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Directions: Read the Chapter 12 Review and answer the questions below in complete sentences
World War II Notes - Part 1
The Rise of Nazism
Describe the beliefs of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
- Hitler and the Nazi Party's ideas were not only radical but led to one of the darkest periods in human history,
marked by the outbreak of World War II and the Holocaust. Their ideology was marked by extreme hatred,
violence, and a vision of a world dominated by a single, racially "pure" nation
Explain the process that took place that ultimately led to Hilter having full dictatorial power.
- Hitler gained full dictatorial power through a series of key steps: the Nazi Party's rise during the Great
Depression, his appointment as Chancellor in January 1933, the Reichstag Fire that allowed
emergency decrees, the passage of the Enabling Act in March 1933 that gave him legislative control,
and the Night of the Long Knives in 1934, which eliminated internal threats. Following President
Hindenburg's death in August 1934, Hitler merged the offices of Chancellor and President, solidifying
his absolute control over Germany
What happened when Nazi’s seized control of the government?
- they quickly moved to consolidate their power and establish a totalitarian regime
The Failure of the League of Nations
Briefly explain some reasons why the League of Nations was weak.
- The League of Nations was weak due to its lack of military power, the absence of the United States (which
refused to join), its reliance on voluntary sanctions that were often ineffective, and the inability to enforce
decisions, especially as major powers like Germany, Italy, and Japan disregarded its authority without
consequence.
What did Great Britain and France agree to at the Munich Conference?
- Great Britain and France agreed to allow Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland, a region of
Czechoslovakia with a large ethnic German population, in exchange for Hitler’s promise to make no further
territorial demands.
What conclusion did Hitler come to after the Munich Conference?
- , Hitler concluded that Western powers, particularly Great Britain and France, were weak and unwilling to
oppose his territorial expansion.
World War II Begins in Europe
What happened on September 1, 1939 that caused World War II?
- On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany, under Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland. This unprovoked attack prompted
Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the official beginning of World War II in Europe.
Blitzkrieg Warfare
Explain what Blitzkrieg is.
- Blitzkrieg, or "lightning war," was a fast and aggressive military strategy used by Nazi Germany, involving
coordinated attacks by air, artillery, and mobile ground forces to quickly overwhelm and defeat the enemy.
The Fall of France
Briefly describe what occurred in the Spring of 1940.
- Nazi Germany launched a rapid and decisive military campaign against France and its allies. Using Blitzkrieg
tactics, Germany bypassed the heavily fortified Maginot Line by invading through Belgium and the Ardennes
Forest.
The Battle of Britain
Describe the “Battle of Britain”.
- was a significant air campaign between Nazi Germany and Britain during World War II. Germany's Luftwaffe
aimed to gain air superiority over Britain in preparation for a potential invasion.
U.S. Neutrality Acts (1935-1937)
Describe the Neutrality Acts that were passed in 1935-1937.
- Neutrality Acts was to keep the U.S. from being drawn into international conflicts by limiting its economic and
military involvement.
What did the first Neutrality Act prohibit Americans from doing?
- These provisions were meant to ensure that the U.S. would remain neutral and avoid becoming entangled in
the conflicts occurring overseas, particularly as tensions rose in Europe and Asia leading up to World War II
Describe the Neutrality Act of 1937.
- was to maintain American neutrality by reducing potential entanglements in global conflicts.
What was the “cash-and-carry” policy?
- was a provision included in the Neutrality Act of 1937, and it was designed to allow belligerent nations to
purchase non-military goods from the United States while maintaining the country's policy of neutrality.
Quarantine Speech
What was suggested by Franklin D. Roosevelt in his Quarantine Speech?
- suggested that the United States needed to take a more active stance against the growing threat of
aggression by totalitarian regimes, particularly in Europe and Asia, during the 1930s.
The Neutrality Act of 1939
Describe the Neutrality Act of 1939.
- was a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, passed in response to the growing conflict in Europe as World
War II was escalating.
Lend-Lease Act
Explain what the Lend-Lease Act of 1941 was.
- was a pivotal piece of U.S. legislation that marked a significant departure from the country’s previous policy of
neutrality and isolationism. Passed on March 11, 1941, the Lend-Lease Act allowed the United States to
provide military aid and supplies to Allied nations, particularly Britain, the Soviet Union, and China, without
requiring immediate payment.
What does the Lend-Lease Act show about American foreign policy?
- The Lend-Lease Act of 1941 demonstrates a significant shift in American foreign policy, revealing key
changes in how the United States approached international relations, especially in the context of World War II.
Four Freedoms & Atlantic Charter
What were the Four Freedoms FDR spoke of during his State of the Union address in 1941?
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Freedom of spech
Freedom of worship
Freedom of want
Freedom for fear
Describe the secret meeting of FDR and Winston Churchill AND what this meeting would lead to.
- In August 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill held a secret
meeting aboard warships off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, known as the Atlantic Conference.
Japanese Embargo
Explain what an Embargo is and how it was used against Japan.
- They crafted the Atlantic Charter, a joint declaration outlining their common principles and goals for the
future.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
Explain why the Japanese would want to attack the United States.
- In August 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill held a secret
meeting aboard warships off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, known as the Atlantic Conference.
Explain the historical significance of Japan attacking Pearl Harbor.
- The Japanese decision to attack the U.S. at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941
Selective Service (the Draft)
Describe the Selective Service System and explain the involvement of Americans in the war.
- The Selective Service System was a program enacted to ensure the United States had enough personnel to
fight in World War II. It involved the draft, a process of selecting individuals for compulsory military service.
Women in World War II
Describe the Women’s Army Corps (WAC’s) and the role women played in the military.
- The role of women in World War II was vital, as many men were drafted, and women stepped in to fill critical
positions in both military and civilian sectors
War Production Board
What role did the War Production Board play during the war?
- The War Production Board was established in 1942 to oversee the conversion of U.S. industries from
civilian to military production.
Rationing
Describe the rationing that was occurring in the United States in order to help the war effort.
- To support the war effort, the U.S. government instituted rationing, which involved limiting the consumption
of certain goods to ensure that sufficient resources were available for the military.
Describe how Ration Booklets worked.
- Ration booklets were part of the U.S. government's system to control the distribution of essential goods
during World War II. Due to shortages caused by the war effort, the government needed to ensure that both
civilians and the military had fair access to limited resources.
War Bonds
Explain how the U.S. government paid for the war
- To fund World War II, the U.S. government used war bonds as a major financial tool.
Propaganda
Explain how the government controlled information and propaganda during the war.
- During World War II, the U.S. government controlled the flow of information to the public through
propaganda campaigns.
African Americans
Explain the background story that led to Executive Order 8802.
- Background: African Americans had long faced discrimination in the U.S. workforce and military. As the war
intensified, many African Americans sought to gain better employment opportunities and an end to racial
segregation, particularly in defense industries.
What was Executive Order 8802?
- The Double V Campaign was a movement led by African Americans during World War II, advocating for two
victories: victory over fascism abroad and victory over racism at home.
Explain what the “Double V Campaign” was.
- The Fair Employment Practice Committee (FEPC) was created as part of Executive Order 8802 to
enforce the order that prohibited racial discrimination in defense industries.
What was the purpose of the Fair Employment Practice Committee (FEPC)?
- The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of African American pilots and airmen who served in the U.S. Army Air
Forces during World War II.
Tuskegee Airmen
Describe who the Tuskegee Airmen were.
- The Navajo Code Talkers were Native American soldiers who used their language to create an unbreakable
code for U.S. military communications during World War II.
Navajo Code Talkers
Describe the story of the Navajo Code Talkers.
- Executive Order 9066, signed by President Roosevelt in February 1942, authorized the forced relocation
and internment of Japanese Americans, along with some German and Italian Americans, to internment
camps during World War II.
Executive Order 9066
Explain the forced relocation of Japanese-Americans (Executive Order 9066).
- Korematsu v. United States was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1944 that challenged the
constitutionality of Executive Order 9066 and the internment of Japanese Americans.
Explain the Supreme Court case Korematsu v. United States.
- Korematsu v. United States was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1944 that challenged the
constitutionality of Executive Order 9066 and the internment of Japanese Americans.
