North African CampaignBy: Jenna Wendorf-Wyss, Alethia Tilford, Tiffany VanEperen

Learning intentions:To understand the impact the North African Campaign had on the US and WWII.

Success Criteria:Students will know they are successful when they can identify America’s role in the North African Campaign through the use of historical context.

IB Americas Terms:● Region● Imperialism● Intervention● North Africa Campaign

Impact/Significance:● The North African Campaign was

America’s first big involvement in the war

● First victory ● Removed threat on oilfields in the

Middle East● helped Britain ward off Germany and

Italy from taking over Middle Eastern land

● ensured Britain would not be easily defeated by Axis powers

● Able to gain land in Italy (invasion of Sicily, July 1943)

Column of Axis prisoners in African desert, 1942.

North African Campaign (What is it?)

● It waged between the years 1940-1943● The Axis powers wanted to deprive the Allies access to Middle

Eastern resources● The Campaign consisted of 3 phases (Western Desert Campaign,

Operation Torch, and Tunisia Campaign) ● Western Desert Campaign

○ Italy, Germany, and Britain began fighting in North Africa in June 1940

● Operation Torch○ US invades North Africa in November 1942

● Tunisia Campaign○ Germany and Italy are defeated in Tunisia in May 1943

North Africa’s Role

● North Africa had resources that the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers both wanted

● Egypt is the center of North Africa so it was crucial to have control over

● Only “land based fight” that the Allies could take on Axis powers

Role of the U.S. Invaded North Africa

VICTORY!

cornered German troops provided many resources; oil

joined forces with Great Britain

VICTORY!

http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history/videos/north-africa-campaign

Works Cited “Animate Map: North African Campaign.” BBC NEWS. January 1st, 2014. Accessed September 4th, 2014. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/wwtwo_map_n_africa/index.embed.shtml> “Column of Axis Prisoners in African desert, 1942.” From Discovery Education. Image. 2005. Accessed September 5, 2014. <http://www.discoveryeducation.com/> Churchill, Winston. The 2nd World War: Their Finest Hour. Boston. Houghton, Mifflin, 1950. Volume 2; 369-387. “North Africa Campaign.” HISTORY (A =ENetworks). 2014. Video. Accessed September 9, 2014. <www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-history/videos/north-africa-campaign.> “US Entry and Alliance.” AETN UK. 2014. Accessed September 9, 2014. <www.history.co.uk/study-topics-of-ww2/us-entry-and-alliance> “Military Operations in North Africa.” Holocaust Encyclopedia. June 20, 2014. Accessed September 2, 2014.<http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007301>“North Africa.” History. January 1, 2014. Accessed September 8, 2014.<http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/north-africa>