Chapter 35- America in World War II

By Zac Kauffman

The Allies Trade Space for Time

• Japan had attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor which changed many Americans opinions from anti war beliefs, to a cry for war.

• America instead of directing attention mainly towards Japan, mainly focused on Germany.

• America, since it was relatively unprepared for war, was tested to how fast it could mobilize its army.

The Shock of War

• The Pearl Harbor attack unified America, immigrants even assimilated in America better because of the War.

• Japanese-American’s however were discriminated against, as they were forced into interment camps.

• The American government later admitted fault and repaid camp survivors.

Building the War Machine

• Military needs and demands for weapons and supplies ended the great depression with the creation of jobs.

• Many supplies were rationed in the war time.• To keep supplies coming in the war, Congress passed

the Smith-Connally Anti-Strike Act to allow the government to operate industries or businesses who are in a threat of strike.

Manpower and Womanpower

America’s armed forces held 15million men and 216,000 women. A couple “women in arms” groups were the WAACS (Army), the WAVES (Navy), and SPARS (Coast Guard).

• As the draft was used and therefore took many valuable men and woman out of the work force, the Bracero Program took Mexicans and used them as residential laborers in America.

Wartime Migrations

• The war had forced many to move to new places, such as cities. Some 1.6 million blacks moved the south in this migration for better housing and work.

• Roosevelt passed the Fair Employment Practices Commission to discourage racism and oppression in the work place.

Holding the Home Front

• America emerged relatively unhurt by the war, and was better off then the rest of the countries who partook. The war had thrust America out of debt and actually helped America.

The Rising Sun in the Pacific

• Japan, during the war, began to become a power house in the Pacific as it assumed much control over the near by countries and Islands, by conquering them. Japan had even captured the Philippines.

Japan’s High Tide at Midway

• As Japan had begun to greatly expand, it was finally haulted with a naval battle at Midway Island as they were forced back by U.S Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and this ended Japanese expansion as the U.S began to use its method of Island Hopping.

America Leapfrogging Toward Tokyo

• America, as it began to use its technique of Island hopping, led to the gain of many Islands, such as the Marshall Islands and New Guinea.

The Allied Halting of Hitler

• Things began to look down for Germany as America’s alignment with the Allies proved fatal for the Axis.

• America had trouble with Germany’s U-boats, which were very effective.

• Britain began to launch attacks in France to help regain the Western Front, as Russia was regaining land on its Eastern Front.

A Second Front form North Africa to Rome

• The Soviets had begged the Allies to open up a second front against Hitler as many Russians were dying, America would comply but Britain was hesitant.

• The British devised a plan from which they would attack Germany through Africa, it wasn’t really successful.

• The Allies fought against Italy as it fell in 1943 and the Italian dictator Mussolini fell from power.

D-Day: June 6, 1944

• The Big Three met in order to launch a attack to liberate Normandy, France. The attack was entrusted to Eisenhower and was named D-Day.

• Although met with heavy resistance, the Allied troops succeeded and helped the liberation of France in 1944.

FDR: The Fourth- Termite of 1944

• FDR successfully won his fourth election in a row for the Democratic party with his vice president Harry S. Truman.

• He was matched against Thomas E. Dewy form Ohio.

Roosevelt Defeats Dewey

• Dewey began his campaign with great ferocity and offence as FDR focused on WWII problems.

• Roosevelt won 432 to 99 as he secured his fourth term.

• Roosevelt won because he was handling the war well and was greatly admired by the people.

The Last Days of Hitler

• Hitler, knowing he was near the end, concentrated his forces in the Adennes forest, which led to The Battle of the Bulge, were he was near to victory, but fell short.

• In 1945 America reached the Rhine River and towards the Elbe, were they joined the Soviets and marched towards Berlin.

• Hitler committed suicide in his Bunker 1945 April 30.

The Last Days of Hitler Continued…

• As The Allies began to enter Germany they made the horrible discovery of the Nazi’s concentration camps.

• FDR had also died due to a massive cerebral hemorrage on April 12, 1945.

• May 7, 1945 was the official surrender of Germany and the next day was dubbed V-E Day, for victory ib Europe day.

Japan dies Hard

• America began to decimate Japan’s naval fleet wit the constant attack of submarines.

• The U.S took the Philippines back in March 1945.

• Japan continued its use of kamikaze in its last ditch effort to continue the war and win.

The Atomic Bombs

• At the Potsdam Conference issued the threat to Japan, surrender or be destroyed.

• The U.S tested its first A-Bomb, and as Japan continued to oppose surrender, the U.S dropped two bombs on Japan, (Hiroshima, Nagasaki) killing in total 260,000.

• August 8, 1945 Russia declared war on Japan and they surrendered in 2 days (August 10) and asked the Emperor Hirohito be allowed to remain in power. They agreed.

The Allies Triumphant

• America had suffered 1 million casualties, very little of the deaths was due to dieses because of the development of new drugs. Japan attacked California and Oregon, which proved harmless. The U.S had suffered very little loss.

• This had became America’s best fought war despite its inability to mobilize its army quickly.

The Allies Triumphant Continued…

• As the U.S had only lost 1 million, Russia on the other hand had lost near 20 million by the wars end. America had come out of the war better off then all.

• The U.S success was to contributed to its excellent use of Generals, Admirals, and commanders.

• Industry had raised to the challenge and put out a lot of goods to assure victory.

Essential Question 1

• EQ: What would have happened if the U.S directed its attention to Japan and not Germany first? Would have the outcome changed or would it not have been a big deal?

Essential Question 2

• EQ: Was it right for the governent to be able to assume control of these compaines due to the Smith-Connally Anti-Strike Act? Was this unconstitutional?

Essential Question 3

• What was the impact of America entering WWII? How great was this impact?

Essential Question 4

• Was it constitutional the way that the U.S government acted towards the Japanese American’s in wartime to preserve national security?

Review Quiz• 1. What was the name of the program that used Mexican labor in WWII?A. Bracero ProgramB. Mexican Labor ProgramC. Spanish Labor Program

2. Who had the U.S officially declared war on first?D. JapanE. GermanyF. Russia

3. Name at least one city that a Atomic Bomb was dropped in Japan.

4.How many causalities had America suffered in the war?A .3millionB .5MillionC .1million

5. True or False: America’s greatest cause of death in WWII was disease.