May 28, 2015

I can explain the causes of World War II.

I can analyze the reasons why the United States entered World War II.

A) Warm Up: World War II

WWII VOCABULARY LIST1. Ammunition: Bullets and explosive materials used for war.

2. Axis Powers: The nations of Germany, Japan, and Italy during WWII.

3. Allies: The nations of Great Britain, the Soviet Union, & U.S. during WWII.

4. Civilian: A private citizen during wartime.

5. Duration: The time something lasts “For the duration of the war we need...” For “the duration” was a phrase was often used during WWII.

6. Home Front: The area of civilian activity during a war.

7. War Effort: The joint efforts of citizens & military to win a war.

8. Rationing: Limiting the amount of foods or materials that one is allowed to purchase. (Also Rations)

9. Victory Gardens: Private or community gardens people planted to help relieve food shortages.

Rose = Axis Powers Pink = Controlled by AxisTurquoise = Allied Powers Yellow = Neutral Countries

What were the main causes of WWII? Worldwide depression, unemployment, & high

inflation. Political instability in Europe after World War I. Germany had war debts to repay from WWI, and

sought revenge for its defeat. Germany & Japan became hostile to neighboring

countries. Hitler’s rose to power in Germany, and in 1933 became

chancellor. Building a strong military, he hoped to takeover Europe. He promised better times.

Growing Anti-Semitism in Europe generated laws discriminating against & harming Jews & others.

What were the major WWII Events?1) Germany invades Poland, Sept. 1939, and Denmark,

Norway, & France in April-May of 1940.2) Battle of Britain in London, -July 19403) Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, -Dec. 7, 19414) U.S. first declares war on Japan on Dec. 8, 1941, and

then on Germany 3 days later, on Dec. 11, 1941.5) D-Day, Normandy, France, June 6, 19446) Germany Surrenders, May 7, 19457) A-Bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,

Aug.1945 Japan surrenders, Aug. 1945.

Dec. 7, 1941: Pearl Harbor & Day of Infamy:

• Dec. 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, near Honolulu, Hawaii.

• The attack lasted just 2 hours and destroying nearly 20 American naval vessels, many battleships, & 200 airplanes.

• More than 2,000 Americans soldiers and sailors died in the attack.

• Another 1,000 were wounded in the attack.

Headlines: Dec. 8, 1941

On December 8, 1941, President Roosevelt committed American forces to the Allied cause & asked Congress to declare war on Japan. “Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy. The U.S. of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval & air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

President Roosevelt signing a declaration of war against Japan

on Dec. 8 1941 and against Germany on Dec. 11, 1,941.

Aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. Below:L to R, USS West Virginia, USS Tennessee, and USS Arizona.

(Franklin Roosevelt Library

Video: Attack on Pearl HarborVideo: U.S. Enters WWII

D-Day Invasion: June 6, 1944 Video: D-Day Clip

• Battle of Normandy, lasted from June 1944-Aug. 1944, resulting in the Allied liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany’s control.

• Codenamed Operation Overlord, about 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region.

• The invasion was one of the largest amphibious (by sea) military assaults in history and required extensive planning.

• Prior to D-Day, the Allies conducted a large-scale “deception” campaign to mislead the Germans about the invasion target.

• By late August 1944, all of northern France was liberated, and by the following spring the Allies defeated the Germans.

• The Normandy landings have been called the “beginning of the end” of war in Europe.

D-Day: June 6, 1944: LCVP Utah: Tightly packed troops plows through a wave. In the distance is the coast of Normandy, France

On the the “Home Front” • Most Americans spent the war at home, and followed

the news. Movie theaters showed news reels of the war and hosted bond drives.

• Families worried if sons were going to be called to fight.• People worried about sons off fighting and sent letters.• WWII brought new jobs to people across the U.S. which

helped the economy. • There were jobs at ammunition plants, military clothing

factories and building portable bridges.• Iron from the Minnesota Iron Range sent was shipped

off and turned into guns and tanks.

The Home Front: Rationing Rationing is limiting the amount of foods or materials that one is allowed to purchase. •Across the U.S., people conserved, reused, or repaired items they needed for the war effort.•Many resources such as: milk, sugar, eggs, meat, juices, canned fruits and vegetables were rationed

•Some people began to grow their own food in “victory gardens.” Scarce & hard to find items during WWII.:•Safety pins, refrigerators, cars, tires became •Copper and brass were being used to make military hardware.•Rubber was needed for military tires.•Gasoline was needed for planes, tanks and trucks

War Bonds

• Americans contributed to the war effort by buying war bonds, loans the government promised to pay back with interest after the war.

• Buying war bonds left people with less money to spend but many people thought it was their patriotic duty.

The War Ends: August 15, 1945.

family in St. Paul, MN -1945These 3 sons returned from the service. This photo appeared in the St.

Paul paper in 1945.

What is your family’s World War II story?

The End