US History Chapter 12 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are cost-plus contracts?

Payments for government projects

Agreements to pay companies based on revenues

Contracts without oversight

Government agrees to pay whatever it costs to make a product plus a guaranteed percentage of the costs as profit (correct)

Who were the Tuskegee Airmen?

An African American unit, the 99th Pursuit Squadron, that played an important role during the Battle of Anzio.

What does GIs stand for?

Government Issues

What was the Women's Army Corps?

The first regular Army corps for women. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Liberty ship?

A basic cargo ship used during the war. Signup and view all the answers

What did 'Double V' refer to?

A campaign for victory against Hitler's racism and racism at home. Signup and view all the answers

What type of equipment was the automobile industry mass-producing for the military?

Military equipment. Signup and view all the answers

What was introduced after France surrendered to Germany in June 1940?

Selective Service and Training Act. Signup and view all the answers

During WW2, women were enlisted for combat roles.

False Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Office of War Mobilization established in 1943?

To settle arguments between different agencies concerning production of goods for the war. Signup and view all the answers

What was the convoy system?

Cargo ships traveled in groups and were escorted by navy warships. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Battle of Stalingrad?

It was a turning point in the war that put the Germans on the defensive. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Battle of Midway?

A turning point in the war that stopped the Japanese advance in the Pacific. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Bataan Death March?

When 78,000 prisoners of war were forced to march 65 miles to a Japanese prison camp. Signup and view all the answers

What were B-25 bombers used for?

They were used to carry out American bombing raids on Japan. Signup and view all the answers

Which country took pressure off the Soviet Union by opening a second front?

Britain and American troops attacked Germany from the west. Signup and view all the answers

Who commanded the American invasion of North Africa?

General George Patton. Signup and view all the answers

What did decoded Japanese messages alert the U.S. about in June 1942?

The Japanese attack on Midway. Signup and view all the answers

What technology helped the Allies gain an advantage during the Battle of the Atlantic?

Radar. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Fair Employment Practices Commission?

The first civil rights agency established by the federal government since the Reconstruction era. Signup and view all the answers

What were victory gardens used for?

To produce more food for the war effort. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Japanese American Citizens League do?

Tried to help Japanese Americans who had lost property during the relocation. Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Office of Price Administration?

Created to stabilize both wages and prices. Signup and view all the answers

'Rosie the Riveter' is a symbol of what?

The campaign to hire women during the wartime labor shortage. Signup and view all the answers

What was a 'victory suit'?

A suit men wore to save fabric for the war. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Office of Price Administration begin rationing?

To make sure enough consumer products were available for military use. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Bracero Program?

A program to help farmers in the Southwest overcome the labor shortage. Signup and view all the answers

What were internment camps?

Camps where Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated during WWII. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term the Sunbelt refer to?

A new industrial region created by the growth of Southern California and cities in the Deep South. Signup and view all the answers

What is a DUKW?

An amphibious tractor invented to rescue people in Florida swamps. Signup and view all the answers

What were kamikaze attacks?

When Japanese pilots deliberately crashed their planes into American ships. Signup and view all the answers

What is an amphtrac?

An amphibious truck. Signup and view all the answers

What was Operation Overload?

The code name for the invasion of France. Signup and view all the answers

What does D-Day refer to?

The day of the invasion of France. Signup and view all the answers

What does Anzio refer to?

The site where the Allies took five months to break through German lines. Signup and view all the answers

What part of America’s plan for defeating Japan involved recapturing the Philippines?

General MacArthur's troops planned to advance on Guadalcanal and Rabaul. Signup and view all the answers

What resulted from the bombing campaign against Germany?

The bombing destroyed many aircraft factories and caused an oil shortage. Signup and view all the answers

What happened on June 6, 1944?

Nearly 7000 ships carrying more than 100,000 soldiers set sail for Normandy. Signup and view all the answers

Where did General MacArthur's campaign in the southwest Pacific begin?

With the invasion of Guadalcanal. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Manhattan Project?

The code name for the American program to build an atomic bomb. Signup and view all the answers

Where did the International Military Tribunal try German leaders for war crimes?

Nuremberg. Signup and view all the answers

What are hedgerows?

Dirt walls, several feet thick, covered in shrubbery surrounding many fields in Normandy. Signup and view all the answers

What is V-E Day?

The day after the unconditional surrender by Germany on May 7, 1945. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'Little Boy'?

The code name for the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Signup and view all the answers

What was established in 1944 to discuss a new international organization?

The United Nations. Signup and view all the answers

Where was the Germans' goal in the Battle of the Bulge?

Antwerp, Belgium. Signup and view all the answers

Where did American military planners choose to invade to prepare for an invasion of Japan?

Okinawa. Signup and view all the answers

What does V-J Day refer to?

The day the Japanese Emperor ordered his government to surrender on August 15, 1945. Signup and view all the answers

Where did American military planners decide to invade so B-29s could be refueled?

Iwo Jima. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Military Concepts and Entities

Cost-plus contracts: Governments cover production costs plus profit, incentivizing efficient manufacturing.
Tuskegee Airmen: Notable African American aviation unit in WW2, played a crucial role in the Battle of Anzio.
GIs: Nickname for American soldiers, derived from "Government Issue" labels on their gear.
Women's Army Corps: Established as the first regular Army corps dedicated exclusively to women.
Liberty Ship: Standard cargo vessel used during WW2 to support war logistics.

"Double V" Campaign: Advocated by the Pittsburgh Courier to combat racism both abroad and domestically, urging African Americans to join the war effort for dual victory.
Fair Employment Practices Commission: First federal civil rights agency since Reconstruction, aimed at addressing discrimination in wartime employment.
Victory Gardens: Homegrown gardens established to increase food production and support war efforts.
Japanese American Citizens League: Worked to aid Japanese Americans who lost property due to wartime relocation.

Military Strategies and Developments

Selective Service and Training Act: Introduced after France's fall in 1940, aimed at drafting military personnel.
Convoy system: Strategy where cargo ships traveled in groups with naval escorts, enhancing safety against enemy attacks.
B-25 bombers: Long-range bombers used in the first American air raid on Japan on April 18, 1942.
Operation Overlord: Code name for the extensive Allied invasion of France on D-Day.
Kamikaze attacks: Japanese tactic where pilots intentionally crashed planes into enemy ships.

Major Battles and Events

Battle of Stalingrad: Significant turning point that shifted the war momentum against Germany.
Battle of Midway: Landmark battle that halted Japanese advancement in the Pacific theater.
Bataan Death March: Forced march of 78,000 POWs over 65 miles to a Japanese camp, emblematic of wartime brutality.
Normandy Invasion: Huge Allied offensive on June 6, 1944, involving approximately 100,000 troops crossing the English Channel.

Technological and Economic Aspects

Office of War Mobilization: Established in 1943 to streamline production efforts during the war by mediating agency disputes.
Oil shortage: Devastating bombing campaigns led to a critical reduction in German oil supply, affecting their military capabilities.
Manhattan Project: Secret U.S. initiative to develop the atomic bomb, culminating in its use against Japan.

Aftermath and Historical Significance

Nuremberg Trials: Post-war tribunals held to prosecute German leaders for war crimes, establishing precedents in international law.
V-E Day: Celebrated on May 8, 1945, marking Germany's unconditional surrender.
V-J Day: August 15, 1945, when Japan surrendered following bombings and intensified global pressure.
United Nations Formation: Initiated in 1944, aimed at fostering international cooperation to prevent future conflicts.

Geographical and Logistical Notes

Guadalcanal: Site of one of the first major campaigns in the Pacific, marking the beginning of a prolonged campaign against Japan.
Antwerp, Belgium: Strategic port targeted in the Battle of the Bulge to disrupt Allied supply lines.
Iwo Jima: Key island for refueling B-29 bombers, pivotal in the U.S. strategy for the Pacific campaign.

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Test your knowledge with these flashcards on key terms from US History Chapter 12. Explore concepts like cost-plus contracts, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the nickname for American soldiers. Perfect for reinforcing your understanding of important historical themes.