WW II Overview:WW II Overview:Could WW II have been Could WW II have been

prevented?prevented?

Major facts and events of WW Major facts and events of WW II II

1941- 1945 1941- 1945

War fought on War fought on twotwo fronts: fronts:Two Theatres of WarTwo Theatres of War

Europe/North AfricaEurope/North Africa: We : We decided to fight here first even decided to fight here first even though we had been attacked by though we had been attacked by Japan. Japan.

PacificPacific : After defeating Hitler in : After defeating Hitler in 1944, we turned our attention to 1944, we turned our attention to Japan. By this time we had a new Japan. By this time we had a new President: Harry Truman President: Harry Truman

Election of 1932Election of 1932

19331933: Hitler becomes : Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany Chancellor of Germany

Hitler begins his Hitler begins his campaign campaign against the Jews in 1933against the Jews in 1933, ,

meanwhile the US is mired in meanwhile the US is mired in the the Great DepressionGreat Depression

Kristaallnacht: night of broken glass

1929-1941

First step on WW II pathFirst step on WW II path: Japan : Japan invades China (Manchuria region), invades China (Manchuria region), looking for natural resources and looking for natural resources and

looking to become an imperial looking to become an imperial powerpower

And by 1941…….And by 1941…….

Meanwhile, Hitler is on the Meanwhile, Hitler is on the march across Europe, killing march across Europe, killing millions- not just Jews (1939- millions- not just Jews (1939-

1942)1942)

HITLER’S HITLER’S WW II WW II PARTNERSPARTNERS

Brazil

India

THE ALLIED THE ALLIED POWERS IN POWERS IN WW IIWW II

At first, most Americans did At first, most Americans did not want to go to war: America not want to go to war: America

11stst; neutrality acts; neutrality acts

But Roosevelt knew eventually But Roosevelt knew eventually we would have to get we would have to get

involved….involved….

DECEMBER 7, 1941

America mobilizes for a war America mobilizes for a war time economy, The OPA time economy, The OPA controls the economy.controls the economy.

SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER GENERAL EISENHOWER SPEAKS WITH PARATROOPERS JUST BEFORE THEY EMBARK TO JUMP INTO

NAZI OCCUPIED FRANCE

The Turning Point: D- DAY 1944

It all pays off in the end…It all pays off in the end…

VE Day: Victory in Europe Day

But at a huge price…But at a huge price…

Harry Truman (1945 – 1953)Harry Truman (1945 – 1953)

End of WWIIPotsdam Conference

Atomic Bomb:HiroshimaNagaski

Desegregated the military

22nd Amendment

Korean WarMacArthur

Taft-Hartley Act

GI Bill of Rights

Fair Deal

TRUMAN

Hiroshima and NagasakiHiroshima and Nagasaki: The A : The A BombBomb

VJ DayVJ Day Aug 14, 1945: Victory Aug 14, 1945: Victory over Japan Day over Japan Day

Permanent changes in Permanent changes in American societyAmerican society

Women in the workforceWomen in the workforce African-American fight for rights and African-American fight for rights and

refuse to tolerate second class statusrefuse to tolerate second class status The rise of the middle classThe rise of the middle class Suburbia Suburbia Baby Boom 1945- 1963Baby Boom 1945- 1963 A New World Order: The Cold War A New World Order: The Cold War

beginsbegins