World War II Part 1: EDPUZZLE #35
What's the 2nd reason Stalin wasn't happy AND when would that change?
The 2nd reason Stalin wasn't happy was because rather than invading France and striking at Germany more directly, the Allies invaded Sicily and Italy where we fought from 1943-44. That changed when we decided to join Brits and Canadians on D-Day invade Normandy. That was the beginning of the end for the Nazis.
How did the U.S. become the "arsenal of democracy" AND how did it work?
The US became the "arsenal of democracy" by the Land Lease Act authorizing military aid to countries that promised to pay it back sometime after the war. "arsenal of democracy" worked by the US giving arms and military material worth billions of dollars to Britain and to the USSR. US also froze Japanese assets here and basically ended all trade in between US and Japan.
What are the arguments for and against dropping the atomic bombs?
The arguments for dropping the atomic bomb were that it was just to threaten the USSR to prevent them from taking more military from the east. They helped save US lives. If invaded, so many Americans would've died, along with Japanese troops. The arguments against dropping the atomic bomb were that it was not ethical because so many people died unnecessarily. Primary targets were not military. Evidence shows Japan would surrender if they could keep their emperor on the throne.
What's the significance of the Mystery document?
The significance of the Mystery document was that it was written by a war correspondent named Ernie Pyle. He is the best European theatre American writer in all of WW2.
Explain ways the America was isolationist after WWI and up to WWII?
Ways that America was isolationist after WW1 and up to WW2 was that Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts, banning the sale of arms to belligerents. We were neutral when it came to foreign interventions with Europe (Eurocentrisism). US didn't get involved with WW2 until 2 years after it started and they decided to join when they noticed that Hitler had invaded Poland.
Describe "island hopping" strategy AND summarize the war in the Pacific using this strategy.
"island hopping strategy" was taking another countries land slowly but surely and then using that land as your own and using it against the country whose land you took it from. This strategy was used during the war in the Pacific by taking Japanese islands one at a time to be used as bases for bombers that could then be used against Japan itself. The process was slow and the competition was rough and quite expensive.
Explain 5 ways that America was less than isolationist after WWI and up to WWII?
1. US sponsored a series of arms reduction negotiations that resulted in Washington treaties limiting the number of battleships a country could posses. 2. pursuance of the Good Neighbor Policy with Latin America (we were bad neighbors...) 3. continued to support repressive dictators like Somoza in Nicaragua and others as well 4. We were much less involved in world trade 5. removed troops from Dominican Republic and Haiti
America's foreign policy was shaped by what 2 events?
America's foreign policy was shaped by WW1 and the Great Depression.
Briefly what were the American and Russian contributions in defeating Germany in WWII?
Americans liberated Paris and were also part of the final assault on Germany. They also liberated lots of concentration camps. But really though, Russians did most of the fighting in Europe, loosing about 20 million people. Russians also captured Berlin.
Why did it take 2 years for the U.S. to enter WWII AND why did we finally enter the war?
It took 2 years for the US to enter WW2 because we were trying to stay isolationist, although when Germany puts us at threat along with other countries, like Japan, we must fight back. We finally choose to enter WW2 because Japan pilots bombed US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, destroying 187 airplanes, 18 naval vessels, and more than 2000 American Servicemen were killed.
