U.S. History Chapter 24 Flashcards

Key Figures and Concepts in WWII

• Josef Stalin: Sole dictator of the Soviet Union; established a totalitarian state; oversaw execution or imprisonment of millions of dissenters.
• Totalitarian State: A political system where a single party dominates all facets of life, including governance and personal freedoms.
• Benito Mussolini: Prime Minister of Italy; restored order through authoritarian leadership.
• Fascism: An authoritarian political ideology characterized by militarism, extreme nationalism, and loyalty to the state and its leaders.
• Adolf Hitler: Leader of the Nazi Party; promoted the idea of racial superiority, deeming Germans as a "master race."

Causes of Conflict and Responses

• Aggression: Defined as hostile actions taken by one nation against another without just cause.
• Appeasement: Policy aimed at avoiding conflict by conceding to aggressive demands from other nations.
• Winston Churchill: British Prime Minister known for his steadfast leadership and rhetoric, notably the phrase "We shall never surrender."

Nature of War

• Total War: Warfare that encompasses not just military forces but entire nations and their resources.
• Lend-Lease Act: Legislation permitting the U.S. to provide support to allies in WWII by lending or leasing supplies; challenged neutrality principles.
• Atlantic Charter: A pivotal agreement outlining postwar goals and the vision for a new global organization to ensure peace.

Military Events and Strategies

• D-Day: Major Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, led by General Eisenhower, marking a crucial turning point in the war.
• Battle of Midway: A critical naval battle where the U.S. decisively defeated Japan, shifting the balance in the Pacific.
• Island Hopping: A military strategy employed by the U.S. to capture key islands in the Pacific, bypassing others.

Humanitarian Aspects and Social Issues

• Rationing: System of limiting the purchase of scarce resources during wartime to ensure sufficient supply for military needs.
• Internment: The practice of detaining Japanese Americans during WWII due to national security concerns, leading to legal challenges.
• A. Philip Randolph: A union leader who advocated for civil rights in the military, threatening protests against discrimination.

War Crimes and Aftermath

• Genocide: The deliberate extermination of a particular group, exemplified by the Holocaust, where six million Jews were murdered.
• Nuremberg Trials: Landmark military tribunals prosecuting Nazi leaders for war crimes, establishing accountability for wartime actions.

Additional Key Historical Events

• Bataan Death March: Forced march of American and Filipino prisoners by Japanese troops, resulting in high fatalities due to extreme conditions.
• Holocaust: Systematic genocide orchestrated by Hitler, aimed at annihilating the Jewish population of Europe, described as the "final solution."
• V-E Day: Victory in Europe Day, celebrated on May 8, 1945, after Germany's unconditional surrender.
• V-J Day: Victory over Japan Day, marking Japan's announcement of surrender on August 14, 1945, after the atomic bombings.