6. What was D-Day?
General Eisenhower was planning an attack on Normandy. Under his command, the Allies gathered nearly 3 millions troops. The Allies tried to keep their plans a secret by setting up a huge fake army, which had its own headquarters and equipment. Allied commanders sent orders through the radio to this fake army and made sure the Germans could understand them. The orders were to attack the French port of Calais so as a result Hitler ordered his generals to keep a large army at the port of Calais. Due to bad weather the invasion was delayed a day. On June 6,1944 Eisenhower gave the signal to attack and the first day of the invasion became known as D-Day.
7. What happened at the Battle of the Bulge?
By October 1944 the American had captured their first German town, Aachen. Hitler hoped to disrupt the enemy's supply lines and demoralize the Allies by ordering his troops to break through the Allied lines and recapture the Belgian port of Antwerp. On December 16th, eight German tank division broke through the weak American defenses with the help of dense fog to cover them. The tanks drove 60 miles into Allied territory, which created a bulge in the lines. The Germans continued westward, capturing 120 American soldiers. Then German troops moved the prisoners to a large field and shot them dead. The battle continued for a month. In the ended the Germans had been pushed back and took a loss of 120,000 troops, 600 tanks, and assault guns, and 1,600 planes. Little could be done for the Germans now.
8. What did Allied troops find in Germany?
In Germany Allied troops came across Nazi death camps in July 1944. When the Soviets grew close to a camp called Majdanek in Poland the German officers began to bury and burn all evidence of their horrible crime. When the Soviet soldiers captured Majdanek, they found prisoners barely alive, the world's largest crematorium, and a storehouse containing 800,000 shoes. Later on Americans liberated Nazi death camps in Germany and were equally horrified.
9. What happened to Hitler? What happened to F.D. Roosevelt? Who became U.S. President?
On April 29, Hitler married his long time companion, Eva Braun. The same day he wrote his last address to the German people, preparing for the end. In this address he blamed the Jewish people for starting the war and his generals for losing it. The next day Hitler shot himself and his new wife swallowed poison. According to Hitler's orders, the two bodies were carried outside, soaked with gasoline, and burned. On May 8, 1945 the Allies celebrated V-E Day, victory in Europe day; the war in Europe was finally over. It was too bad that Roosevelt did not live to see this day. On April 12, 1945 the president had a stroke and died. The same night Vice President Harry S. Truman became the 33rd President of the United States.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
War for Europe & North Africa
1. To what did Roosevelt and Churchill agree early in the war?
Early in the war Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to have a strong alliance between the U.S. and Great Britain. Winston Churchill spent three weeks at the White House. Churchill, Roosevelt, and his advisers worked out war plans. Churchill convinced Roosevelt to strike against Hitler first because he believed Germany and Italy posed a greater threat than Japan. After the Allies gained control of the upper hand in Europe they could put more attention and supplies into the Pacific War. By the end of their meeting Roosevelt and Churchill had formed a very remarkable alliance.
2. Why was winning the Battle of the Atlantic so crucial to the fortunes of the Allies?
Winning the Battle of the Atlantic was so crucial to the fortunes of the Allies because if Germany succeeded in its aim to prevent food and war materials from reaching Great Britain and the Soviet Union, then Britain's lifeline for resources would be cut. This would cause Britain to eventually be starved into submission. It almost seemed as if Hitler might be successful in his mission. Unprotected American ships were easy targets for German submarines. Within the first four months of 1942, they Germans had sunk 87 American ships off the Atlantic Shore and Seven months into the war, the Germans had destroyed a total of 681 Allied ships. If nothing was done then the war at sea would end up being lost. The Allies responded by using conveys, which were groups of ships traveling together for mutual protection.These convoys would be escorted across the the Atlantic with detroyerers, which then would be equipped with sonar to detect German submarines. The Allies were able to find and destroy German submarines faster than the Germans could build them.
3. Why was the Battle of Stalingrad so important?
The Battle of Stalingrad was so important because it was a turning point in the war, which allowed the Soviet Union army to begin moving toward Germany. The Germans had been fighting in the Soviet Union since June of 1941 but by November they stopped because of the frigid cold. Once it was warm again the Germans attacked with tanks, ready to take over Moscow and Leningrad. Hitler also wanted to take out Stalingrad, which was a major industrial center, and the Soviet oil fields in the Caucasus Mountains. By August of 1942 the Germans pressed on with their attacks on Stalingrad. The situation was so bad that by the end of September the Germans had taken over nine-tenths of the city but to the luck of the Soviets winter set in again and everything became quite again. The Soviets used this as an opportunity to begin a massive counterattack. The Soviets encircled the city with its army, trapping the Germans inside and cutting them off from their supplies. Hitler ordered the Germans to stay and fight but this was no use because his commander surrendered on January 31, 1943 and his freezing and starving troops did the same two days later.
4. What happened in the war in North Africa?
Instead of listening to Stalin's idea about invading across the English Channel to force Hitler to divert troops from the Soviet Union front (America and Britain feared they didn't have enough troops to attempt and invasion of European soil), America and Britain invaded the Axis-controlled North Africa under the command of U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower. In November 1942 about 107,000 Allied troops landed in Casablanca, Oran, and the Algiers. Then they sped towards the east, chasing the Afrika Korps, who were led by General Erwin Roommel. In May 1943, after heavy fighting the last of the Afrika Korps surrendered. The Allies were victorious in the North African front.
5. What happened after the Allies invaded Italy?
After the Allies invaded Italy, the Italian government forced Benito Mussolini to resign. King Victor Emmanuel III replaced him with Il Duce. The Italians begin celebrating the end of the war but it wasn't over yet. Hitler wanted to stop the Allied invasion in Italy rather than fight on German soil. This led to one of the hardest battles the Allies encountered in Europe. It was fought less than 40 miles from Rome and became known as "Bloody Anizio". The battle lasted four months and left about 25,000 Allied and 30,000 Axis casualties. The year after this battle, the Germans continued to put up strong resistance. The effort to free Italy didn't succeed until 1945 when Germany itself was close to collapsing.
Early in the war Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to have a strong alliance between the U.S. and Great Britain. Winston Churchill spent three weeks at the White House. Churchill, Roosevelt, and his advisers worked out war plans. Churchill convinced Roosevelt to strike against Hitler first because he believed Germany and Italy posed a greater threat than Japan. After the Allies gained control of the upper hand in Europe they could put more attention and supplies into the Pacific War. By the end of their meeting Roosevelt and Churchill had formed a very remarkable alliance.
2. Why was winning the Battle of the Atlantic so crucial to the fortunes of the Allies?
Winning the Battle of the Atlantic was so crucial to the fortunes of the Allies because if Germany succeeded in its aim to prevent food and war materials from reaching Great Britain and the Soviet Union, then Britain's lifeline for resources would be cut. This would cause Britain to eventually be starved into submission. It almost seemed as if Hitler might be successful in his mission. Unprotected American ships were easy targets for German submarines. Within the first four months of 1942, they Germans had sunk 87 American ships off the Atlantic Shore and Seven months into the war, the Germans had destroyed a total of 681 Allied ships. If nothing was done then the war at sea would end up being lost. The Allies responded by using conveys, which were groups of ships traveling together for mutual protection.These convoys would be escorted across the the Atlantic with detroyerers, which then would be equipped with sonar to detect German submarines. The Allies were able to find and destroy German submarines faster than the Germans could build them.
3. Why was the Battle of Stalingrad so important?
The Battle of Stalingrad was so important because it was a turning point in the war, which allowed the Soviet Union army to begin moving toward Germany. The Germans had been fighting in the Soviet Union since June of 1941 but by November they stopped because of the frigid cold. Once it was warm again the Germans attacked with tanks, ready to take over Moscow and Leningrad. Hitler also wanted to take out Stalingrad, which was a major industrial center, and the Soviet oil fields in the Caucasus Mountains. By August of 1942 the Germans pressed on with their attacks on Stalingrad. The situation was so bad that by the end of September the Germans had taken over nine-tenths of the city but to the luck of the Soviets winter set in again and everything became quite again. The Soviets used this as an opportunity to begin a massive counterattack. The Soviets encircled the city with its army, trapping the Germans inside and cutting them off from their supplies. Hitler ordered the Germans to stay and fight but this was no use because his commander surrendered on January 31, 1943 and his freezing and starving troops did the same two days later.
4. What happened in the war in North Africa?
Instead of listening to Stalin's idea about invading across the English Channel to force Hitler to divert troops from the Soviet Union front (America and Britain feared they didn't have enough troops to attempt and invasion of European soil), America and Britain invaded the Axis-controlled North Africa under the command of U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower. In November 1942 about 107,000 Allied troops landed in Casablanca, Oran, and the Algiers. Then they sped towards the east, chasing the Afrika Korps, who were led by General Erwin Roommel. In May 1943, after heavy fighting the last of the Afrika Korps surrendered. The Allies were victorious in the North African front.
5. What happened after the Allies invaded Italy?
After the Allies invaded Italy, the Italian government forced Benito Mussolini to resign. King Victor Emmanuel III replaced him with Il Duce. The Italians begin celebrating the end of the war but it wasn't over yet. Hitler wanted to stop the Allied invasion in Italy rather than fight on German soil. This led to one of the hardest battles the Allies encountered in Europe. It was fought less than 40 miles from Rome and became known as "Bloody Anizio". The battle lasted four months and left about 25,000 Allied and 30,000 Axis casualties. The year after this battle, the Germans continued to put up strong resistance. The effort to free Italy didn't succeed until 1945 when Germany itself was close to collapsing.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Mobilizing for WWII.
1. Selective Service System
The Selective Service expanded the draft. By doing this they provided another 10 million soldiers to the already 5 million, who volunteered for military service. This helped to meet the armed forces' needs. Later on when the war began, the Selective Service System warned defense contractors that the nation did not have enough workers to meet both its military and industrial needs but they were wrong.
2. Women
There was also a great need for the military's work force. With this being so Army Chief of Staff General George Marshall pushed for the formation of a Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC). In support he stated, "There are innumerable duties now being performed by soldiers that can be done better by women". This bill allowed women volunteers to serve in noncombat positions. Even though the bill had opposition from some members of Congress, it was passed and became a law on May 15,1942. The law gave the women an official status ans salary but they were only given some of the same benefits given to male soldiers. Thousands of women had joined the WAAC by July 1943. This caused the U.S Army to drop the "auxiliary" status and granted the WACs the full U.S. Army benefits. WACs worked in a number of different job fields which ranged from nurses to radio operators and even pilots but these were all duties which did not involve direct combat.
3. Minorities
Minorities (African Americans, Native Americans, Mexican Americans, and Asian Americans) faced new dilemmas due to the war. They were restricted to racially segregated neighborhoods and reservations, being denied the basic citizenship rights. Some even went on to question whether or not this was their war to fight. For example, an editorial in an African-American newspaper stated, " Why die for democracy for some foreign country when we don't even have it here?"
Even though there was discrimination in the military, more than 300,000 Mexican Americans ended up joining the armed forces. This ethnic group only made up a tenth of Los Angeles's population, but suffered a fifth of the city's wartime casualties. About 1 million African Americans also enlisted in the military. Members of this ethnic group were forced to live and work in segregated units. They were also limited to mostly noncombat roles but due to much protest they finally began seeing combat by the beginning of April 1943. Asian Americans also wanted to help in the struggle. More than 13,000 Chinese Americans, or about one of every five adult males, joined the armed forces. On top of this 33,000 Japanese Americans joined too. Out of this group several thousand volunteered to serve as spies and interpreters for the war in the Pacific. During battles they would sneak up close enough to be able to hear the Japanese officers' commands and then take this information and translate it back to their American counterparts. About 25,000 Native Americans also enlisted in the armed service. This included 800 women. Their great willingness to serve led to The Saturday Evening Post to comment, "We would not need the Selective Service if all volunteered like Indians."
4. Manufacturers
Early February of 1942 automobile production was shutdown for private use and instead the nation's plants had been reopened to produce tanks, planes, boats, and command cars. This quickly resulted in the conversion of factories into those for war production. Examples include the conversion of a maker of mechanical pencils to one for bomb parts, a bedspread manufacturer to mosquito netting, and a soft-drink company into a company that filled shells with explosives instead of on that filled bottles with liquid. Expansion of shipyards and defense plants rapidly increased. An industrialist by the name of Henry J. Kaiser built seven enormous shipyards, which produced cargo carriers, tankers, troop transports, and baby aircraft carriers at an astonishing rate.
Laborers were equally as important, for they made up these manufacturing companies. Despite the draft nearly 18 million workers were laboring in war industries. This was 3 times as many as in 1941. More than 6 million of these new workers were women. At first, war industries were hesitant to hire women because they believed they lacked the necessary stamina for factory work but after women proved themselves, employers could not hire enough of them, especially since women made only about 60 percent as much as men who did the same jobs. Defense plants also hired more than 2 million minority workers during the war. Like women they faced strong prejudice in the beginning. Before the war began, 75 percent of defense contractors simply refused to hire hire African Americans while the other 15 percent employed them in only menial jobs.
5. Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD)
The Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) was created by Roosevelt to bring scientists into the war effort. The OSRD improved radar and sonar, encouraged the use of pesticides to fight insects, and pushed the development of "miracle drugs" such as penicillin. As a result of these technologies for detecting submarines underwater improved, U.S. soldiers were probably the first in history to be relatively free from body lice, and the "miracle drugs" saved countless lives on and off the battlefield. Although these were not even close to the most significant achievement. The most significant achievement of the OSRD was the development of the atomic bomb. After Albert Einstein warned Roosevelt of the Germans being able to successfully split uranium atoms, Roosevelt created the Advisory Committee on Uranium to study the discovery. The code name for the project to build the atomic bomb became known as the Manhattan Project.
6. Entertainment industry
After Pearl Harbor, Hollywood began making war-orientated films, which obviously contained a out of propaganda. Heroic movies glorified America's new wartime ally, the U.S.S.R. They also made films, which stirred up hatred against the Nazis. This helped to energize people to join the war effort. There was a downfall to these propaganda and war themed movies as the war continued on. Many people grew tired of them. Hollywood responded by creating musicals, romances, and other escapist fares to take film goers away from the grim realities of war, even if it was only for an hour or two.
7. Office of Price Administration (OPA)
With war production increasing and fewer consumer products becoming available for purchase, there was and increasing demand for a limited amount of supplies. It only seemed logical that the prices would likely shoot upwards. Roosevelt responded to this threat by creating the Office of Price Administration (OPA). The OPA fought against inflation by freezing prices on most goods. Congress went on to raise income tax rates and extended the tax to millions of people who had never paid it before. These higher taxes reduced consumer demand on limited goods by leaving workers with less to spend. On top of this the government encouraged Americans to spend their extra money on war bonds. this resulted in inflation reaming below 30 percent.
8. War Production Board (WPB)
The War Production Board (WPB) assumed the responsibility of providing the armed forces and war industries with resources needed to win the war. The WPB decided which companies would convert from peacetime to wartime production and divided up raw materials to key industries. In addition the WPB also organized drives to collect scrap iron, tin cans, paper, rags, and even cooking fat for recycling into war goods.
9. Rationing
The OPA also set up a system of establishing fixed allotments of goods deemed essential for the military, or better known as rationing. Under this system households received ration books with coupons to be used for buying these scarce goods (meat, shoes, sugar, coffee, and gasoline). Gas rationing was especially hard on those who lived in western regions because driving was the only way to get around in this area. Eleanor Roosevelt sympathized with their complaints. Most people accepted rationing as their contribution to the war effort. Some workers carpooled or rode their bicycles. Families coped with shortages of almost everything. As usual there were those who hoarded scarce goods or purchased them through the "black market" where rationed goods could be bought illegally without a coupon at inflated prices.
The Selective Service expanded the draft. By doing this they provided another 10 million soldiers to the already 5 million, who volunteered for military service. This helped to meet the armed forces' needs. Later on when the war began, the Selective Service System warned defense contractors that the nation did not have enough workers to meet both its military and industrial needs but they were wrong.
2. Women
There was also a great need for the military's work force. With this being so Army Chief of Staff General George Marshall pushed for the formation of a Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC). In support he stated, "There are innumerable duties now being performed by soldiers that can be done better by women". This bill allowed women volunteers to serve in noncombat positions. Even though the bill had opposition from some members of Congress, it was passed and became a law on May 15,1942. The law gave the women an official status ans salary but they were only given some of the same benefits given to male soldiers. Thousands of women had joined the WAAC by July 1943. This caused the U.S Army to drop the "auxiliary" status and granted the WACs the full U.S. Army benefits. WACs worked in a number of different job fields which ranged from nurses to radio operators and even pilots but these were all duties which did not involve direct combat.
3. Minorities
Minorities (African Americans, Native Americans, Mexican Americans, and Asian Americans) faced new dilemmas due to the war. They were restricted to racially segregated neighborhoods and reservations, being denied the basic citizenship rights. Some even went on to question whether or not this was their war to fight. For example, an editorial in an African-American newspaper stated, " Why die for democracy for some foreign country when we don't even have it here?"
Even though there was discrimination in the military, more than 300,000 Mexican Americans ended up joining the armed forces. This ethnic group only made up a tenth of Los Angeles's population, but suffered a fifth of the city's wartime casualties. About 1 million African Americans also enlisted in the military. Members of this ethnic group were forced to live and work in segregated units. They were also limited to mostly noncombat roles but due to much protest they finally began seeing combat by the beginning of April 1943. Asian Americans also wanted to help in the struggle. More than 13,000 Chinese Americans, or about one of every five adult males, joined the armed forces. On top of this 33,000 Japanese Americans joined too. Out of this group several thousand volunteered to serve as spies and interpreters for the war in the Pacific. During battles they would sneak up close enough to be able to hear the Japanese officers' commands and then take this information and translate it back to their American counterparts. About 25,000 Native Americans also enlisted in the armed service. This included 800 women. Their great willingness to serve led to The Saturday Evening Post to comment, "We would not need the Selective Service if all volunteered like Indians."
4. Manufacturers
Early February of 1942 automobile production was shutdown for private use and instead the nation's plants had been reopened to produce tanks, planes, boats, and command cars. This quickly resulted in the conversion of factories into those for war production. Examples include the conversion of a maker of mechanical pencils to one for bomb parts, a bedspread manufacturer to mosquito netting, and a soft-drink company into a company that filled shells with explosives instead of on that filled bottles with liquid. Expansion of shipyards and defense plants rapidly increased. An industrialist by the name of Henry J. Kaiser built seven enormous shipyards, which produced cargo carriers, tankers, troop transports, and baby aircraft carriers at an astonishing rate.
Laborers were equally as important, for they made up these manufacturing companies. Despite the draft nearly 18 million workers were laboring in war industries. This was 3 times as many as in 1941. More than 6 million of these new workers were women. At first, war industries were hesitant to hire women because they believed they lacked the necessary stamina for factory work but after women proved themselves, employers could not hire enough of them, especially since women made only about 60 percent as much as men who did the same jobs. Defense plants also hired more than 2 million minority workers during the war. Like women they faced strong prejudice in the beginning. Before the war began, 75 percent of defense contractors simply refused to hire hire African Americans while the other 15 percent employed them in only menial jobs.
5. Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD)
The Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) was created by Roosevelt to bring scientists into the war effort. The OSRD improved radar and sonar, encouraged the use of pesticides to fight insects, and pushed the development of "miracle drugs" such as penicillin. As a result of these technologies for detecting submarines underwater improved, U.S. soldiers were probably the first in history to be relatively free from body lice, and the "miracle drugs" saved countless lives on and off the battlefield. Although these were not even close to the most significant achievement. The most significant achievement of the OSRD was the development of the atomic bomb. After Albert Einstein warned Roosevelt of the Germans being able to successfully split uranium atoms, Roosevelt created the Advisory Committee on Uranium to study the discovery. The code name for the project to build the atomic bomb became known as the Manhattan Project.
6. Entertainment industry
After Pearl Harbor, Hollywood began making war-orientated films, which obviously contained a out of propaganda. Heroic movies glorified America's new wartime ally, the U.S.S.R. They also made films, which stirred up hatred against the Nazis. This helped to energize people to join the war effort. There was a downfall to these propaganda and war themed movies as the war continued on. Many people grew tired of them. Hollywood responded by creating musicals, romances, and other escapist fares to take film goers away from the grim realities of war, even if it was only for an hour or two.
7. Office of Price Administration (OPA)
With war production increasing and fewer consumer products becoming available for purchase, there was and increasing demand for a limited amount of supplies. It only seemed logical that the prices would likely shoot upwards. Roosevelt responded to this threat by creating the Office of Price Administration (OPA). The OPA fought against inflation by freezing prices on most goods. Congress went on to raise income tax rates and extended the tax to millions of people who had never paid it before. These higher taxes reduced consumer demand on limited goods by leaving workers with less to spend. On top of this the government encouraged Americans to spend their extra money on war bonds. this resulted in inflation reaming below 30 percent.
8. War Production Board (WPB)
The War Production Board (WPB) assumed the responsibility of providing the armed forces and war industries with resources needed to win the war. The WPB decided which companies would convert from peacetime to wartime production and divided up raw materials to key industries. In addition the WPB also organized drives to collect scrap iron, tin cans, paper, rags, and even cooking fat for recycling into war goods.
9. Rationing
The OPA also set up a system of establishing fixed allotments of goods deemed essential for the military, or better known as rationing. Under this system households received ration books with coupons to be used for buying these scarce goods (meat, shoes, sugar, coffee, and gasoline). Gas rationing was especially hard on those who lived in western regions because driving was the only way to get around in this area. Eleanor Roosevelt sympathized with their complaints. Most people accepted rationing as their contribution to the war effort. Some workers carpooled or rode their bicycles. Families coped with shortages of almost everything. As usual there were those who hoarded scarce goods or purchased them through the "black market" where rationed goods could be bought illegally without a coupon at inflated prices.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Japan and U.S. Relations in 1941
Japan and U.S. Relations in 1941
Document A
- Vice-Chief of Staff Tsukada Isao believes that if the Japanese continue to move Southward then Italy and Germany can defeat Britain
- With the Axis powers conquering England they could probably eventually take China and the U.S.S.R
- The taking of the South would cause a deficit in American sources of strategic materials
- If England falls then American should reconsider its position
Document B
- Roosevelt, Hull, and Welles are trying to deal with the situation in the Pacific
- They find Tojo circles them from all sides
- Roosevelt, Hull, and Welles are confused as to what to do
- Tojo is depicted negatively with his exaggeratedly small size
Document C
- Japanese ambassadors are trying extremely hard to get the United States to agree with Japan
- The U.S. comes up with a different proposal and endured great sacrifices to preserve peace in the Pacific
- Japanese want to break off the negotiations but don't want the U.S. to know this
- Instead the Japanese insist they have been peaceful all along but the U.S. is being unbendable, making it impossible for the Japanese to negotiate
Document D
- The Japanese are successful and powerful (invaded Mancguris, etc.) but because of this they have great responsibilities from now on
- They must stay powerful and to do so must bring their military and government closer together
- Together Japan believes it will be victorious if its efforts to reach its aims pays off
Document E
- Japan purposely attacked Pearl Harbor and took America by surprise
- Before the U.S. had peaceful relationships with Japan according to FDR
- They are try to maintain peace but it is useless to continue peace negotiations which were supposed to prevent attacks or war
- The Japanese lied by saying they intended peace and gave the the U.S. false statements since it obviously took a lot of intended planning to carry out the attack on Pearl Harbor
- FDR wants war between the U.S. and Japan
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
America Moves Toward War
1. What did the 1939 Neutrality Act allow?
The 1939 Neutrality Act allowed warring nations to buy U.S. arms as long as they paid cash and transported them in their own ships.
2. Who were the Axis powers?
The Axis powers were Germany, Italy, and Japan. They signed a mutual defense treaty called the Tripartite Pact.
3. What did the Lend-Lease Act do?
The Lend-Lease Act was intended to help any country, whose defense was vital to the U.S., by lending or leasing arms and other supplies to them. Instead with the idea that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, Roosevelt decided to help the U.S.S.R. and Stalin when Hitler decided to attack them.
4. What pledges were contained in the Atlantic Charter?
Britain and the United States pledged in the Atlantic Charter for collective security, disarmament, self-determination, economic cooperation, and freedom of the seas.
5. Who were the Allies?
The Allies were the twenty-six nations who fought against the Axis powers.
6. What did the attack at Pearl Harbor do to the U.S. Pacific fleet?
The attack at Pearl Harbor killed 2,403 Americans and wounded 1,178 more. The raid either sunk or damaged 21 ships, which included 8 battleships. This was nearly the entire U.S. Pacific fleet. Also more than 300 aircrafts were damaged or destroyed.
7. Why did Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.?
Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. because the U.S. declared a war on Japan for bombing Pearl Harbor. Germany and Italy had to declare war because they signed the Tripartite Pact agreeing to help each other out in case of attack or war.
The 1939 Neutrality Act allowed warring nations to buy U.S. arms as long as they paid cash and transported them in their own ships.
2. Who were the Axis powers?
The Axis powers were Germany, Italy, and Japan. They signed a mutual defense treaty called the Tripartite Pact.
3. What did the Lend-Lease Act do?
The Lend-Lease Act was intended to help any country, whose defense was vital to the U.S., by lending or leasing arms and other supplies to them. Instead with the idea that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, Roosevelt decided to help the U.S.S.R. and Stalin when Hitler decided to attack them.
4. What pledges were contained in the Atlantic Charter?
Britain and the United States pledged in the Atlantic Charter for collective security, disarmament, self-determination, economic cooperation, and freedom of the seas.
5. Who were the Allies?
The Allies were the twenty-six nations who fought against the Axis powers.
6. What did the attack at Pearl Harbor do to the U.S. Pacific fleet?
The attack at Pearl Harbor killed 2,403 Americans and wounded 1,178 more. The raid either sunk or damaged 21 ships, which included 8 battleships. This was nearly the entire U.S. Pacific fleet. Also more than 300 aircrafts were damaged or destroyed.
7. Why did Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.?
Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. because the U.S. declared a war on Japan for bombing Pearl Harbor. Germany and Italy had to declare war because they signed the Tripartite Pact agreeing to help each other out in case of attack or war.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
"Isolationism" and FDR (1935 - 1941)
1. What were the goals of the isolationists? Why is "isolationism" a misleading term?
The goals of isolationists were to preserve peace and spread democracy and American values through example and not military means.
The term is misleading because it implies that the United States wanted to isolate itself completely from other nations. This was not the case because most isolationists supported foreign trade and certain bilateral agreements. Most of them also respected international laws that had been put into effect after WWI. Isolationists mainly wanted to stay out of war.
2. What did some isolationists feel that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia?
Some isolationists felt that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia because the United States was protected by the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean from the troubled countries. Also the U.S. had already formed friendly alliances with all other nations of the Western Hemisphere.
3. What were the purposes of the Nye Committee hearings?
The purpose of the Nye Committee was to investigate the reasons as why the U.S. entered WWI, in hopes of the public becoming aware of the reasons and keeping the U.S. out of trouble abroad. The Nye committee hearings uncovered that during WWI bankers were greedy and munitions-makers were highly unethical. They were accused of profiteering but there was no evidence to back this up. The hearings and newspaper reports still had their effect on the public because this caused Americans to be filled with anger and suspicion about big businesses and the banking industry. Inevitably the Nye Committee hearings increased the isolationist mood in the United States
4. List two impressions that the Nye Committee hearings created.
A) that American soldiers had died in WWI because corporations, who were looking to turn a profit, had convinced President Wilson to go to war in 1917
B) anger and suspicion about big business and the banking industry were already high due to the Depression and some Americans worried that powerful business interests would again drag the country into war
5. What were the purposes of the Neutrality Acts?
The purposes of the Neutrality Acts were to prohibit shipping and carrying of arms to warring nations (in order to maintain neutrality), establish a National Munitions Board (in order to bring the armament industry under control of the government), next it prohibited the sale of all war materials (including steel and oil), then it prohibited American ships from sailing in war zones and forbade Americans from traveling on the ships of belligerents.
"Cash and Carry" was the main part of the Neutrality Act of November 1939. This allowed the U.S. to continue trading with belligerents but required that the warring nations pay cash for what they wanted and that they carry the goods themselves.
8. Why did President Roosevelt freeze Japanese assets in the United States?
President Roosevelt froze Japanese assets in the United States because Japan took French Indochina into their occupation. President Roosevelt thought he could stop further aggression from Japan by prohibiting the sale of fuel and scrap metal to them, but this had the opposite effect and caused Japan to take over Indochina for military occupation and general maintenance of its empire.
9. What was the purpose of the America First Committee?
The purpose of the America First Committee was to keep the United States out of war.
The goals of isolationists were to preserve peace and spread democracy and American values through example and not military means.
The term is misleading because it implies that the United States wanted to isolate itself completely from other nations. This was not the case because most isolationists supported foreign trade and certain bilateral agreements. Most of them also respected international laws that had been put into effect after WWI. Isolationists mainly wanted to stay out of war.
2. What did some isolationists feel that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia?
Some isolationists felt that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia because the United States was protected by the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean from the troubled countries. Also the U.S. had already formed friendly alliances with all other nations of the Western Hemisphere.
3. What were the purposes of the Nye Committee hearings?
The purpose of the Nye Committee was to investigate the reasons as why the U.S. entered WWI, in hopes of the public becoming aware of the reasons and keeping the U.S. out of trouble abroad. The Nye committee hearings uncovered that during WWI bankers were greedy and munitions-makers were highly unethical. They were accused of profiteering but there was no evidence to back this up. The hearings and newspaper reports still had their effect on the public because this caused Americans to be filled with anger and suspicion about big businesses and the banking industry. Inevitably the Nye Committee hearings increased the isolationist mood in the United States
4. List two impressions that the Nye Committee hearings created.
A) that American soldiers had died in WWI because corporations, who were looking to turn a profit, had convinced President Wilson to go to war in 1917
B) anger and suspicion about big business and the banking industry were already high due to the Depression and some Americans worried that powerful business interests would again drag the country into war
5. What were the purposes of the Neutrality Acts?
The purposes of the Neutrality Acts were to prohibit shipping and carrying of arms to warring nations (in order to maintain neutrality), establish a National Munitions Board (in order to bring the armament industry under control of the government), next it prohibited the sale of all war materials (including steel and oil), then it prohibited American ships from sailing in war zones and forbade Americans from traveling on the ships of belligerents.
6. List two reasons that some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous.
They worried about an intrusive government and an overly powerful presidency because of Roosevelt's New Deal program in response to the crumbling economy.
"Cash and Carry" was the main part of the Neutrality Act of November 1939. This allowed the U.S. to continue trading with belligerents but required that the warring nations pay cash for what they wanted and that they carry the goods themselves.
8. Why did President Roosevelt freeze Japanese assets in the United States?
President Roosevelt froze Japanese assets in the United States because Japan took French Indochina into their occupation. President Roosevelt thought he could stop further aggression from Japan by prohibiting the sale of fuel and scrap metal to them, but this had the opposite effect and caused Japan to take over Indochina for military occupation and general maintenance of its empire.
9. What was the purpose of the America First Committee?
The purpose of the America First Committee was to keep the United States out of war.
Monday, February 22, 2010
World Events Set Stage for Isolationism
1. What was the Japanese reaction to the Treaty of Versailles? (pgs. 4 - 5)
During the Paris Peace Conference, Japan was debating over whether or not Japan should support the international system. Those who supported engaging with the national powers agreed as a means to obtaining natural resources and markets its growing economy needed but those who didn't support it mostly feared Japan wouldn't be treated fairly or with respect by the other countries, who were also competing for resources and economic markets in Asia. Japanese people had a reason to be worried. All over the world the Japanese experienced racist treatment and discrimination. For example, in the U.S. they were prevented from becoming naturalized citizens. The Japanese thought they could use the Paris Peace Conference as an opportunity to to address these issues of international racial discrimination. The Japanese public strongly agreed that an amendment demanding racial equality was needed. Meanwhile the U.S. had strong feelings against this idea, with some even viewing it as a threat to the 'white race'. Surprisingly, at the conference, majority voted for the amendment but it was later rejected by President Wilson. This caused the Japanese to become outraged and warned, that in the future, Japan might be less likely to put its faith in the principles of international cooperation. In the end, because the amendment did not pass, many Japanese turned away from the West and toward a more nationalist position for the coming years.
2. Read the pull-out box on page 4 entitled, "Japan Becomes a Great Power." Cite specific evidence Japan was becoming a strong power that rivaled European & American interests. And, why specifically was Japan threatened by U.S. actions?
3. Why was the Washington Naval Conference convened and what was accomplished? (pg. 6) (Note: Japan signs the agreement.)
The Washington Naval Conference was convened because Japan's growth as a naval power threatened U.S. interests. It sought to limit a naval arms race and to discuss issues related to the Pacific Ocean and the Far East. This was accomplished when both parties agreed to limit the size of their naval ships, placed a hold on building new battleships, made it illegal to use poison gases, and restricted the role of submarines in future wars. Also all the nations agreed to sign an agreement affirming China's sovereignty and establishing a a policy of open trade with the country. The nations also agreed to solve disputes by submitting them to a committee for resolution.
4. The Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact reelected two strong and widely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)
The two strong and widely held sentiments were the Americans' strong distaste for being dragged into another European war and policy-makers' resistance to the obligations of permanent alliances and wish to preserve the ability to act when and where they wanted.
5. Why did Hitler enjoy popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s? Give three reasons. (pgs. 9 - 10)
Japan voiced its intentions to invade China as a means of obtaining raw materials and increasing its power. Japan is an island nation so it depends a lot on foreign trade for raw materials and other supplies, especially for its rapidly growing population and industrial economy. Japan's growing economy was greatly crippled, when the Great Depression reduced foreign trade around the world. Because of this and continuous feelings of discrimination all over the world, Japan was increasingly interested in becoming an economically self-sufficient nation.
7. Compare the Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria. What did they accomplish?
The fire in Reichstag occurred soon after the election. Hitler blamed the fire on German communists, saying they were attempting to overthrow the government and start a civil war. This allowed Hitler to use the fire as an excuse to suspend the freedoms guaranteed by the German constitution, including freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom of assembly.
The explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria was in September of 1931. Japan blamed on the Chinese dissidents and called for their military to invade. The Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria both were successful being excuses to gain power. Hitler who put the blame on others and used the attacks as an excuse gained the power to rule, while the Japanese invaded Manchuria and gained its coal and iron ore reserves.
8. Why was the United States unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force? (pgs. 11 - 12)
The United States was unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force because the U.S. had drastically reduced the size of of its military since WWI. In 1932 the U.S. had only 244,900 troops compared to the 2,897,000 military personnel they had in 1918.
9. Describe the major similarities and differences among liberal democracy, fascism, and socialism. (pg. 8)
Liberal democracies have a constitution, with elected representatives whose decision making is regulated by a rule of law the emphasizes the rights and freedoms of individuals. Fascism is an authoritarian form of government which puts the economy under government control, and emphasizes the control of the state over the individual. Many found Fascism to be brutally repressive and morally repugnant. Socialism tried to create a classless society that would end the exploitation of workers. To do this they had to dismantle the capitalistic economic system by taking the means of production from the owners and placing them in the hands of the state.
During the Paris Peace Conference, Japan was debating over whether or not Japan should support the international system. Those who supported engaging with the national powers agreed as a means to obtaining natural resources and markets its growing economy needed but those who didn't support it mostly feared Japan wouldn't be treated fairly or with respect by the other countries, who were also competing for resources and economic markets in Asia. Japanese people had a reason to be worried. All over the world the Japanese experienced racist treatment and discrimination. For example, in the U.S. they were prevented from becoming naturalized citizens. The Japanese thought they could use the Paris Peace Conference as an opportunity to to address these issues of international racial discrimination. The Japanese public strongly agreed that an amendment demanding racial equality was needed. Meanwhile the U.S. had strong feelings against this idea, with some even viewing it as a threat to the 'white race'. Surprisingly, at the conference, majority voted for the amendment but it was later rejected by President Wilson. This caused the Japanese to become outraged and warned, that in the future, Japan might be less likely to put its faith in the principles of international cooperation. In the end, because the amendment did not pass, many Japanese turned away from the West and toward a more nationalist position for the coming years.
2. Read the pull-out box on page 4 entitled, "Japan Becomes a Great Power." Cite specific evidence Japan was becoming a strong power that rivaled European & American interests. And, why specifically was Japan threatened by U.S. actions?
Japan's economy was rapidly growing, while its political and military power were increasing steadily. This made Japan the fifth largest financial contributor to the proposed League of Nations. Japan becoming an economic and military power was recent yet rapid. Japan modelled its navy, army, banking system, and constitution on those of the countries located in the western hemisphere. Gross domestic product, manufacturing, and mining were all increasing at a rather rapid pace. Some people of Japan wanted the country to head towards a democratic future and warned against relying to much on the military, but others argued that the country would need to use military force to achieve its goals. Japan had also defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War, which caused it to gain access to parts of Manchuria.
The U.S. had an increasing presence in the Pacific. They had acquired Hawaii, the Philippines, and Guam. Japan was becoming threatened by the U.S. actions because of their growing presence, which had begun to pose a threat to Japan's own plans of expansion.
3. Why was the Washington Naval Conference convened and what was accomplished? (pg. 6) (Note: Japan signs the agreement.)
The Washington Naval Conference was convened because Japan's growth as a naval power threatened U.S. interests. It sought to limit a naval arms race and to discuss issues related to the Pacific Ocean and the Far East. This was accomplished when both parties agreed to limit the size of their naval ships, placed a hold on building new battleships, made it illegal to use poison gases, and restricted the role of submarines in future wars. Also all the nations agreed to sign an agreement affirming China's sovereignty and establishing a a policy of open trade with the country. The nations also agreed to solve disputes by submitting them to a committee for resolution.
4. The Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact reelected two strong and widely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)
The two strong and widely held sentiments were the Americans' strong distaste for being dragged into another European war and policy-makers' resistance to the obligations of permanent alliances and wish to preserve the ability to act when and where they wanted.
5. Why did Hitler enjoy popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s? Give three reasons. (pgs. 9 - 10)
Hitler enjoyed popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s because he improved the economic situation and reduced unemployment. He also restored national pride for Germans, who were still humiliated by the defeat of WWI and by how poor they had become.
6. Japan voiced its intentions to invade China for what two reasons? (pg. 10)Japan voiced its intentions to invade China as a means of obtaining raw materials and increasing its power. Japan is an island nation so it depends a lot on foreign trade for raw materials and other supplies, especially for its rapidly growing population and industrial economy. Japan's growing economy was greatly crippled, when the Great Depression reduced foreign trade around the world. Because of this and continuous feelings of discrimination all over the world, Japan was increasingly interested in becoming an economically self-sufficient nation.
7. Compare the Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria. What did they accomplish?
The fire in Reichstag occurred soon after the election. Hitler blamed the fire on German communists, saying they were attempting to overthrow the government and start a civil war. This allowed Hitler to use the fire as an excuse to suspend the freedoms guaranteed by the German constitution, including freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom of assembly.
The explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria was in September of 1931. Japan blamed on the Chinese dissidents and called for their military to invade. The Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria both were successful being excuses to gain power. Hitler who put the blame on others and used the attacks as an excuse gained the power to rule, while the Japanese invaded Manchuria and gained its coal and iron ore reserves.
8. Why was the United States unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force? (pgs. 11 - 12)
The United States was unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force because the U.S. had drastically reduced the size of of its military since WWI. In 1932 the U.S. had only 244,900 troops compared to the 2,897,000 military personnel they had in 1918.
9. Describe the major similarities and differences among liberal democracy, fascism, and socialism. (pg. 8)
Liberal democracies have a constitution, with elected representatives whose decision making is regulated by a rule of law the emphasizes the rights and freedoms of individuals. Fascism is an authoritarian form of government which puts the economy under government control, and emphasizes the control of the state over the individual. Many found Fascism to be brutally repressive and morally repugnant. Socialism tried to create a classless society that would end the exploitation of workers. To do this they had to dismantle the capitalistic economic system by taking the means of production from the owners and placing them in the hands of the state.
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