Why did the US fight WWII and

what were its effects?

What was US Foreign Policy Prior to WWII?

KNOW THIS ORDER.

• Washington Isolationism ---> Monroe Doctrine ----> Roosevelt Corollary ---> Imperialism
---> Neutrality before WWI ----> WWI------>Neutrality----->WWII------> Containment

• THE 1920's NEUTRALITY MIXED an attempt to limit war and weapons,

here are two vocabulary words which emphasize this idea, The Washington Naval
Conference of 1921-22 and the Kellogg-Briand Pact . The deals with Europe to avoid
war and lower arms and create open free seas would eventually fail. See these two deals
as weak US attempts to be a world leader after rejecting the League of Nations. With no
real world organization to enforce the provisions of the Naval Conference and Kellogg Pact,
these deals aren't worth the paper they are written on.

• During the 1930’s, Hitler took power in Germany and began his campaign of expansion and
aggression. Europe dealt with him with a policy of appeasement. The U.S. passed a
series of laws called the Neutrality Acts. Remembering the horrors of WWI and the lack
of a lesson learned the US adopted this policy and intended on staying out of any European
conflicts.

EUROPEAN Appeasement Cartoon.

Dr. Suess WWII CARTOONS

How does the cartoonist view appeasement as a policy?

2. Neutrality Cartoon A.
3. Neutrality Cartoon B.

• By 1941, Hitler occupied almost all of Europe except England. (Map) England, an American
ally, represented the last beacon of hope against Hitler’s plan of continental domination.
The same year Congress passed the Lend n’ Lease Act. This law aided England with
massive amounts of military aid to fight off Germany. America’s involvement began to
look inevitable. All that was needed was a cataclysmic event.
Why did the US enter WWII?

• December 7, 1941. Pearl Harbor. (Image bank) Japan, acting pre-emptively launched
a surprise attack on the US base in Hawaii. Destroying practically the entire fleet of US
Navy ships and killing thousands of soldiers, the event marked US entry into the war. The
Japanese it is claimed were attacking to protect their own interests including resources in
the Pacific such as oil. (Conspiracy link – Did FDR know about Pearl Harbor)

What are the essentials vocabulary of WWII?

1. The Allies: The 3 main ones: The US, England and the Soviet Union. (Yes the commies)
2. The Axis Powers: Germany, Italy and Japan
3. The Manhattan Project: The secret program in the US to build the A-bomb.
4. D-Day (Special Exhibit: Recordings and Video) The invasion of Europe by Allied forces in
Normandy, France – 1944. This serves as the beginning of the Allied (American) assault
into Europe by way of France. This will be the beginning of the end for the Axis Powers,
with the Germans bogged down in the Soviet Union, the Americans could begin to box
them in by pushing Eastward towards Berlin.

5. Yalta Conference: At the end of the war, the

Allies met in Yalta to discuss their war aims. FDR and Stalin made a deal, in exchange for
the Soviets support against defeating Japan, FDR would allow Stalin to occupy Eastern
Europe. Stalin promised to allow these satellite nations to hold democratic election in the
future. (Ha-ha) ON THE REGENTS YALTA IS SAID TO BE THE BEGINNING OF THE COLD
 WAR. IF THE COLD WAR IS A CHESS GAME, THEN YALTA IS WHERE THE CHESS PIECES
ARE PUT ON THE BOARD AND THE GAME BEGINS!!! Be Stalin at Yalta- Streaming Video
Discussion of Yalta
6. The A-Bomb decision: (Listen to the speech here) Most historians believe that the
primary reason Truman dropped the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was to end the war
early, force a Japanese surrender and spare the lives of hundred of thousands of US
soldiers lives. An invasion, Truman argued was too costly. There may be other reasons.
Feel free to judge the empirical data. Perhaps Truman wanted to “scare the Soviets” and
thrust the US into a position of world superpower, the only nation with the bomb.

Truman A-Bomb Movie made for this class on Teacher tube.

7. The Holocaust . While not on the "test", we should all be aware of the massive genocide that
took place in Hitlers Germany and occupied territories. Stats

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Describe the Home front during WWI

• Many of the ideas of WWI Home front are in place
• Another Great Migration: African Americans continue to move north for job in the service
(and industrial) sectors due to job opening by GIs at war.

• Rosie the Riveter – Womyn go Diesel (PART II)

• Government regulation of business – rationing – price controls
• Korematsu vs. United States (1944):

During times of crisis, rights may be limited.

Japanese Americans are put into work camps because of fear they may aid Japan.

o GI Bill:
Passed for soldiers returning home, it gave massive amount of college aid to send
GI’s into college.

• Baby Boom: Want

to know why we face a Social Security crisis now. Well the Baby Boomers are reaching
retirement. After WWII lots of babies were born. This generation would be the largest of
its kind, with families averaging 4 to 5 kids! Today its 1.5.

• SUBURBANIZATION. With the millions of returning soldiers and new families, the
government will invest in a highway system, allowing for urban dwellers to move to what is
sold as "the American Dream". Historians refer to this as "white flight", perhaps due to
the Great Migration, families are sold on the idea that these suburban communities will be
insulated from the problems of the big cities. Listen to "Little Boxes"
WWII OUTCOMES/EFFECTS

I.

US is now a world leader. Forming the United Nations in NYC, the world will now have its
league of nations. The UN is a world body of all nations which seeks resolution and avoidance of
wars. Tackling drugs, money, child abuse, poverty, the environment, the UN seeks to solve many
of the Worlds Ills. Two things, one is the US along with four other nations (China, England, Russia
and China) have veto power to kill any action, this prevents action. The UN can threaten nations
national sovereignty, meaning no one wants to give its power to the UN including the US. There
is also little enforcement, no real military, meaning nations must commit their own forces to the
UN and allow the UN to control their forces. The UN has taken two direct actions in its history,
both with massive US support.

• - Korea in the 1950's. The US used its influence and the fact the Soviets were boycotting
the UN over Communist China not being recognized to send forces to defend S. Korea from
communist N. Korea.
• The US also pushed through a resolution to fight Sadaam Hussein when he invaded Kuwait
in the early 1990s.
2.Nuremberg Trials.

The US oversaw the conviction of Nazi leaders. The big idea is that soldiers and military leaders
are responsible for their actions and cannot blame their leaders.

3. Geneva Convention (Treaty)

This treaty dictates how Prisoners of War will be treated. They may not be tortured or humiliated
and may be held until the conflict is over. Think about the war on terrorism, what problems arise?

WWII ASSIGNMENT WORDS

(3/25/10)

231. Neutrality Acts of 1930's

233. Lend n’ Lease Act
234. Allied Powers
235. Axis Powers
236. Pearl Harbor
237. D-Day
238. Great Migration II
239. GI Bill
240. Korematsu v U.S.
241. Manhattan Project
242. Truman's Decision to Drop Bomb
243. Yalta
244. Baby Boom
245. United Nations
246. Nuremberg Trials
247. Geneva Convention
248. Cold War
249. 22nd amendment
250. suburbanization

Assessment Questions

1. Identify the Foreign Policy the US adopted in the 1920's and 1930's prior to WWII entry?
2. How did the US react to the aggression of Hitler in the 1930’s? And Europe?
3. How did the U.S. try to have it both ways in reference to trying to help England?
4. How did Pearl Harbor make it easier for FDR to bring America into war?
5. Explain this statement: War makes strange bedfellows.
6. Why did Truman drop the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
7. How did WII affect blacks and womyn?
8. In what way did the US government support GI’s?
9. Explain the rational for the Korematsu decision.
10. What effect did the end of the war have on population growth?
11. How did the Cold War begin at YALTA?