11th Grade WWII Part 1: Study Questions and Vocabulary1. Describe the causes of World War II. 2. Explain the debate over U.S. neutrality and its thawing

in 1941.3. Explain why and how the U.S. government interred

Japanese Americans.4. Describe how the war was fought in the Pacific.5. Explain how D-Day was a major turning point in

World War II.6. Be able to define, use, and give examples of the

following vocabulary terms.

Vocabulary Terms1. colonies - lands ruled by a stronger nation2. economy - financial affairs of a country3. revolution - overthrow of a government4. reparations - money paid for war damages5. empire - a nation that rules itself and others6. ideology - set of beliefs7. fascism - ideology characterized by a one-party dictatorship, massive military, extreme national

pride, government control over the economy, and strict limits on the rights of citizens8. inflation - rise in the costs of goods and services9. communism - political system under which all property and business are owned “in common” under

strict government control10. paramilitary - army that is not part of a nation’s forces11. alliance - countries that agree to work together and defend one another in war12. neutrality - non-participation in a conflict13. belligerent - country taking part in a war14. blitzkrieg - German “lightning fast” attack of coordinated air and ground forces15. charter - agreement16. conscription - required military service; a draft17. isolationism - policy of avoiding involvement in world affairs18. embargo - official ban on trade with another country19. civilians - people not in the military20. internment - imprisonment, locked up21. discrimination - unfair treatment based on race, religion, gender, national origin, etc.22. rationale - an explanation of reasons23. sabotage - deliberate damage or destruction24. civil rights - freedoms that all citizens should have25. due process - the right to proper legal procedures and justice26. pardon - forgiveness, release from punishment27. retreat - to fall back or run away28. siege - surrounding a place to cut off supplies as a means to force surrender29. amphibious - operates on land and water30. kamikaze - Japanese suicide pilot in W.W. II

Bare Minimum Answers to Study Questions (questions in bold)Describe the causes of World War II.

I. World War II was essentially caused by W.W.I and its harsh peace treaty. II. Europe and Germany were destroyed, the latter severely punished. III. The economic conditions of the Great Depression made a terrible situation even worse, leaving

Germany and Italy ripe for fascist dictators to come to power. IV. Then their large military and empire expansion fueled their nations’ economies, leading directly

to war.

Explain the debate over U.S. neutrality and its thawing in 1941. I. As Europe moved closer to war, U.S. neutrality acts were passed forbidding the sale of munitions

to belligerents. II. Many argued that problems in Europe did not pose a threat to the U.S. and the nation was too

strong to be attacked. III. Anti-isolationists argued the country’s responsibility as a global leader to protect people from

fascist dictators. IV. Early blows to the Allies, such as the fall of France, shocked many Americans out of their

isolationism. V. FDR signed the Atlantic Charter and Lend-Lease Act by 1941. VI. Any pretense of neutrality ended with the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor in December 1941.

Explain why and how the U.S. government interred Japanese Americans. I. After Pearl Harbor many feared “Japanese” people, even those born here, would spy for their

“homeland” or commit sabotage. II. So FDR authorized the military to remove Japanese immigrants and citizens from the West Coast

and relocate them into internment camps. III. Many disagreed, arguing Japanese Americans were being deprived of their civil rights. IV. Years later, the U.S. government apologized for its W.W. II actions.

Describe how the war was fought in the Pacific. I. In general terms Japan quickly conquered a vast area of Pacific islands. The Allies did not begin

to take the offensive until after their victory at Midway. II. Then slowly, using their “island-hopped” strategy, bypassing heavily defended areas to more

easily capture islands where they set up bases for further attacks, the Allies regained land.

Explain how D-Day was a major turning point in World War II. I. Once North Africa, Italy, and the Soviet Union were under Allied control, the next step was to free

France. II. The invasion codenamed Operation Overlord was planned for D-Day, June 6, 1944. III. Thousands of Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy and pushed the Nazis back out

of France and towards Germany.