World War II: Causes and Key Events

Totalitarianism and Control

• Totalitarian regimes exert absolute control over all aspects of public and private life.

Hitler and Mein Kampf

• Hitler's Mein Kampf outlined his political ideology and plans for Germany.

Motivations for World War II

• Militarism, Imperialism, Nationalism, and Totalitarianism (MINT) were key drivers of the war.

Appeasement

• Appeasement was a policy of giving concessions to avoid conflict.

Neutrality

• Neutrality meant remaining uninvolved in the war.

Lend-Lease Act

• The Lend-Lease Act allowed the US to provide defense supplies to Allied nations.

Atlantic Charter

• The Atlantic Charter outlined shared goals of the Allied powers.

Pearl Harbor and Embargo

• The attack on Pearl Harbor and economic sanctions led to the US entering the war.

Home Front

• The home front experienced substantial changes during the war.

Office of War Mobilization and Cost-Plus Contracts

• The Office of War Mobilization managed war production. Cost-plus contracts provided incentives for industry.

Rosie the Riveter

• Women played a critical role in the workforce during the war.

Rationing

• Rationing of essential goods was implemented to ensure supplies for the war effort.

Executive Order 9066 and Korematsu v. US

• Executive Order 9066 led to the internment of Japanese Americans. Korematsu v. US upheld the constitutionality of the internment.

Bracero Program, Zoot Suit Riots, Navajo Code Talkers

• The Bracero Program brought in Mexican laborers. The Zoot Suit riots showcased racial tensions. Navajo Code Talkers used unique language for secure communications.

Double V Campaign

• The Double V campaign advocated for victory over fascism abroad and racism at home.

Poland and Blitzkrieg

• Poland was invaded by Germany, initiating WWII. Blitzkrieg was the German strategy of rapid warfare.

Turning Point and Hitler

• Key turning points in the war impacted Hitler's strategy.

Sonar and Convoys

• Sonar and convoys improved Allied naval capabilities.

Bataan Death March

• The Bataan Death March was a brutal forced march of Allied prisoners of war.

Midway Island

• The Battle of Midway was a major turning point in the Pacific campaign.

Invasion of Italy

• The Allies invaded Italy to disrupt Axis forces.

D-Day

• D-Day was the Allied invasion of Normandy, France.

Battle of the Bulge

• The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive that failed.

V-E Day (Victory in Europe)

• V-E Day marked the Allied victory in Europe.

Kamikaze Pilots and Island Hopping

• Kamikazes were Japanese suicide pilots. Island hopping was a strategy for gaining Pacific islands.

Iwo Jima and Okinawa

• Iwo Jima and Okinawa were heavily contested battles in the Pacific.

Atomic Bomb Use

• The pros of using atomic bombs included avoiding a costly land invasion and saving American lives, while the cons included the cost of the Manhattan Project and potential intimidation of the Soviet Union.

Manhattan Project

• The Manhattan Project developed the atomic bomb.

Holocaust

• The Holocaust was the systematic genocide of Jewish people by Nazi Germany.

Post-War Germany

• Germany was divided into four zones of occupation (US, UK, France, and Soviet Union).

Yalta Conference

• The Yalta Conference involved discussions on unconditional surrender of Germany and Japan.

Explore the critical factors that led to World War II, including totalitarianism, militarism, and the policy of appeasement. This quiz covers significant events such as the Lend-Lease Act, the Atlantic Charter, and the impact of Pearl Harbor on the United States' involvement in the war.