Transcript World War II

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1941-1945
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SSUSH19 The student will identify the origins, major developments, and
the domestic impact of World War II, especially the growth of the federal
government.
a. Explain A. Philip Randolph’s proposed march on Washington, D.C.,
and President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s response.
b. Explain the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the internment of
Japanese- Americans, German-Americans, and Italian-Americans.
c. Explain major events; include the lend-lease program, the Battle of
Midway, D-Day, and the fall of Berlin.
d. Describe war mobilization, as indicated by rationing, war-time
conversion, and the role of women in war industries.
e. Describe the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos and the scientific,
economic, and military implications of developing the atomic bomb.
f. Compare the geographic locations of the European Theater and the
Pacific Theater and the difficulties the U.S. faced in delivering weapons,
food, and medical supplies to troops.
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From the start, FDR knew that American
production would help the Allies win the
war. (Lend-Lease)
War-time conversion began of factories
that sat empty during the Great
Depression.
These factories now turn their attention to
weapon production.
Government began rationing resources.
(Especially metals, rubber, fuel and food)
These rationed resources were needed for
the war effort.
The massive spending done by the
American government in the build up to
World War II would finally drag the US
economy out of the Great Depression.
Produces B-24 Bombers
“The superiority of the [Allies] in munitions and ships must be
overwhelming – so overwhelming that the Axis nations can
never hope to catch up with it.
In order to attain this overwhelming superiority the [Allies]
must build planes and tanks and guns and ships to the utmost
limit of our national capacity…
This production of ours in the United States must be raised far
above its present levels…Let no man say it cannot be done. It
must be done – and we have undertaken to do it.”
-Franklin Roosevelt, Annual Message to Congress, January 6, 1942
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With the men away at war,
women step up to work in
factories and other maledominated jobs.
“Rosie the Riveter” – character
used to promote female equality
in society and the workforce
For the first time in American
history, women were working
outside the home, making their
own money.
Many assumed once war was
over, women would return to
their domestic roles.
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Comparing the geography of Europe and the Pacific
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The US and its Allies set their sights on defeating
Hitler and his seemingly unstoppable army first.
Ever since the Lend-Lease Act, the US had been
the prime supplier of war materials for the Allies.
German bombing raids had destroyed the
majority of British factories and infrastructure.
Unfortunately it usually took two weeks for any
military convoy to cross the Atlantic Ocean with
those supplies.
Along the route, US ships had to avert German
submarines and aircraft.
Their mission was to not only feed and supply
Allied troops but also the British civilian
population.
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The distance across the Pacific was three times that of the
distance from New York to Great Britain.
It sometimes took up to five months for supplies to reach Allied
ports in Australia.
Since the first priority was the defeat of Hitler, troops in the
Pacific were stuck with outdated equipment and food and
medical supply shortages.
The climate of the South Pacific caused massive food spoilage.
All of these circumstances led to the Allied policy of “islandhopping”.
The goal of the “island-hopping” campaigns was to conquer
various small islands in the Pacific and set up bases to better
organize and operate military operations.
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The Turning Point of the Pacific Theater
Midway
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Throughout much of early 1942, the Japanese navy had won control of
many British, Dutch and American possessions in the Pacific (including
the Philippines).
Japan now turned their attention to the American naval base on the
island of Midway.
Seizing Midway would allow the Japanese to easily conquer the Hawaii
islands and the Aleutian islands of Alaska.
Unbeknownst to the Japanese, US code breakers had intercepted the
attack plan at Midway.
Resultantly the US dealt the Japanese navy a decisive defeat
destroying numerous Japanese aircraft carriers in June 1942.
The US victory at Midway is seen as the turning point in the Pacific
theater and a huge morale boost for US troops.
From Midway, the US navy was enabled to regain and subsequently
control other strategic Pacific islands putting Japan on the defensive.
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African Americans hoped the war
would create economic
opportunities.
A. Philip Randolph – labor leader that
planned a march on Washington to
demand equality for black workers in
the defense industry
FDR feared protest would lead to
racial unrest and division on the
home front.
To appease Randolph, FDR issued an
executive order that would ensure
fair hiring practices in government
positions for African Americans.
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Americans of German and
Italian descent faced harsh
discrimination, imprisonment
and threat of deportation.
Japanese Americans were
viewed as a “threat” to many
communities on the West Coast.
FDR issued an executive order
that ultimately forced the
internment of over 100,000
Japanese Americans into camps
in 1942.
Many of these American citizens
would permanently lose their
homes, businesses and farms.
“Now, therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in
me as President of the United States, …I hereby
authorize and direct the Secretary of War…to
prescribe military areas in such places and of such
extent …from which any or all persons may be
excluded…the right of any person to enter, remain in,
or leave shall be subject to whatever restrictions the
Secretary of War…may impose in his discretion.”
- President Roosevelt, February 19, 1942
Closed store owned by a Japanese-American.
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Stalin, FDR and Churchill agreed early
on that invasion of Europe was
essential in defeating Germany.
The code name for this planed
invasion of Nazi-controlled France was
D-Day.
Attack was to be amphibious: by water
and then by land.
Over 156,000 troops and nearly 7,000
vessels were slated to cross the
English Channel.
June 6, 1944 – Allied invasion begins
of five beaches in Northern France.
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Successful invasion of France
forced Germany to now fight a
war on two fronts.
US, Canada and UK to the
west and the USSR in the east.
Soviet army advances on
Berlin in spring of 1945 from
the east, south and north
Mussolini captured, killed and
publically displayed in Italy.
As the Soviets surround Berlin,
Hitler commits suicide.
Germany officially surrenders
in May 1945.
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The Manhattan Project and its Consequences
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The war had taken a huge toll on
Roosevelt
While vacationing in Warm Springs,
GA in April 1945, Roosevelt dies of
brain hemorrhage
Vice President Harry S. Truman of
Missouri becomes President
Upon being sworn into office, the
new President is for the first time
briefed on scientific developments
that had been taking place in the
deserts of New Mexico.
After the defeat of Nazi Germany the US turned its full attention to the Pacific.
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Manhattan Project: code name for
the US program that was building
the atomic bomb; operated out of
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Robert Oppenheimer – physicist
who lead research in the
development of the bomb
Later in life he regretted his work on
the bomb saying: “Now I am become
Death, the destroyer of Worlds.”
July 1945 – 1st test on bomb;
shortly after a final warning is
issued to Japan for unconditional
surrender
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Military strategists believed that a D-Day type invasion of Japan
would result in the loss of an estimated 1 million US soldiers.
After further contemplation, Truman authorizes the use of the
atomic bomb.
1st bomb dropped at Hiroshima on August 6, 1945
On August 8th Soviets declares war on Japan; invade Manchuria.
2nd atomic bomb dropped August 9th at Nagasaki
An estimated 120,000 Japanese citizens were killed instantly
80,000 more would die from radiation in the weeks and months
to come
Japan formally surrenders in September 1945.
The “Enola Gay” dropped the first bomb “Little Boy” on Hiroshima August 6, 1945
Sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima and destroyed
its usefulness to the enemy…The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor.
They have been repaid many fold. And the end is not yet.
It is an atomic bomb. It is a harnessing of the basic power of the universe. The force
from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to
the Far East.
The battle of the laboratories held fateful risks for us as well as the battles of the air,
land, and sea, and we have now won the battle of the laboratories as we have won the
other battles.
We are now prepared to obliterate more rapidly and completely every productive
enterprise the Japanese have above ground in any city. We shall destroy their docks,
their factories, and their communications. Let there be no mistake; we shall completely
destroy Japan's power to make war.
If they [Japan] do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air,
the like of which has never been seen on this earth. Behind this air attack will follow sea
and land forces in such number that and power as they have not yet seen and with the
fighting skill of which they are already well aware.
- Statement from President Truman, August 6, 1945
Mushroom cloud after 2nd atomic bomb “Fat Man” is dropped on Nagasaki
on August 9, 1945.
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FDR/Truman, Churchill and Stalin
meet to decide the face of post-war
Europe.
European Imperialism declines;
many former colonies in Africa and
Asia gain independence.
US deals with the repercussions of
the Holocaust in Europe; support
creation of Jewish homeland in the
Middle East.
United Nations is formed in 1948 to
promote cooperation between
nations. Sought to succeed where
League of Nations had failed.
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With Europe in ruins, only the US
and the Soviet Union remain,
become economic superpowers.
Former allies however quickly
become enemies.
The US and USSR would spend the
next four decades engaged in an
arms race, each vying for
economic, scientific and military
superiority.
This conflict would come to be
called “The Cold War”.