US WWII History Summary PDF

Foreign policy 1930 ​ Isolationism ​ Tried to remain neutral ​ Felt immune to problems overseas ​ Unwilling and unprepared to be involved in wars other seas Neutrality act of 1935-1939 ​ The Neutrality Acts did not distinguish between countries → all countries at war, ally or ​ no...

Foreign policy 1930 ​ Isolationism ​ Tried to remain neutral ​ Felt immune to problems overseas ​ Unwilling and unprepared to be involved in wars other seas Neutrality act of 1935-1939 ​ The Neutrality Acts did not distinguish between countries → all countries at war, ally or ​ not, were denied American involvement ​ Americans were prohibited from sailing on ships owned by nations at war ​ Americans were prohibited from making loans to nations at war ​ Americans were prohibited from selling weapons and munitions to nations at war ​ FDR couldn’t help the US’s allies because of this Quarantine Speech ​ 1937 ​ We will stay isolationist but we can do stuff if we want ​ FDR saying we should expand global affairs to isolationists ​ Promoting natural rights Cash and Carry ​ You had to buy the goods and get the other country to pick up the goods ​ Prevented another lusitania ​ Benefited allies Destroyers for Bases Agreement ​ USA gave 50 older model destroyers from WW1 and get the British give the US 8 defensive base in the western hemisphere America first committee ​ Isolationist ​ We should be involved within the USA ​ Opposed lend lease and destroyers for bases ​ After pearl harbor it’s hard to advocate for isolationism 1940 presidential election ​ FDR won again Lend lease act ​ We can sell or lease arms to any country whose security was vital to American interest Atlantic charter ​ Between FDR and churchill ​ US and Britain would support a world based on self-determination and would enforce a world body to ensure “global security” (UN) ​ Unconditional surrender of germany Pearl Harbor ​ Japan gets mad because we’re not giving them oil, iron, and rubber ​ Japan doesn’t respond to the hull note ​ December 7, 1941 - Japan launched a surprise attack in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in order to eliminate the American naval ​ Japan attacked other places like Guam ​ US declares war on Japan and enters WW2 then germany and italy declared war on the USA ABC-1 agreement ​ FDR wanted to concentrate on hitler first then go to hirohito HOMEFRONT War Productions Board (WPB) ​ peace time business to a war time business Funding the war ​ Taxes ​ War bonds ​ WW2 was a very expensive war costing $330 billion Rationing ​ Officer of price administration - controlled wages, set prices, and established a rationing program ​ US gov issued coupon books that limited the amount of certain goods that they can buy Propaganda ​ Office of War Information (OWI) - instigated hatred for the enemy, patriotism, posters, movies, cartoons Women ​ 6 million addition women entered the labor force ​ They took over traditionally male jobs ​ Rosie the Riveter African Americans ​ Great migration - africans leaving the south to the rust belt (north) ​ Racial prejudice limited the social and economic gains ​ Double “V” Campaign - WW2 policy supported by several black newspapers saying african americans should work to beat hitler and oppression at home ​ A. Phillip Randolph - March on Washington (“freedom is never give it’s won) ​ Executive Order 8802 - “the full and equitable participation of all workers in defense industries, without discrimination because of race, creed, color, or national origin” Bracero Program 1942 - Agreement with the Mexican government to recruit temporary mexican agricultural workers to the US Migration ​ Millions migrated to jobs in war industries and stayed in those locations (boomtowns of LA, Seattle, and Detroit) ​ Mass migration produced a cultural clash ○​ Zoot Suit Riots - Mexicans/Mexican americans attacked in LA by american sailors Japanese internment ​ Japanese americans were subject to discrimination because the US feared sabotage and spying ​ Executive order 9066 in 1942 - Japanese americans had 48 hours to move from the west coast and report to assembly centers ​ Government interred 110,000 Japanese americans in 10 detention camps ​ Korematsu v. United States ​ In 1988 congress apologies and each camp survivor got 20,000 dollars in reparations Women in the military ​ 350,000 women served in the US armed forces ​ Over 70,000 women provided vital services as army and navy nurses ​ Women performed 200 non-combat jobs African americans in the military ​ 1 million were drafted ​ Served in segregated units and faced discrimination ​ Limited to supporting roles, but as the way dragged on African americans were given more opportunities to fight Native americans in the military ​ Used natives as code talkers 1944 election - FDR won CONFLICT IN ASIA ​ In 1928, Japan signed on the kellogg pact that outlawed war Meiji restoration ​ Sino-Japanese war - Power shifted from China to Japan after they won the war ​ Russo Japanese war - Japan shocked the world, acquired a foothold in Manchuria Taisho period ​ Japan fought against germany in china ​ Japan issued 21 demands to china Showa Period ​ Hirohito - far right ultra nationalist ​ Japan hit hard during the depression, which made Japan want to expand ​ Kwantung army - invade Manchura by saying China blew up a Japanese train ​ Puppet state manchukuo  ​ Do this because they fear, western support for nationalists, soviet military, and because they want cheap raw materials ​ League of nations told Japan to get out and not be imperialistic ○​ Japan’s rep told the league they’re hypocrites ​ Marco Polo Bridge incident - Japanese soldier went missing and allowed for Japan to invade china (second sino japanese war) Sino Japanese war ​ Battle of Shanghai - Japanese attack on a military airport, 3 months, 1 million soldiers ​ Rape of Nanjing - Japnese soliders committed war crims against POWs and civilians, 200k killed, and thousands of women were graped ​ Tianjin incident - ​ The tripartite pact - germany, italy, and japan built on the anti comintern pact and the pact of steel, non aggression pact between the soviets ​ Invasion of French Indochina - Japan invaded vietnam and laos, US britain and the dutch response, roosevelt authorized millions of $ worth of aid to China ​ Tojo became PM ​ Hull note - after rejected Japan moved toward Pearl harbor in hawaii THE WAR Allied powers ​ USA ​ Great Britain ​ USSR ​ China Axis ​ Germany ​ Italy ​ Japan Sep 1, 1939 ​ Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact made Germany invade Poland because the USSR wouldn’t fight each other (secret deal to split poland) ​ Britain and france declared war on germany but poland fell ​ Blitzkrieg (lightning war) Sitzkrieg (phony war) ​ Soviets capture Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland, but resistance in Finland. Finland surrendered in March 1940. ​ French and British mobilized along the french german border and waited ​ In April 1940 Hitler captures Denmark and Norway Start of the war ​ In may he conquered Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg ​ Dunkirk - German forces trap British forces, and the British Navy and civilians take ships across the channel to rescue soldiers. ​ In june 1940 france surrenders to Germany (France is veche) ○​ Charles de Gaulle organized an opposition to Germany ​ Battle of Britain ○​ Winston Churchhill becomes PM ○​ Germany plans to invade Belgium causing Britain to use the air force, radar, and code breaking ○​ Air war over Britain lasted until May 1941 (Luftwaffe) ○​ Stunned by british resistance hitler calls off attacks ​ North Africa Campaign ○​ Italy declares war on France and Britain ○​ Italy wanted resources from Africa ○​ September 1940, Mussolini attacks British in North Africa ○​ British drive italians back ○​ In 1942, British win it back ​ Mediterranean ○​ Hitler plans to invade USSR + balkan breakfast ○​ Hitler invades Yugoslavia and Greece in April 1941 ​ USSR ○​ Germany invades USSR in june 1941 ○​ Germans move into Russia who is unprepared ○​ Germans stopped at Leningrad but they were forced to undertake a long siege ○​ Germans almost captured Moscow but force to pull out Allied Victory ​ British take El alamein ​ General Dwight D. Eisenhower is cool ​ The battle of Stalingrad ○​ Germans want to capture soviet oil fields ○​ Germans and soviets fight for control of stalingrad ○​ Germans capture but surrender ​ The invasion of Italy ○​ US and british forces capture sicily in 1943 ○​ Mussulini loses power but germans keep control of north Italy ○​ Allies invade italy but germans keep fighting ​ The D-Day invasion ○​ Allies plan the invasion of France ○​ June 6, 1944 (operation Overlord) ○​ Allied forces capture Normandy beaches and liberated Paris in september  ​ Battle of the Bulge ○​ Largest tank battle in history ○​ US and british forces advance from Germany from the west and USSR from the right ○​ German’s counter attacked in December 1944 ○​ Germans gained early success but forced to retreat ○​ Hitler’s last ditch effort ​ Hitler’s surrender ○​ In 1945 Allied armies approach Germany from 2 sides ○​ Soviets surround Berlin in April 1945 ○​ Hitler commits suicide ○​ On may 9, 1945 Germany officially surrenders ○​ FDR died in April and Truman becomes president ○​ After the war Potsdam Conference ​ there needs to be unconditional surrender ​ Pearl Harbor ○​ 1941 - FDR cuts of oil to Japan ○​ Yamamoto plants to attack a fleet in hawaii ○​ Dec 7, 1941 - Japan attacks Pearl Harbor ○​ Japan attacks hong kong, thailand, and phillipines islands ○​ Japan captures singapore and hong kong ○​ Japan treats conquered people brutally ○​ US bombers attack Tokyo ○​ Battle of Coral sea - Americans stop Japanese advance (carrier based warfare ○​ Battle of Midway - Us destroyed japan's naval fleet and Japanese retreats ○​ Douglas MacAuthor - american army commander in the pacific and wants to island hop ○​ Battle of Guadalcanal which ends in allied victory ○​ Battle of Leyte Gulf damages the japanese navy ○​ Kamikaze ○​ American forces capture Iwo Jima - march 1945 ○​ US takes okinawa in 1945 ○​ Manhattan project ○​ Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima August 6, 1945 75k deaths ○​ Nagasaki August 9 70k ○​ Japan surrenders on sep 2, 1945​