SOL 11

While negotiating with the United States and without any warning, Japan carried out an air attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. The attack and destroyed much of the American Pacific fleet and killed several thousand Americans. Roosevelt called it "a date that will live in infamy" as he asked Congress to declare war on Japan.

As tensions rose between the Unites States and Japan in 1941, what did Japan do to the U.S. on what day? President Roosevelt called this day what and asked congress to do what?

The systematic and purposeful destruction of a racial, political, religious, or cultural group. Germany's decision to exterminate all Jews.

Descibe what Genocide means, Hitler's "Final solution", and what people were targeted.

African Americans generally served in segregated military units and were assigned to noncombat roles but demanded the right to serve in combat rather than support roles.

Describe how the minority participation in WWII reflected the social conditions in the United States?

Despite strong isolationist sentiment at home, the United States increasingly helped Britain. It gave Briatin war supplies and old naval warships in return for military bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean. Soon after, the Lend-Lease Act gave the president authority to sell or lend equipment to countries negotiated to avoid war.

Despite strong isolationism in the U.S., how did they help Britain? What was the Lend-Lease Act and what did Franklin Roosevelt compare the act to?

World War II began with Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939, followed shortly after by the Soviet Union's invasion of Poland and the Baltic countries from the east. During first two years of the war, the United States stayed officially neutral while Germany overran France and most of Europe and pounced Britain from the air (the Battle of Britain).

How did WWII begin? During the first two years of WWII what was the United States position?

Communication codes of the Navajo were used (oral, not written language; impossible for the Japanese to break). Mexican Americans also fought, but in nonsegregated units. Minority units suffered high casualties and won numerous unit citations and individual medals for bravery in action.

How did the Navajo and the Mexican Americans contribute to the victory WWII? What happened to minorities in the war? Addtional contributions of minories?

Tuskegee Airmen (African American) served in Europe with distinction. Nisei regiments (Asian American) earned a high number of decortations.

How did the minorities contribute to the Allied victory? Specifically, who were the Tuskegee Airmen, who were the Nisei Regiments, and what did they do in WWII?

During the 1930s, a militaristic Japan invaded and brutalized Manchuria and China as it sought military and economic domination over Asia. The United States refused to reconize Japanese conquests in Asia and imposed an embargo on exports of oil and steel to Japan.

What did Japan do to Manchuria in the 1930s? What did the United States do in response?

After Pearl Harbor, Hitler honored a pact with Japan and delared war on the United States. The debates over isolationism in the United States were over. World War II was now a true world war, and the United States was fully involved.

What did the attack on Peral Harbor do to the American fleet? After the attack on Pearl Harbor, what was their strategy?

Hundreds of thousands of German soldiers were killed or captured in a months-long siege of the Russian city of Stalingrad. This defeat prevented Germany from seizing the Soviet oil fields and turned the tide against Germany in the east.

What happen at Stalingrad during WWII? Why was it significant?

American and Allied troops under Eisenhower landed in German-occupied France on June 6, 1944. Despite intense German opposition and heavy American casualties, the landings succeeded, and the liberation of western Europe from Hitler began.

What happen at the Normandy landings known as D-Day during WWII? Who was the commander in charge of D-Day and on what day did it occur? Why was this significant?

In the Bataan Death March, American POW's suffered brutal treatment by the Japanese after surrender of the Philippines.

What happended in the Philippines during WWII? What was the Bataan Death March?

The American invasions of the islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa brought American forces closer than ever to Japan, but both invasions cost thousands of American lives and even more Japanese lives, as Japanese soldiers fought fiercely over every square inch of the islands and Japanese soldiers and civilians committed suicide rather then surrender.

What happened at Iwo Jima and Okinawa during WWII? Why were these significant?

In the battle of Midway (termed the "Miracle at Midway"), American naval forces defeated a much larger Japanese force as it prepared to seize Midway Island. Coming only a few months after Pearl Harbor, a Japanese victory at Midway would have enabled Japan to invade Hawaii.

What happened at Midway during WWII? Why was it significant?

Facing the prospect of horrendous American and Japanese casualties if American forces were to invade Japan itself, President Truman ordered the use of atomic bombs on Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to force the Japanese to surrender. Tens of thousands of people were killed in both cities. Shortly after the bombs were used, the Japanese leaders surrendered, avoiding the need for American forces to invade Japan.

What president had to decide to use the atomic boms on Japan? Why did he decide to use the bombs? What two cities were the bombs used on? What happened as a result of using the bombs?

The United States stayed officially neutral while Germany overran France and most of Europe and pounced Britain from the air (the Battle of Britain). In mid-1941, Hitler turned on his former partner and invaded the Soviet Union.

What was the Battle of Britain? The Soviet Union and Germany had made a pact at the beginning or the war but what happened to end this pact?

The Geneva Convention attempted to ensure the humane treatment of prisoners of war by establishing rules to be followed by all nations. The treatment of prisoners of war in the Pacific Theater often reflected the savagery of the fighting there.

What was the purpose of the Geneva Convention? Did the Japanese and Europeans follow it? Explain.

In the Pacific, American military strategy called for an "island hopping" campaign, seizing islands closer and closer to Japan and using them as bases for air attacks on Japan, and for cutting off Japanese supplies through submarine warfare against Japanese shipping.

What was the strategy used in the Pacific during WWII?

In the Nuremberg trials, Nazi leaders and others were convicted of war crimes. The Nuremburg trials emphasized individual responsibility for actions during war, regardless of others received. The trials led to increased demand for a Jewish homeland.

What were the Nuremborg Trials and why were they significant? What did the trials make the Jewish people want?

Germany hoped to defeat the Soviet Union quickly, gain control of Soviet oils fields, and force Britain out of the war through a coming campaign and submarine warfare before America's industrial and military strength could turn the tide.

Who were the Axis Powers? What were their strategies? Axis strategy?

America and its allies (Britain, and the Soviet Union after being invaded by Germany) followed a "Defeat Hitler First" strategy. Most American military resources were targeted for Europe.

Who were the allies in WWII? What was their strategy?