Ch.19 & 20

Axis Powers

Alliance of Germany, Italy, Japan during World War II. It is important because this alliance of nations was seen as the "bad guys".

Allied Powers

Alliance of Great Britain, Soviet Union, United States, and France during World War II. It is important because this alliance of nations was seen as the "good guys".

Potsdam Conference

At this conference the big 3 where there again and Roosevelt and Stain argued over their past argument of democracy vs. communism. It is important because other than the mistrust of the U.S. and Soviet Union this conference decided the Nuremberg Trails would take place to bring war criminals to justice.

Harry S. Truman

He became president after Roosevelt. He had to make the hard decision of using or not using bombs against the Japanese. He is important because he decided to go ahead and use the bombs on the Japanese.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

He was a U.S. general who landed on the beaches of Normandy. He is important because later became one of presidents of the U.S.

Douglas MacArthur

He was a U.S. general who moved across the Pacific islands and created the term island hopping. Island hopping is a policy to capture some Japanese held islands and bypass other to reach Japan. He is important because he helped to reach the main islands.

Nikita Khrushchev

He was the new leader of the Soviet Union in 1955. He tried to take advantage of the American concern over missiles to solve the problem of West Berlin. He is important because of his resistants of the flow of refugees from east germany to west berlin caused the division between germany and the soviet union.

Winston Churchill

He was the prime minister of Great Britain. He is important because led Britain throughout most of World War II and he predicted an iron curtain that would separate Communist Europe from the rest of the West.

Warsaw Pact

In response to the NATO pact, the Soviets created this pact in 1955 to create its own military alliance. It is important because this second pact created hostile military alliances systems that divided the nations which started WW1 in the first place.

Domino Theory

It is a theory that if one nation comes under Communist control, then neighboring nations will also come under Communist control. It is important because the U.S. was extremely against communism.

Appeasement

It is the policy based on belief that if European states satisfied the reasonable demand of dissatisfied powers, the dissatisfied powers would be content, and stability and peace would be achieved in Europe. It is important because Great Britain tried to use this with Germany to create peace.

De-Stalinization

It is the social process of neutralizing the influence of Joseph Stalin by Khrushchev's revising Stalin's policies and removing monuments dedicated to him and renaming places named in his honor. It is important because Khrushchev did this because he disliked Stalin for jailing and killing loyal Soviet citizens.

Marshall Plan

It sent financial aid to help countries regain power without communism. It was seen as a crowning achievement for post-war foreign policy for the U.S. It is important because it was a way for U.S to prevent communism so they could go on with the democratic institutions unlike what the Soviets wanted. this created a lot of tension between the U.S. and Soviet Union during the cold war.

Battle of Britain

It was a battle between Germany and Britain. Germany's goal was to successfully invade Britain. They used planes to bomb British air and naval bases, harbors, communication centers, and war industries. Britain fought back with an effective radar system that gave them early warning of German attacks. Britain suffered critical losses of their air force. The battle started Germany's massive bombing of British cities instead of Britain's military targets. Since Germany didn't bomb military targets, Britain was able to rebuild their military quickly and inflict major losses of Germany's air force which cause Germany not to invade Britain. It is important because it was a big loss to the Germans.

Siege of Leningrad

It was a battle between Germany and the Soviet Union. Germany believed they could easily defeat and take control over the Soviet Union. Hitler invaded the Soviet Union when he believed they would still be weak from the harsh winter. The German army split up in to 3 groups. 1st group went through the Ukraine, 2nd group went to Leningrad, and 3rd group went near the capital of Moscow. Through the early winter and fierce Soviet resistance, the German invasion was halted. It is important because it helped it weakened the supplies of the Germans.

Battle of Stalingrad

It was a battle between Germany and the Soviet Union. Hitler decided he wanted to take over Stalingrad which was a major industrial center on the Volga River. Due to harsh winter conditions, shortage of food and unequipped clothes, the Germans surrendered. It is important because it was a turning point against the Germans.

Truman Doctrine

It was a document that supported free people throughout economic and financial aid after the war. It supplied materials and training officers to the liberated places also. It is important because it was able to help rebuild and support the newly liberated places that had been destroyed in the war.

NATO

It was an agreement formed in 1949 that stated each nation would come to the defense of any member nation. It is important because it was made for the purpose of a search for security during the cold war.

Battle of Midway Island

It was between the U.S. and the Japanese. The U.S. destroyed attacking Japanese aircraft carriers. It is important because this defeat of the Japanese established the U.S. as having naval superiority.

Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact

It was created in 1939 to promise that Germany and Russia would not attack each other. It is important because Germany and Russia were trying to create peace between each other.

Rape of Nanjing

It was in1937 when Japan seized the capital of China. The Japanese Army destroyed the city of Nanjing and massacred 100,000 citizens and prisoners of war. It is important because Japan was ruthless which pushed further and further into a brutal war with China.

Arms race

The U.S. and Soviet Union built up their armies and weapons. Nuclear weapons became very destructive as each country raced to built deadlier bombs. It is important because it caused both sides to believe that an arsenal of nuclear weapons would prevent war.

Yalta Conference

The conference where the big 3 met again to discuss the division the liberated lands left by germany. G.B. and the U.S. were big on a democratic institution of their choice while Stalin was all of communism. it is important because this upset of Stalin would later led to the mistrust of the cold war.

Tehran Conference

The conference where the big 3 met in 1943 to discuss the invasion of western europe moving into france. it is important because this plan's purpose was to finally defeat germany.