History Chapter 22 Flashcards

Final Solution and the Holocaust

• The Final Solution was Adolf Hitler's plan aimed at the mass extermination of targeted groups deemed undesirable.
• The Holocaust refers specifically to the systematic extermination of millions of Jews and others in Nazi death camps.

World War II Impact on the U.S.

• During World War II, unemployment in the United States declined significantly, leading to increased industrial production.
• Government income taxes rose as the nation financed its war efforts.
• The U.S. maintained a policy of neutrality as fascism surged in Europe and Asia during the 1930s.

Social Issues and Racial Tension

• The Zoot Suit riots of 1943 underscored the limits of racial tolerance in American society.
• The Double V campaign emerged as a movement advocating for the rights of Black Americans while simultaneously fighting against fascism abroad.
• Government propaganda and war films dehumanized the Japanese, portraying them as bestial and subhuman.

Labor and Women's Roles

• The Bracero program, initiated in 1942, permitted experienced Mexican agricultural workers to enter the U.S. under labor contracts but denied them citizenship rights.
• One-third of workers in West Coast aircraft manufacturing and shipbuilding during the war were women, who achieved temporary gains in the workforce.

Military and Political Actions

• The Office of War Information utilized media outlets, including radio, film, and press, to convey ideological meanings related to the war.
• Executive Order 9066 sanctioned the internment of Japanese Americans, highlighting significant racial policies during the war.
• D-Day refers to the Allied invasion of Europe, specifically at Normandy.

Economic Measures

• The Lend-Lease Act authorized the U.S. to send military aid to countries fighting against Germany and Japan.
• The Cash and Carry policy allowed Great Britain to procure U.S. arms on a restricted basis.
• Rationing of consumer goods, such as gasoline, became a common experience for Americans during the war.

Cultural and Ideological Campaigns

• President Roosevelt's Four Freedoms articulated the Allies' war aims but did not include Freedom of Enterprise.
• The Four Freedoms show toured the U.S. to spur public investment in war bonds.
• The GI Bill of Rights provided educational scholarships for returning veterans.

Historical Context

• The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, is famously referred to as a date that will live in infamy, marking the U.S. entry into World War II.
• Black internationalism during the war highlighted the interconnected struggles of Black Americans and people of color around the globe.
• Rosie the Riveter is an iconic American symbol representing female industrial laborers during World War II.