World War II Overview Quiz

World War II Review

• German Invasion of Poland: Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, triggering World War II.
• American Isolationism: Many Americans favored isolationism after World War I, aiming to avoid further foreign conflicts.
• Lend-Lease Act Support: The U.S. provided military aid to Allied nations (Britain, Soviet Union) before Pearl Harbor.
• Pearl Harbor Attack: The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, propelled the U.S. into World War II.
• FDR's War Declaration: Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech to Congress on December 8, 1941, declared December 7th "a date which will live in infamy" and spurred the war declaration.
• Bataan Death March: This brutal forced march of American and Filipino prisoners of war took place in the Philippines in 1942.
• Government Control of the Economy: The U.S. government regulated industries, rationing goods, and shifted production for war purposes.
• Rationing: A system limiting consumer goods to allocate resources for the war effort.
• American Contributions to the War Effort: Citizens rationed goods, purchased war bonds, recycled materials, and worked in war-related industries.
• Victory Gardens: Home gardens providing increased food production during the war.
• Japanese American Internment: Fear of espionage led to the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor.
• Women and Minorities' Role: Women worked in factories and served in the military. Minorities served in segregated units and supported the war effort.
• Korematsu v. United States: The Supreme Court case upheld the constitutionality of Japanese American internment due to national security concerns.
• D-Day: Allied forces invaded Normandy, France on June 6, 1944, marking a significant turning point in the war.
• Appeasement: This policy of yielding to demands of aggressors contributed to the start of World War II.
• U.S. Foreign Policy Shift: Policy shifted from neutrality to aiding Allied nations between 1935 and 1941.

World War II Causes and Connections

• WWI and WWII Connection: The harsh Treaty of Versailles after WWI contributed to German resentment, fueling WWII.
• Wilson's 14 Points and FDR's Atlantic Charter: Both promoted ideals like self-determination, free trade, and lasting peace.
• Manhattan Project: A secret program to develop the atomic bomb.
• Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor: Japan's goal was to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet and gain regional control.
• Impact of African American Service (WWII): Contributions by African American soldiers advanced the Civil Rights movement.
• Tuskegee Airmen: Well-known African American military pilots.
• Vernon Baker: An African American soldier honored with the Medal of Honor for bravery during WWII.
• Pacific Theater Commanders: General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz led troops and employed crucial strategies like island hopping.

Key Battles and Events

• Battle of Midway: A significant naval battle in the Pacific that was a decisive victory for the U.S. and turned the tide of the war.
• Flying Tigers: American volunteer pilots assisting China in their fight against Japan.
• Navajo Code Talkers: Navajo soldiers used their language for unbreakable military codes.
• Bombing Controversy: The use of atomic bombs to end the war was controversial due to its widespread destruction and civilian casualties.
• V-J Day: Victory over Japan Day, marking Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945.
• Holocaust Aftermath: The systematic genocide of millions during WWII highlighted the need for human rights and global efforts to prevent mass atrocities.