Transcript that exalts nation and often race above the

Fascism
Communism
a political philosophy, movement, or
regime (as that of the Fascisti) that
exalts nation and often race above the
individual and that stands for a
centralized autocratic government
headed by a dictatorial leader, severe
economic and social regimentation,
and forcible suppression of
opposition.
: a way of organizing a society in
which the government owns the things
that are used to make and transport
products (such as land, oil, factories,
ships, etc.) and there is no privately
owned property
The Origins of WWII
• Mao Zedong (CCP) and Chiang
Kaishek (GMD)
• Spanish Civil War
• Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
• German invasion of Poland leads to
declaration of war from England and
France
• Hitler invades USSR, breaking pact
and reuniting the left behind the war
effort
US Enters the War
•
US issues embargo against
Japan; competition over
hegemony in the Pacific
•
Dec. 7, 1941: Japan launches
“surprise” attack on Pearl
Harbor
•
US declares war on Japan
(Dec. 8); Germany declares
war on US (Dec. 11)
•
Axis (Germany, Italy, Japan) v.
Allies (US, USSR, UK, France,
Canada, etc.)
European Theater
•
Most troops and largest
battles on the Eastern Front
(Germany/USSR; but US
provides Lend-Lease aid to
USSR and UK throughout the
war
•
1942- Allied Powers (UK and
US) invade North Africa; 1943Invasion of Sicily
•
But as early as 1942 the
USSR urged a cross channel
invasion into France; finally
launched on June 6, 1944
•
Allies push from all fronts into
Germany; eventually occupy
Berlin and force surrender
Pacific Theater
•
Japan occupies Burma, the
Philippines, etc. in 1942
•
But US Navy wins battles at
Midway and the Coral Sea in
Spring/Summer of 1942
•
1943-44- island-by-island
movement of American forces
establishing closer bases for
the eventual bombardment of
Japan
•
August 6-9, 1945- US drops
atomic bombs on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki; Japan
surrenders
Was the Bomb Necessary?
•
Truman and his advisors
claimed invasion of Japan would
cost 500,000 US lives
•
But it has been argued that
Japan was willing to accept the
“unconditional surrender” terms
of Potsdam in July
•
Was the bomb used to prevent
Soviet occupation of Japan
and/or as the first salvo in the
Cold War?
•
Note: fire bombings of Dresden,
Tokyo, and other cities produced
more casualties
A People’s War?
•
Government, press, and most
radicals supported war
•
The Good War; War to defend
the Free World
•
FDR and the Four Freedoms
•
18 million serve; 25 million buy
war bonds
•
Women in the workforce; Rosie
the Riveter
•
Opportunities for AfricanAmericans
Myth and the Greatest Generation
•
43,000 conscientious objectors;
350,000 draft evaders
•
14,000 strikes involving 7 million
workers
•
Black Market; adultery; juvenile
delinquency
•
Many women laid off when men
return home
•
Segregated military and blood
banks
•
Bracero Program and Zoot Suit
Riots
•
Japanese Internment
•
Holocaust- 6 million Jews, millions
of other groups
A War for Democracy?: The Post-War World
•
Atlantic Charter of 1941
•
Bretton Woods: the IMF and the
UN
•
The Truman Doctrine and the
Marshall Plan
•
NSC-68 and the “Long Telegram”
Proxy Wars
Greece (1947)
China (1949)
Korea (1950-53)
Iran (1953)
Guatemala (1954)