World War II Continued. Fighting a War on Two Fronts American forces would face the challenge of...
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Transcript of World War II Continued. Fighting a War on Two Fronts American forces would face the challenge of...
World War II Continued
Fighting a War on Two Fronts• American forces would face the
challenge of fighting a war with Japan in the Pacific theater and assisting the Allies fighting against fascism in the European theater.
European Theatre
• British RAF fights off potential Nazi invasion
• U.S. attacked Axis forces in North Africa
• After freeing Africa, Allied forces begin moving up Italy, Italians strip Mussolini of power in 1943
• Russian winter and Red Army had slowed Nazis
Pacific Theatre• Doolittle’s Raid – US bomb Tokyo
–Could attack Japan at any time
–Huge morale boost for Americans
• Japan conquers the Philippines
–General MacArthur – “I shall return”
• Bataan Death March
–Japanese move American prisoners
–60 mile forced march
–Estimated 6,000 die or are executed
• Created 19 million jobs to help pull US out of Great Depression
• War Production Board – govt set up production priorities and goals
•Mobilization – The build-up of military and military materials
Impact on the U.S. Economy
Conserving Scarce
Resources
• Government rationed goods such as sugar, milk, cheese, eggs, coffee, meat , gasoline and canned goods
• Households were given a book of ration coupons each month. When they used all their coupons, they could buy no more items that month.
Helping at Home• Victory gardens – Private garden to reduce
pressure on food supply• High enlistment numbers
– 16 million serve• Flying Tigers – American volunteers fighting
the Japanese before the US entered the war• Office of War Information
– Connection between war front and civilians; Created various forms of propaganda to help war effort
Contribution of Minorities
• African Americans – Can fight but segregated
– Tuskegee Airmen
– Benjamin O. Davis
• Native Americans – Navajo Code Talkers
• Executive Order 8802 – outlaws discrimination in hiring in the workplace
• Bracero Program – 200,000 Mexicans immigrated to SW to work on farms
The Contribution of Women
• On the home front, 2.5 million worked in factories, many times in jobs traditionally performed by men.
• Women Ordinance Workers
Women’s Army Corp – Women enlisted in non-combat positions
Japanese Internment
• 120,000 people (including 77,000 US citizens) rounded up for the sake of national security
•Executive Order 9066 – People of Japanese descent were relocated to internment camps
•Korematsu v. US upheld the internment•1988 – Pres. Reagan signs bill apologizing and issues $1.6 billion in reparations to those interned
Roosevelt’s Presidency• FDR becomes the 1st (and only) president
ever to serve more than two terms
• As Germany is conquering Europe, FDR wins Election of 1940 promising no involvement in foreign wars
• With the war’s end in sight, FDR wins a 4th term in 1944, but dies 3 months in
• 22nd Amendment–Term Limits for President
Major Turning Points Pacific Theater
• Battle of Midway-the Americans launched a surprise attack on the Japanese fleet, destroying 4 aircraft carriers and handing Japan their first major defeat (1942).
European Theater
• Battle of Stalingrad-the Soviets turned the tide against Nazis (1943)
• AND…
June 6, 1944 – D-DayInvasion of Normandy• Allies send waves of troops
against heavy resistance
• 1st – capture the northern coast of France
• Then free France and move East into Germany
U.S. Leaders
Admiral Chester
Nimitz
General Dwight Eisenhower – Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe
General George MacArthur – Supreme Commander of
US Forces in the Pacific
General Omar Bradley & General George Patton
D-Day to V-E Day• Americans and British moving in
from West
• Soviet Union moving in from East
• Soviets arrive and conquer Berlin before Americans
• Nazis surrender – May 8,1945
Midway to V-J Day
• U.S. practices island hopping
• Japanese using Kamikaze attacks
• Manhattan Project – top secret development of atomic bomb
• In August of 1945, President Truman decides to use the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• Japan surrendered on August 14th, 1945
Yalta Conference• Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin
discuss post-war plans
• Temporary division of Germany into 4 zones – USA, G.B., USSR & France
• Set up United Nations – International organization to promote world peace, security and economic development
Nuremberg Trials• Nazi and Japanese leaders put on
trial for crimes against humanity and war crimes
• 12 of 24 sentenced to death; others sent to prison
• Principle: individuals are responsible for their own actions, even in times of war
• Could not escape punishment for “following orders”