1. What was the importance of the Battle of Midway?
The Battle of Midway was a turning point for the american troops in the pacific, after this battle americans began to gain back land that had been taken by Japan. They did this by "island hopping", this means that the americans would concur one island and then move on to the nearest island to the west. This was the only effective way of transporting a sufficiant amount of weapons and supplies close enought to Japan that they would be able to attack Japan.
2. What strategy did the United States adopt in fighting Japan?
Island Hopping
3. Why did the Japanese fight so hard on Iwo Jima?
The Japanese knew that if the americans gained control of the island (Iwo Jima) they would be able to attack the main island of Japan much more easily. They wanted to avoyed this therefore they fought extra hard in the battle of Hiroshima.
4. Why did the Allies believe Okinawa was a foretaste of an invasion of Japan?
Americans got a good idea of Japanese war tactics. For instance kamikaze pilots.
5. What was the Manhattan Project?
The Manhattan project was a US government funded program that was created to develop the atomic bomb. A bomb that had already been thought up but the technology and the technical knowledge wasn't advanced enough to actually build one.
6. Ultimately, why did President Truman decide to drop atomic bombs on Japan?
He believed it would end the war.
He saw it as a military weapon and had no doubt whether or not to use it.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
6. What was D-Day? June 6, 1944
D-Day was a huge attack against german forces in France and the idea of Dwight Eisenhower. 3 Million american, british and canadian troops were used in this massive attack. The largest land-sea-air operation in army history.
7. What happened at the Battle of the Bulge?
After the attack of D-Day HItler decided to make an all out attack against the Brittish and American troops. He believed that if he could get his troops between the two nations' armies he could cut off suplies therefore making it much more difficult for them to fight and making it easier for Germany to defeat them.
On December 16 eight German tank divisions cut through weak american defenses along an 80 mile front. On their way westward toward Malmedy the german tanks captured 120 american GI's. The battle lasted for one month. During that month germany was pushed back and they had lost 120,000 troops 600 tanks and 1,600 planes.
8. What did Allied troops find in Germany?
Concentration Camps
9. What happened to Hitler? What happened to F.D. Roosevelt? Who became U.S. President?
Hitler married Eva Braun then together on April 29 1945 they comitted suicide.
Roosevelt had a stroke while posing for a picture on April 12 1945 and died.
Vice President Harry Truman became president.
D-Day was a huge attack against german forces in France and the idea of Dwight Eisenhower. 3 Million american, british and canadian troops were used in this massive attack. The largest land-sea-air operation in army history.
7. What happened at the Battle of the Bulge?
After the attack of D-Day HItler decided to make an all out attack against the Brittish and American troops. He believed that if he could get his troops between the two nations' armies he could cut off suplies therefore making it much more difficult for them to fight and making it easier for Germany to defeat them.
On December 16 eight German tank divisions cut through weak american defenses along an 80 mile front. On their way westward toward Malmedy the german tanks captured 120 american GI's. The battle lasted for one month. During that month germany was pushed back and they had lost 120,000 troops 600 tanks and 1,600 planes.
8. What did Allied troops find in Germany?
Concentration Camps
9. What happened to Hitler? What happened to F.D. Roosevelt? Who became U.S. President?
Hitler married Eva Braun then together on April 29 1945 they comitted suicide.
Roosevelt had a stroke while posing for a picture on April 12 1945 and died.
Vice President Harry Truman became president.
Monday, March 8, 2010
War for Europe & North Africa
1. To what did Roosevelt and Churchill agree early in the war?
That Germany and Italy presented a greater threat than Japan, therefore America and Britain focused most of their resources, technology and men into fighting the war against the european axis powers at the beginning of the war. This was mostly Churchill's idea because Britain was located so close to Germany it was in much more danger than the US and therefore was much more eager to defeat Germany than America, a nation separated by two oceans on either side from its enemies, was.
2. Why was winning the Battle of the Atlantic so crucial to the fortunes of the Allies?
The Battle of the Atlantic:
This battle took place in the Atlanic ocean. Britain relied heavily on supplies from america all of which were tranported by ship and presented easy targets for german submarines. January - April of 1942 germany was able to sink over 87 US ships by August that same year Germany had sunk a total of 681 ships.
Allies' Solution:
Britain and the US decided to protect their ships by sending them in groups called convoys this gave the ships mutual suport. The ships were also accompanied by destroyers equipped with radar which could spot out the enemy ships/submarines and sink them if they were in the way.
3. Why was the Battle of Stalingrad so important?
It was a huge turning point in the war for the Soviet Union. After its victory in Stalingrad the USSR began to push westward toward Berlin. Stalingrad was as far east as Germany got at the hight of its power.
4. What happened in the war in North Africa?
Stalin wanted Britain and the US to start an invasion across the English Channel but neither Churchill nor Roosevelt believed that the allies had enough men or resources to begin an invasion on european soil therefore they decided to begin a campaign in the Axis territories of North Africa instead.
5. What happened after the Allies invaded Italy?
Benito Musalini resigned from his possision of dictator and was arrested
Germany invaded Italy and fought american and British troops near Rome.
That Germany and Italy presented a greater threat than Japan, therefore America and Britain focused most of their resources, technology and men into fighting the war against the european axis powers at the beginning of the war. This was mostly Churchill's idea because Britain was located so close to Germany it was in much more danger than the US and therefore was much more eager to defeat Germany than America, a nation separated by two oceans on either side from its enemies, was.
2. Why was winning the Battle of the Atlantic so crucial to the fortunes of the Allies?
The Battle of the Atlantic:
This battle took place in the Atlanic ocean. Britain relied heavily on supplies from america all of which were tranported by ship and presented easy targets for german submarines. January - April of 1942 germany was able to sink over 87 US ships by August that same year Germany had sunk a total of 681 ships.
Allies' Solution:
Britain and the US decided to protect their ships by sending them in groups called convoys this gave the ships mutual suport. The ships were also accompanied by destroyers equipped with radar which could spot out the enemy ships/submarines and sink them if they were in the way.
3. Why was the Battle of Stalingrad so important?
It was a huge turning point in the war for the Soviet Union. After its victory in Stalingrad the USSR began to push westward toward Berlin. Stalingrad was as far east as Germany got at the hight of its power.
4. What happened in the war in North Africa?
Stalin wanted Britain and the US to start an invasion across the English Channel but neither Churchill nor Roosevelt believed that the allies had enough men or resources to begin an invasion on european soil therefore they decided to begin a campaign in the Axis territories of North Africa instead.
5. What happened after the Allies invaded Italy?
Benito Musalini resigned from his possision of dictator and was arrested
Germany invaded Italy and fought american and British troops near Rome.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Read Chapter 25-1: Mobilizing for War and note how each of the following contributed to that effort.
Please post to your blog prior to class on Monday. Title: Mobilizing for WWII. Labels: WWII, home front
1. Selective Service System
The selective service act required all men between the ages of 21 and 35 to register for the US draft. Those men were then eligible to be pick from a lottery would be forced to fight for a minimum of 12 months.
2. Women
The WAAC act (women’s auxiliary army corps act) allowed women to fight in WWII women in this division worked as electricians, pilots, ambulance drivers, nurses, radio operators, nearly every job that didn’t involve direct combat.
3. Minorities
Many minority groups were very unwilling to help in the war effort because they were so unfairly treated in america.
4. Manufacturers
Many industries were hugly influenced positively by the start of World War II. The manufacturing of war suplies increased therefore american bussinesses thrived during the time between 1940 and 1945. Many factories that had been car manufactering plants or other non essential manufacturers were tranformed into facturies that mad ewar material.
5. Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD)
Roosevelt created the OSRD in 1941. This project was created in order to improve american technology during the war.
6 Entertainment industry
Many american movies made during the late ‘30s and early ‘40s were very anti Nazi and help to motivate americans to fight the war against them.
Office of Price Administration (OPA)
The OPA was in charge of controling the inflation rate. It did this by freezing the prices of curtain products and by making more people pay taxes than before.
8. War Production Board (WPB)
The WPDs job was to decide which manufacturing plants should be converted to making war time materials.
9. Rationing
during WWII the government had to ration item that were needed for soldiers abroad. All americans were given ration books in which were coupons that allowed them a certain amount of food and gasoline for each week.
Please post to your blog prior to class on Monday. Title: Mobilizing for WWII. Labels: WWII, home front
1. Selective Service System
The selective service act required all men between the ages of 21 and 35 to register for the US draft. Those men were then eligible to be pick from a lottery would be forced to fight for a minimum of 12 months.
2. Women
The WAAC act (women’s auxiliary army corps act) allowed women to fight in WWII women in this division worked as electricians, pilots, ambulance drivers, nurses, radio operators, nearly every job that didn’t involve direct combat.
3. Minorities
Many minority groups were very unwilling to help in the war effort because they were so unfairly treated in america.
4. Manufacturers
Many industries were hugly influenced positively by the start of World War II. The manufacturing of war suplies increased therefore american bussinesses thrived during the time between 1940 and 1945. Many factories that had been car manufactering plants or other non essential manufacturers were tranformed into facturies that mad ewar material.
5. Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD)
Roosevelt created the OSRD in 1941. This project was created in order to improve american technology during the war.
6 Entertainment industry
Many american movies made during the late ‘30s and early ‘40s were very anti Nazi and help to motivate americans to fight the war against them.
Office of Price Administration (OPA)
The OPA was in charge of controling the inflation rate. It did this by freezing the prices of curtain products and by making more people pay taxes than before.
8. War Production Board (WPB)
The WPDs job was to decide which manufacturing plants should be converted to making war time materials.
9. Rationing
during WWII the government had to ration item that were needed for soldiers abroad. All americans were given ration books in which were coupons that allowed them a certain amount of food and gasoline for each week.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
1. What did the 1939 Neutrality Act allow?
It allowed american businesses to sell their goods (like oil, steel, etc.,) to european nations. Although the european countries were responsible for the transportation of the supplies.
2. Who were the Axis powers?
Germany, Japan and Italy
3. What did the Lend-Lease Act do?
It allowed the president to lend supplies to nations who were at war and were important to the prosparity of america.
4. What pledges were contained in the Atlantic Charter?
The US and Great Britain mutually agreed not to engage each other in battle and to protect eachother specificaly at sea.
Basically this was like an alliance between the US and the UK.
5. Who were the Allies?
The United States of America, Britain and Russia
6. What did the attack at Pearl Harbor do to the U.S. Pacific fleet?
The Japanese sunk most of the battleships in the American Pacific fleet (8 to be exact) and killed many americans. In adition they also sunk ships that were not used for military purposes.
7. Why did Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.?
The US declared war on Japan and because of certain agreements Italy and Germany had made with japan they had to aid Japan in its war against america.
It allowed american businesses to sell their goods (like oil, steel, etc.,) to european nations. Although the european countries were responsible for the transportation of the supplies.
2. Who were the Axis powers?
Germany, Japan and Italy
3. What did the Lend-Lease Act do?
It allowed the president to lend supplies to nations who were at war and were important to the prosparity of america.
4. What pledges were contained in the Atlantic Charter?
The US and Great Britain mutually agreed not to engage each other in battle and to protect eachother specificaly at sea.
Basically this was like an alliance between the US and the UK.
5. Who were the Allies?
The United States of America, Britain and Russia
6. What did the attack at Pearl Harbor do to the U.S. Pacific fleet?
The Japanese sunk most of the battleships in the American Pacific fleet (8 to be exact) and killed many americans. In adition they also sunk ships that were not used for military purposes.
7. Why did Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.?
The US declared war on Japan and because of certain agreements Italy and Germany had made with japan they had to aid Japan in its war against america.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
1. What were the goals of the isolationists? Why is "isolationism" a misleading term?
ISOLATIONISM:
Americans believed that american interest were entirely different and often more important than those of Europe.
They also believed that American values and interests should be spread or negotiated through means other that war.
Misleading? Well the term isolationism gives the impression that americans wanted to cut themselves off completely from the rest of the world. This was not the case at all. Isolationists believed that america should take part in international afairs and trading, they also believed in abiding the international law that were created after World War I.
2. Why did some isolationists feel that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia?
Many americans were very racist and saw Japan and other asian countries as a very small threat to the nation. In addition they also believed that there was a large enough barrier (Pacific Ocean) between asia and the US that those nations, mainly Japan, would never be able to make it close enough to physically affect america.
3. What were the purposes of the Nye Committee hearings? 1934- 1936
The Nye Committee, led by Senator Gerald Nye, was established in order to figure out the causes of WWI and how/why America got involved. The theory was that if they understood the causes of WWI they would better understand how to avoid another war with Europe.
4. List two impressions that the Nye Committee hearings created.
- It increased isolationist support
- It said that if Wilson had not allowed large corporations to supply curtain (non ally) european nations the US might not have had to get involved in the war at all.
5. What were the purposes of the Neutrality Acts?
It prohibited the sale of war supplies like oil and steel to other nations.
6. List two reasons that some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous.
Americans were worried that Roosevelt was becoming almost like a dictator (exp. packing the court)
Americans didn't want a very intrusive government
7. What was "Cash and Carry"?
The "Cash and Carry" was part of the Neutrality Act of 1939 it allowed the sale of american war supplies to Europe. Although it required european nations to provide the transportation of the supplies.
This was a huge plus for american businesses for now they could sell much more supplies and they didn't even have to transport the goods.
8. Why did President Roosevelt freeze Japanese assets in the United States?
Well at first Roosevelt tried to stop Japan's aggression by cutting off its supply of plane fuel and scrap metal. This didn't work however because, now Japan felt "strangled" and needed raw material badly. In September 1940 Japan invaded Northern French Indochina. It wasn't exactly an invasion because the government in French INdochina was largely run by the German government and therefore the Japanese were allowed to enter and take advantage of the abundance of oil that lay in Indochina.
This is what caused Roosevelt to ultimately "freeze out" Japanese assets in the US.
Germany Reacted by freezing US assets in Japan
9. What was the purpose of the American First Committee?
The main purpose of the AMerican First Committee was to keep America out of war with Europe.
ISOLATIONISM:
Americans believed that american interest were entirely different and often more important than those of Europe.
They also believed that American values and interests should be spread or negotiated through means other that war.
Misleading? Well the term isolationism gives the impression that americans wanted to cut themselves off completely from the rest of the world. This was not the case at all. Isolationists believed that america should take part in international afairs and trading, they also believed in abiding the international law that were created after World War I.
2. Why did some isolationists feel that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia?
Many americans were very racist and saw Japan and other asian countries as a very small threat to the nation. In addition they also believed that there was a large enough barrier (Pacific Ocean) between asia and the US that those nations, mainly Japan, would never be able to make it close enough to physically affect america.
3. What were the purposes of the Nye Committee hearings? 1934- 1936
The Nye Committee, led by Senator Gerald Nye, was established in order to figure out the causes of WWI and how/why America got involved. The theory was that if they understood the causes of WWI they would better understand how to avoid another war with Europe.
4. List two impressions that the Nye Committee hearings created.
- It increased isolationist support
- It said that if Wilson had not allowed large corporations to supply curtain (non ally) european nations the US might not have had to get involved in the war at all.
5. What were the purposes of the Neutrality Acts?
It prohibited the sale of war supplies like oil and steel to other nations.
6. List two reasons that some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous.
Americans were worried that Roosevelt was becoming almost like a dictator (exp. packing the court)
Americans didn't want a very intrusive government
7. What was "Cash and Carry"?
The "Cash and Carry" was part of the Neutrality Act of 1939 it allowed the sale of american war supplies to Europe. Although it required european nations to provide the transportation of the supplies.
This was a huge plus for american businesses for now they could sell much more supplies and they didn't even have to transport the goods.
8. Why did President Roosevelt freeze Japanese assets in the United States?
Well at first Roosevelt tried to stop Japan's aggression by cutting off its supply of plane fuel and scrap metal. This didn't work however because, now Japan felt "strangled" and needed raw material badly. In September 1940 Japan invaded Northern French Indochina. It wasn't exactly an invasion because the government in French INdochina was largely run by the German government and therefore the Japanese were allowed to enter and take advantage of the abundance of oil that lay in Indochina.
This is what caused Roosevelt to ultimately "freeze out" Japanese assets in the US.
Germany Reacted by freezing US assets in Japan
9. What was the purpose of the American First Committee?
The main purpose of the AMerican First Committee was to keep America out of war with Europe.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
1. What was the Japanese reaction to the Treaty of Versailles? (pgs. 4 - 5)
Even though the Japanese were invited to the convention they were not treated with nearly as much respect as they deserved nor as much as the other nation's embasadors were given. They were embarissed and when they returned to Japan they were determined to become a major and highly powerful nation.
2. Read the pull-out box on page 4 entitled, "Japan Becomes a Great Power." Cite specific evidence Japan was becoming a strong power that rivaled European & American interests. And, why specifically was Japan threatened by U.S. actions?
JAPAN'S GROWTH OF POWER:
"Enrich the nation and strengthen the army." - This was the slogan of a Japanese program that was started in 1860. Up till this point the nation had had little interest in international affairs with europe and the americas. This was the start of Japan's economic and military growth.
"Between 1885 and 1920, its gross domestic product, or all of the goods and services produced by Japan, increased threefold."
"Manufacturing and mining increased sixfold"
"In 1905, Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War and gained access to parts of Manchuria. Japan annexed Korea in 1910."
Japanese Threats to America:
Japan was interested in expanding into China, but other powers, particularly Britain and the United States. saw Japanese interests in conflict with their own designs?
3. Why was the Washington Naval Conference convened and what was accomplished? (pg. 6) (Note: Japan signs the agreement.)
By 1920 Japan's huge teritorial,military and economic growth twas too great for America to ignore any longer. Particularly Japan's advancements in the pacific islands, which the nation had been gobbling up and rapidly shortening the distance between itself and the United States. In 1921 the US called together nine nations to discuss the rising powers of Japan. At these confrances, known as the Wachington Naval Conferences, the nine nations set up some peramiters for Japan's future progress. Niether Japan nor any nation at the convention was aloud to use poisonous gases, both parties were limited by a restriction on the size of battle ships aswell as the general number of them and a limit on submarine involvement in future wars.
4. The Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact relected two strong and widely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)
The Kellogg-Briand Pact was nearly the same as an aliance between america and France. It prohibited either countries from engaging in war against the other. America had remenmbered the deaths of WW1 and was reluctent to get dragged into another great war.
5. Why did Hitler enjoy popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s? Give three reasons. (pgs. 9 - 10)
-Hitler was an excellent speaker
-Hitler was good at telling the people of Germany what they wanted to hear.
-Germany was in a huge economic decline and was eager to turn to a leader who could get them out of the many troubles they had
6. Japan voiced its intentions to invade China for what two reasons? (pg. 10)
1) to gain control of raw materials
2) to gain power
7. Compare the Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria. What did they accomplish?
Both desasters were mainly beneficial to both Japan and Germany for although they caused damage to their property they were good excuses to blame their aponents and increase national resentment towards enemy nations.
8. Why was the united States unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force? (pgs. 11 - 12)
In adition to Japan's disregard for the Treaties it had signed at the washington naval conferences the US army had drastically shrunk after the first world war and was therefore not prepared for a fight against Japan.
Even though the Japanese were invited to the convention they were not treated with nearly as much respect as they deserved nor as much as the other nation's embasadors were given. They were embarissed and when they returned to Japan they were determined to become a major and highly powerful nation.
2. Read the pull-out box on page 4 entitled, "Japan Becomes a Great Power." Cite specific evidence Japan was becoming a strong power that rivaled European & American interests. And, why specifically was Japan threatened by U.S. actions?
JAPAN'S GROWTH OF POWER:
"Enrich the nation and strengthen the army." - This was the slogan of a Japanese program that was started in 1860. Up till this point the nation had had little interest in international affairs with europe and the americas. This was the start of Japan's economic and military growth.
"Between 1885 and 1920, its gross domestic product, or all of the goods and services produced by Japan, increased threefold."
"Manufacturing and mining increased sixfold"
"In 1905, Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War and gained access to parts of Manchuria. Japan annexed Korea in 1910."
Japanese Threats to America:
Japan was interested in expanding into China, but other powers, particularly Britain and the United States. saw Japanese interests in conflict with their own designs?
3. Why was the Washington Naval Conference convened and what was accomplished? (pg. 6) (Note: Japan signs the agreement.)
By 1920 Japan's huge teritorial,military and economic growth twas too great for America to ignore any longer. Particularly Japan's advancements in the pacific islands, which the nation had been gobbling up and rapidly shortening the distance between itself and the United States. In 1921 the US called together nine nations to discuss the rising powers of Japan. At these confrances, known as the Wachington Naval Conferences, the nine nations set up some peramiters for Japan's future progress. Niether Japan nor any nation at the convention was aloud to use poisonous gases, both parties were limited by a restriction on the size of battle ships aswell as the general number of them and a limit on submarine involvement in future wars.
4. The Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact relected two strong and widely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)
The Kellogg-Briand Pact was nearly the same as an aliance between america and France. It prohibited either countries from engaging in war against the other. America had remenmbered the deaths of WW1 and was reluctent to get dragged into another great war.
5. Why did Hitler enjoy popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s? Give three reasons. (pgs. 9 - 10)
-Hitler was an excellent speaker
-Hitler was good at telling the people of Germany what they wanted to hear.
-Germany was in a huge economic decline and was eager to turn to a leader who could get them out of the many troubles they had
6. Japan voiced its intentions to invade China for what two reasons? (pg. 10)
1) to gain control of raw materials
2) to gain power
7. Compare the Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria. What did they accomplish?
Both desasters were mainly beneficial to both Japan and Germany for although they caused damage to their property they were good excuses to blame their aponents and increase national resentment towards enemy nations.
8. Why was the united States unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force? (pgs. 11 - 12)
In adition to Japan's disregard for the Treaties it had signed at the washington naval conferences the US army had drastically shrunk after the first world war and was therefore not prepared for a fight against Japan.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)