Causes of WWII and Stalin's USSR

In WWII, the government agreed to pay for production costs and a 10% profit for businesses. This ensured enough supplies were produced for the war effort.

The US dramatically increased production in WWII, outproducing the Axis powers combined. This ensured America had the resources to fight the war and aid its allies.

By 1944, unemployment in the US fell to only 1.2%. This was due to the massive demand for labor in war industries.

The 'Great Migration' saw African Americans move from the South to northern cities for factory jobs. Women and minorities were also hired in large numbers during the war.

Rosie the Riveter was a symbol for women working in factories during WWII, challenging traditional gender roles. She inspired women to take on industrial jobs.

Propaganda was vital in WWII for maintaining public support, ensuring efficient use of resources, and financing the war effort.

The US national debt increased from $42 billion in 1939 to $269 billion in 1945. This was due to war spending.

To finance the war, the US government raised taxes and encouraged citizens to buy war bonds. These bonds were investments that helped fund the war effort.

Rationing is the process of limiting the amount of resources used, often during times of scarcity.

Rationing, coupon books, and victory gardens were essential in WWII to conserve resources and redirect them towards the war effort. It was a way to support the war effort on the home front.

A program that recruited Mexican workers to work on farms in the American Southwest.

Racial tension in the US during World War II, fueled by resentment towards zoot suits and their heavy fabric, seen as a waste of resources during wartime rationing.

This executive order banned discrimination based on race in government jobs.

A slogan used to encourage African Americans to fight against fascism abroad while also fighting racism at home in the United States.

Hitler conquered these countries in the spring of 1940, marking a rapid expansion of German power.

This event involved the rescue of 380,000 British and French troops from Dunkirk, France, as German forces approached.

The fall of France to Germany in 1940 was a critical turning point in World War II. It showed Germany's superior military capabilities.

Before invading Britain by land, Hitler attempted to destroy the British Royal Air Force (RAF) in this fierce aerial battle.

Allied forces demonstrated more aggressive tactics after George Patton took command, leading to a shift in the war's momentum.

The German army stationed in North Africa surrendered to Allied forces in May 1943, marking a significant turning point in the Mediterranean theatre.

Along with Pearl Harbor, Japan attacked the Philippines in December 1941, aiming to establish a foothold in Southeast Asia and secure vital resources.

News of the Bataan Death March, a brutal forced march of American and Filipino prisoners of war, ignited widespread anger and anti-Japanese sentiment in the United States, fueling the desire for retribution.

The Doolittle Raid, a surprise bombing mission on Tokyo, aimed to boost American morale and demonstrate their ability to strike back, thereby sending a message of defiance to Japan.

The Battle of Coral Sea was fought over the control of vital shipping lanes and strategic islands near Australia, marking a crucial turning point in the Pacific War.

The US was able to successfully trap the Japanese at the Battle of Midway by deciphering their secret military code, allowing them to anticipate Japanese movements and gain a decisive advantage.

The Battle of Midway marked a turning point as Japan suffered heavy losses, depleting its naval resources and shifting the balance of power in the Pacific, putting them on the defensive.

General George S. Patton commanded the reinforcements that arrived to save the Allied forces during the Battle of the Bulge.

By the end of World War II, Germany was trapped between two powerful Allied armies, facing defeat from both the east and the west.

Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) is celebrated on May 8, 1945, marking the day Germany surrendered to the Allies.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt passed away in April of 1945.

Island hopping refers to the strategy employed by the Allies in the Pacific theater during World War II. This involved capturing key islands controlled by the Japanese while bypassing others, strategically advancing towards the mainland.

Kamikaze pilots were Japanese pilots who deliberately crashed their planes into American ships and troops, aiming to inflict as much damage and casualties as possible.

Iwo Jima and Okinawa were strategically significant islands in the Pacific during World War II. Iwo Jima was vital for bombing Tokyo, while Okinawa served as a staging ground for the invasion of mainland Japan.

US casualties significantly increased as the battles moved closer to Japan. This was due to the fierce Japanese resistance and the challenging terrain.

President Truman made the decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan to end the war quickly and save American lives. This decision was influenced by the escalating casualties during the Pacific campaign.

Victory in Japan Day (VJ-Day) marks the day Japan surrendered to the Allies, ending World War II. It is celebrated on August 15, 1945.

The Manhattan Project was a top-secret research program initiated in 1942 by President FDR, aiming to develop the world's first nuclear weapon.

Key figures involved in the Manhattan Project included Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and Leslie Groves. Einstein provided the theoretical understanding, Oppenheimer led the scientific team, and Groves oversaw the project's military aspects.

The Holocaust was a systematic effort by Nazi Germany to exterminate the Jewish race during World War II. It involved the persecution, imprisonment, and mass murder of millions of Jews.

Hitler aimed to cleanse Germany of what he considered impure races. In his effort to achieve this goal, he caused the death of approximately 6 million Jews and an additional 6 million individuals from other marginalized groups in Europe.

The Great Depression, a global economic downturn, created desperate situations for many countries, leading to political instability and a search for solutions.

People turned to totalitarian regimes, or dictatorships, seeking strong leadership and solutions to their economic problems. These leaders promised stability and order but often resorted to repressive measures.

Dictatorships, focused on power and control, destabilized global political and economic systems. They often used force and manipulation to suppress dissent and maintain their grip on power.

Joseph Stalin, a ruthless leader, came to power following the death of Vladimir Lenin, and his focus was on rapidly modernizing the USSR, regardless of the cost.

Stalin aimed to transform the Soviet Union into a powerful industrial nation, pushing for rapid industrialization, even if it meant sacrificing lives and individual freedoms.

Stalin ruthlessly dealt with any opposition to his policies, often sending dissenters to harsh prison camps in Siberia or summarily executing them in his efforts to maintain control and progress his agenda.

Stalin's brutal actions and the USSR's territorial expansion created mistrust and fear among neighboring nations, leading to suspicion and tension.

Fascism, a right-wing ideology in Italy, prioritized the needs of the state above individual rights and freedoms. This system favored centralized authority and a strong leader.

Benito Mussolini, the Italian fascist leader, took control of Italy at the request of the King in 1922, gaining power through a combination of political maneuvering and the public's desire for order after the chaos of the Great Depression.

The Great Depression severely impacted Italy's economic stability, leading to social unrest and political turmoil, causing a breakdown in the rule of law and a sense of chaos.

Mussolini's policies had positive and negative effects: He restored order, provided jobs through nationalized industries, but also limited rights, suppressing the press and eliminating opposition political parties.

Germany's economic struggles during the Great Depression were further worsened by its obligation to pay heavy reparations stipulated by the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I. This created a sense of injustice and economic hardship for the German people.

A coup is a forceful attempt to overthrow a government, often involving a seizure of power by a group or individual, usually through military force or political manipulation.

In his book 'Mein Kampf', Hitler outlined his extreme nationalist ideology, blaming Germany's problems on the perceived injustices of the Treaty of Versailles and on the Jewish people, setting the stage for his expansionist agenda and hatred against Jews.

Hitler rose to power as the leader of the Nazi Party, exploiting Germany's economic and political vulnerabilities, and eventually became Chancellor in 1933. He gained political support by playing on nationalistic sentiments and promising economic recovery.

After gaining power, Hitler sought to consolidate his authority by acquiring more power from the German parliament, claiming it was needed to restore German pride and fix the economy, but in reality, this allowed him to tighten his grip and control.

Hitler's most popular policies included ignoring the Treaty of Versailles by building up the military, implementing anti-Jewish laws that discriminated against the Jewish population, and putting Germans back to work through public works projects, appealing to nationalistic sentiments and providing a sense of economic security.

Militarism was a political ideology in Japan that emphasized the importance of military strength and the dominance of military leaders in policymaking. It was also linked to the Japanese government's expansionist ambitions.

Hideki Tojo's rise to power was driven by popular support for militaristic solutions to Japan's economic problems. The Japanese public supported aggressive military actions to acquire natural resources to boost the economy.

In 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria, a region in eastern China, marking the start of its expansionist policy. This aggression sent a clear signal about Japan's imperial ambitions.

By the late 1930s, Japan's expansionist ambitions were far from satiated. They continued to seek further territorial gains in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, including islands under US protection, leading to growing tensions between Japan and the United States.