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Unit 8 Interactive Vocab:WWII

Word Definition Analysis1. Dictator (360) Political leader who rules a

country with absolute power, usually by force

TOTALITARIANISM: a form of government rule by one and by force and fear

Citizens usually have no guaranteed rights

Are there any dictators that still exist today? Where?

2. Fascism (362) A form of government used by Italian dictator Mussolini that called for extreme nationalism in which the state comes first and individual liberty is second.

Favor military values, the use of violence, and a leader who is strong and ruthless

Why would people allow Fascism in their country?

3. Benito Mussolini (362) Head of the Italian Fascist party. Given power by the Italian king,

he consolidated (pulled together) power over the government and army within a few years

What country did Mussolini control? Was his country an Axis power or part of the Allies?

4. Joseph Stalin (361) The tyrannical dictator of the Soviet Union (USSR)

His country joined the Allies in 1941 after a non-aggression pact with Germany was violated by a German invasion

He ruled the Soviet Union—which was the new name of what country?

5. Nazism (363) Form of Fascism Characterized by extreme

nationalism, focus on racial purity, anti-Communism, and the all-powerful role of the State

Full Name: The National Socialist German Workers PartyNazis

Who was the leader of the Nazi party?

6. Adolf Hitler (363) Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the Nazi Party.

He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945 and dictator of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945.

Hitler led an anti-Semitic regime in Germany that led to the Holocaust. This means he disliked what group (ethnicity) of people?

7. Franklin D. Roosevelt (367-370) 32nd president of the United Why would Americans decide to

States President from 1933 until his

death in 1945-- during both the Great Depression and WWII

Only president to be elected 4 termsno longer allowed due to the 22nd Amendment

limit a president to two terms after FDR?

8. Appeasement (366) practice of giving in to aggression in order to avoid war

policy of giving in to satisfy the demands of a potential enemy

Britain and France hoped to achieve peace through compromise to avoid a war like WWI again

The cartoon says “remember one more lollypop and then you all go home!”—how does this mimic (show/copy) Europe’s policy of appeasement toward Hitler?

9. Munich Pact (367) Meeting of British and French leaders with Hitler

Britain and France agree to the German annexation of Sudetenland which was given in return for Adolf Hitler's promise that it was his last territorial claim (it wasn't)

Leader of Britain was Neville Chamberlain—claimed he had reached “Peace in our time”

How did Germany justify that the Sudetenland should be German land?

10. Blitzkrieg (370) "Lightning war" A surprise attack devised by Hitler

in which land-and-air attacks were coordinated

Hitler used fast-moving tanks called Panzers, with infantry transported by trucks, and dive-bombing planes that strafed soldiers and refugees.

Where will Hitler use his ‘blitzkrieg’ attacks?

11. Winston Churchill (371) Prime minister of Great Britain from 1940-1945

Replaces Neville Chamberlain His steadfast refusal to consider

surrender to Germany inspired that British to keep fighting

When was Churchill’s refusal to surrender most important? (What did Germany do that severely hurt Britain?)

12. Neutrality Acts (373) Originally designed to avoid Did these acts keep America

American involvement in World War II by preventing loans to those countries taking part in the conflict

Later included the cash-carry provision that allowed the US to sell goods and arms to belligerent (warring) nations if they paid cash and carried the goods on their own ships

Since the British navy controlled the seas, cash-and-carry in effect aided the Allies

neutral? Why or why not?

13. Lend-Lease Act (375) Approved by Congress in March 1941

The act allowed America to sell, lend, or lease arms or other supplies to nations considered "vital to the defense of the United States."

American battleships began protecting British ships crossing the Atlantic with supplies for Britain

What countries did the US primarily ‘lend-lease’ to? What item did the U.S. ‘lend-lease’ the most? (use the pie chart)

14. Atlantic Charter (375) Secret agreement by FDR and Churchill – joint declaration of war aims (1941)

Discussed post war aims/goals Both countries pledged: collective

security, disarmament, self-determination, economic cooperation and freedom of the seas

Agreement became basis for United Nations

Why was this meeting called?

15. Hideki Tojo (378) Prime Minister of Japan in WWII (led the military under the Emperor)

Promised the Japanese government that he would attempt to preserve peace with the Americans, but then on November 5, 1941 ordered Japanese Navy to prepare for an attack on the U.S. after a U.S. trade embargo began

U.S. attempted peace talks which ended with Pearl Harbor

What alliance group would he be part of? (Axis or Allies)

16. Pearl Harbor (379) U.S. military base on Hawaii that was bombed by Japan on December 7, 1941, bringing the

According to FDR December 7, 1941 is “a date which will live in ________________”.

United States into World War II 2,403 Americans killed and 1,178

wounded, 21 Navy ships sunk or damaged, 300 aircraft severely damaged or destroyed

17. Executive Order 9066 (396) Signed and issued during WWII by President FDR on 02/14/1942

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, many Americans feared that Japanese Americans (Nisei) might commit acts of sabotage

Cleared the way for military commanders to require Japanese Americans to relocate (move) to interior Internment camps away from Western coastal regions

Do you think it was reasonable to force Japanese Americans onto internment camps for national security? Why or why not?

18. Korematsu v. U.S. U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the ordering of Japanese Americans into internment camps was constitutional

Ruling was that the internment camps did not violate people’s rights because the restrictions were based on military necessity rather than race

Shows racial prejudice because the same was not done to German or Italian Americans

What other Supreme Court decision have we learned about that protected a government’s right to separate people based on race? (think Jim Crow)

19. 442 nd Regimental Combat Team (396)

Made up of Japanese Americans Fought in the Italian campaign in

the European theater Became the most decorated

military unit in American history

How could this help the image of the Japanese Americans in the internment camps?

20. Rosie the Riveter (397) A propaganda character designed to increase production by female workers in the factories.

It became a rallying symbol for women to do their part

What part is the poster encouraging women to do?

21. Office of War Information(OWI) (394)

Worked with advertising agencies to advertise the war effort

Job was to support the war and downplay issues of race, poverty, or crime

Used the radio, print, and film industries to remind Americans we were fighting to save the world from dictatorships

What are the posters a form of?

22. War Bonds (393) Certificates of debt issued by a government and bought by people

The government uses the money to pay for a war and pays the investor back at a certain future date

What is the money raised from war bonds spent on?

23. Victory Garden Rationing of food created shortages

Victory Gardens were created in vacant lots and in citizens’ own backyards to make up for the food shortages

By 194,3 20 million gardens had been planted

Why were Americans having to ration food and supplies?

24. Axis Powers (370) Germany, Italy, and Japan Comes from the Tripartite Pact

which is a mutual defense treaty If U.S. declared war on one of the

Axis powers the other Axis powers would defend

U.S. would fight a two ocean war, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans

What term from M.A.I.N. (causes of WWI) does the definition sound like?

25. Allies (370) The "Big Three" were the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union

Also included China and France

How are the Allies of WWII similar to the Allies of WWI?

26. George Marshall (380) President FDR nominated Marshall to be Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army with the rank of general

He authored the principal American war plan for defeating the Axis Powers and worked with other Allied leaders during WWII

What was his role during WWII?

27. Dwight D. Eisenhower (388) American General who began in What major amphibious campaign

North Africa and became the Commander of Allied forces in Europe

Eventually becomes President of the United States

in the European theater was he in charge of?

28. George Patton (389) Famous American General who fought in North Africa and Europe

Famous for being an innovative tank commander

What theater was he part of, the European theater or the Pacific theater?

29. Omar Bradley (389) United States Army field commander in North Africa and Europe during World War II—under the command of George Patton

A 5 star General of the Army Led the first day of D-Day

What theater did Bradley fight in? (European or Pacific)

30. D-Day (Battle of Normandy) June 6, 1944 Also called Operation Overlord Under the command of General

Eisenhower, the Allies launched an invasion of the beaches of Normandy in an attempt to liberate France

Plan included the invasion of 5 beaches and a fake Allied army attack under General Patton to distract the Germans

Which side won the Battle of Normandy?

31. Yalta Conference (416-417) Meeting held among the "Big Three" — FDR, Churchill, and Stalin — in Crimea in February 1945

Agreed that Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania would have free elections—Stalin would ‘renege’ (back out on) on this agreement

The three could not agree on allowing Poland to have free elections. FDR compromised on this to get Stalin's agreement to declare war on Japan once Hitler was defeated.

Why would FDR not force an agreement on Poland’s free election, what was he hoping to gain from the Soviet Union?

32. V-E Day (405) Victory in Europe Day: May 8, 1945

The Germans surrendered unconditionally, a week after Hitler committed suicide as the Allies battled his remaining troops in Berlin.

Which alliance won WWII?

33. Harry S. Truman (405) 33rd president of the U.S. What major decision did he have

He assumed the presidency at the death of FDR in 1945 and served until 1953.

Under his leadership the United States saw the end of the Second World War with the dropping of the two atomic bombs on Japan

to make during WWII?

34. Holocaust (410) The attempted genocide or killing of the Jewish people during WWII

6 million Jews were killed across Europe as well as 5 million other persons Hitler deemed "racially inferior," among them the mentally and physically disabled, gypsies, Slavs, homosexuals, and Jehovah Witnesses were killed

If Jews, Gypsies, and homosexuals were ‘racially inferior’ according to Hitler—then what did he consider to be ‘racially superior’?

35. Nuremberg War Crimes Trials (420)

A series of trials in 1945 and 1946 in which former Nazi leaders were convicted of war crimes (most were executed or imprisoned)

First trial for crimes against humanity (certain acts that are deliberately committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population or an identifiable part of a population)

Defense was “following orders”

What were these men responsible for doing—why are they being tried?

36. Chester Nimitz(391) He held the dual command of Commander in Chief for U.S. naval forces and Commander in Chief for U.S. and Allied air, land, and sea forces during World War II

In charge of the ‘Pacific Theater’

What general would he be in charge of?

37. Battle of Midway (391) U.S. victory was turning point in Pacific war

Midway was a U.S. base to the west of Hawaii

Charles Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet was in charge of U.S. forces

Battle halted Japan’s advance in the Pacific

Why was this battle significant?

38. Island Hopping (391,406) Used on the Pacific front Goal was to move the war closer

to Japan

Why would this be a good idea strategically?

When U.S. forces move from one island to another using each as a base to capture the next

39. Douglas MacArthur (383) American general, who commanded Allied army troops in the Pacific during World War II---struggled to hold the Philippines.

He liberated the Philippines and made the Japanese surrender at Tokyo

If he was in charge of the Philippines then what march were some of his men forced to take?

40. Bataan Death March (383) Brutal march of American and Filipino prisoners by Japanese soldiers in March 1942

60-mile march through the jungle where American prisoners faced starvation, disease, exposure to the sun, and no water

About 5,000 Americans died by bayonet, shot, beheading or left to die on the side of the road

In what country did this occur?

41. Manhattan Project (408) The codename for the U.S. project to produce an atomic bomb—a bomb with explosive power that comes from the energy suddenly released by splitting the nuclei of uranium or plutonium atoms

Part of the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) created under FDR

Atomic bombs were used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Where would the invention built by this project be used?

42. J. Robert Oppenheimer (408) Led the Manhattan Project. He was remembered as the

"Father of the Atomic Bomb."

How did Oppenheimer feel about the atomic bomb after it was used?

43. Hiroshima/Nagasaki (1945) (408- 409)

Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan by the Enola

Do you agree with Truman on the dropping of the Atomic Bomb?

Gay August 6, 1945 killing about 78,000 people and injuring 100,000.

On August 9, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. 40,000 people were killed in the explosion.

Thousands more died later from burns, injuries, and radiation exposure.

Truman felt that less American soldiers and Japanese would be killed by dropping the bomb then fighting “to the end”.

Why or why not?

44. V- J Day "Victory over Japan Day" is the celebration of the Surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945

What events led to the surrender of Japan?

45. Flying Tigers (384) The 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the C hinese Air Force in 1941–1942

Their mission was to defend China from Japanese forces

Composed of pilots from the United States' Army Air Corps, Navy, and Marine Corps

What country did these volunteers fly for during WWII?

46. Tuskegee Airmen (390) 332 Fighter Group famous for shooting down over 200 enemy planes

African American pilots who trained at the Tuskegee Flying School

What early civil right leader started the Tuskegee Institute?

47. Double V Campaign (398) This was a campaign led by A. Philip Randolph and other African American leaders

Stressed a need for victory against fascism abroad and a victory against discrimination at home

FDR did pass executive order 8802—which assured fair hiring practices in any job funded by government money and established the Fair Employment Practices committee to enforce these requirements.

How do you think an African American soldier felt fighting a war for a country that he would return to and be a ‘second class citizen’ in?

48. Vernon J. Baker an African American United States Army officer who received

Why did he receive the medal in 1997 instead of 1945?

the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in action on April 5th and 6th 1945, near Viareggio, Italy

He was awarded this medal “belatedly” in 1997 by President Bill Clinton

49. Navajo Code Talkers (407) Native Americans from the Navajo and Comanche tribes who used their own language to make a code for the U.S. military that the Japanese could not decipher

Transmitted military information

Why would it be impossible for the Japanese to decrypt these messages?

50. Bracero Program Bracero was term for Mexican migrant farmworkers

During WWII the US gave temporary visas to Mexican immigrants

The program was used to address the shortage of farm workers due to the war

Referred to as “legalized slavery”

What act was passed during the Great Depression that sent Mexican immigrants away?

51. Geneva Convention (420) A series of international agreements that set rules for the proper conduct toward sick and wounded enemy soldiers and the civilians who take care of them.

This was done after the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt

What events in WWII might have made the Geneva Conventions necessary?

52. United Nations (419)

A new international peacekeeping organization formed after WWII

Discussed at the Yalta Conferences

Located in New York City

Give 3 examples of member nations today:

53. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) (418)

A treaty designed to expand world trade by reducing tariffs

Why would the world powers feel the need to create this (what had the US created in the 1930s that would cause this)?