematsu v. United States
War in European Theater
Battle of Atlantic/U-Boat Wolf Packs
Hitler’s breaking of Nonaggression Pact
American Forces go to North Africa/Operation
Torch
Invasion of Sicily & Italy
Tuskegee Airmen
D-Day: Operation Overlord
General Patton’s Phantom Army @ Calais
Battle of the Bulge
War in Pacific Theater
General Douglas MacArthur
Trouble in Philippines & Bataan Death March
Island Hopping Strategy
Kamikazes
Battle of Midway
Guadalcanal
Navajo Code Talkers
Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Okinawa
Winning the War in European Theater
Yalta Conference
Crossing the Rhine River
U.S. & Soviets Occupy Berlin
Hitler’s Death
V-E Day
Winning the War in Pacific Theater
Japanese Continue Aggression
Manhattan Project
Atomic Bomb
Enola Gay
V-J Day
Postwar Plans
Creation of United Nations (U.N.)
Potsdam Conference
Rebuilding Japan
Rebuilding Europe
Tensions between U.S. and Soviet Union
Questions: Respond to these questions to help guide your thinking and studying process, although
these do not encompass every single key term listed on the opposite page.
1. After WWI, how did the Treaty of Versailles upset Japan and Germany?
2. How were fascist dictators like Mussolini and Hitler able to rise to power?
3. Make connections between these terms: Policy of Appeasement, Neville Chamberlain, Adolf Hitler,
Rhineland, Anschluss, and Sudetenland
4. How did Hitler carry out his attack on Great Britain as WWII began?
5. Why did Hitler and Stalin create the non-aggression pact?
6. Make connections between these terms: Japanese Imperialism, Rape of Nanjing, U.S. Oil Embargo, & Pearl
Harbor attack.
7. Explain the difference in the U.S. viewpoints of isolationism and interventionism.
8. What goal did FDR have in giving his Quarantine Speech?
9. How does the Lend-Lease Act. Atlantic Charter, and Cash-and-Carry reflect U.S. involvement in WWII?
10. How is WWII considered to be a total war?
11. How did the home front support the war effort? How did this directly affect the war front?
12. Describe the changing roles for women during WWII.
13. Make connections between these key terms: Pearl Harbor, Japanese Internment, Korematsu v. U.S.
14. What position did Hitler put himself in after invading the Soviet Union & breaking the Nonaggression
Pact?
15. Why did the U.S. decide to enter the war in North Africa?
16. How was the Invasion of Italy a distraction that would benefit the Allies later on?
17. What planning went into D-Day? Why is this invasion so important for the Allies in Europe?
18. How did General Patton’s presence in Calais distract Hitler?
19. What happened to U.S. forces after the Japanese invaded the Philippines?
20. Why did the U.S. use the island hopping strategy?
21. Why was the Battle of Midway and the Battle at Guadalcanal so important for the U.S. in the Pacific?
22. What was a key goal at the Yalta Conference? What did this plan look like geographically?
23. Why did the U.S. and General Eisenhower let the Soviets go ahead and invade Berlin? What was the
strategy behind that instead of sending in a drive of American forces?
24. What mentality did Japanese soldiers have? How does this reflect nationalism?
25. What kind of peace efforts were made by the Japanese?
26. Why did Truman decide to drop the atomic bomb?
27. What was the goal in creating the United Nations after WWII?
28. What concerns did the U.S. and Truman have about the Soviet Union after the war?
29. In relation to the previous question, why was the Potsdam conference not a success?
30. How did General MacArthur make efforts to rebuild Japan after the war?