Chapter 25Chapter 25World War IIWorld War II

The American PeopleThe American People, 6, 6thth ed. ed.

I.I. The Twisting Road The Twisting Road to Warto War

Europe on the Brink of WarEurope on the Brink of War

In 1934, Adolph Hitler announced a In 1934, Adolph Hitler announced a program of rearming Germany in program of rearming Germany in violation of the Treaty of Versailles violation of the Treaty of Versailles

In Italy, Benito Mussolini was also In Italy, Benito Mussolini was also building a powerful military forcebuilding a powerful military force

Many American adults belonged to peace Many American adults belonged to peace organizations and were determined never organizations and were determined never again to enter a foreign waragain to enter a foreign war

War in EuropeWar in Europe Roosevelt, while not an isolationist, was Roosevelt, while not an isolationist, was

determined to keep America out of the European determined to keep America out of the European warwar

March 1938: Hitler takes the Sudetenland of March 1938: Hitler takes the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia and later overruns the entire Czechoslovakia and later overruns the entire countrycountry

August 1939: Germany and Russia sign non-August 1939: Germany and Russia sign non-aggression pact; Germany attacks Poland, aggression pact; Germany attacks Poland, making the official beginning of World War II as making the official beginning of World War II as France and Britain were treaty-bound to come to France and Britain were treaty-bound to come to the aid of Polandthe aid of Poland

Lend-LeaseLend-Lease Roosevelt broke a long tradition in American Roosevelt broke a long tradition in American

politics and ran for a third term which he handily politics and ran for a third term which he handily wonwon

Roosevelt constructed a plan for sending Roosevelt constructed a plan for sending material aid to Britain without demanding material aid to Britain without demanding payment termed the Lend-Lease Act of 1941payment termed the Lend-Lease Act of 1941

The Act destroyed all pretensions of neutrality; The Act destroyed all pretensions of neutrality; German U-Boats began sinking American German U-Boats began sinking American merchant ships in earnestmerchant ships in earnest

Pearl HarborPearl Harbor Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was home to the Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was home to the

American Pacific Fleet in 1941American Pacific Fleet in 1941 Japan, in retaliation for the economic Japan, in retaliation for the economic

stance of the U.S. in terms of material stance of the U.S. in terms of material sales and trade, launched a surprise sales and trade, launched a surprise attack on the base on December 7attack on the base on December 7

This action unified the country and threw This action unified the country and threw America into World War IIAmerica into World War II

II. The Home FrontII. The Home Front

Mobilizing for WarMobilizing for War The War Productions Board (WPB) The War Productions Board (WPB)

offered businesses lucrative contracts for offered businesses lucrative contracts for retooling for the war effortretooling for the war effort

Large commercial farmers also received Large commercial farmers also received incentives for war productionincentives for war production

Labor unions offered “no strike pledges” Labor unions offered “no strike pledges” for the duration of the warfor the duration of the war

Taxes were raised, bonds were sold and Taxes were raised, bonds were sold and the general tax based was increasedthe general tax based was increased

Internment of Japanese Internment of Japanese AmericansAmericans After the tragedy of Pearl Harbor, After the tragedy of Pearl Harbor,

Americans were eager to act on racial Americans were eager to act on racial stereotypes stereotypes

Eventually, the government build special Eventually, the government build special relocation centers in remote sections of relocation centers in remote sections of the U.S. and evacuated about 110,000 the U.S. and evacuated about 110,000 Japanese (including 60,000 citizens of Japanese (including 60,000 citizens of Japanese heritage).Japanese heritage).

III.III. Social Impact Social Impact of the Warof the War

Wartime OpportunitiesWartime Opportunities

15 million Americans moved during the 15 million Americans moved during the war, usually from rural areas to the citieswar, usually from rural areas to the cities

The west coast of the U.S. saw explosive The west coast of the U.S. saw explosive growth with attendant problems of growth with attendant problems of housing, school, and service shortageshousing, school, and service shortages

Thousands of women took jobs in a wide Thousands of women took jobs in a wide range of areas never before open to range of areas never before open to themthem

IV.IV. A War of Diplomats A War of Diplomats and Generalsand Generals

A Strategy for A Strategy for Ending the WarEnding the War

Eisenhower decided that the European war had Eisenhower decided that the European war had to have priority over the Pacific campaignto have priority over the Pacific campaign

An invasion of France and North Africa, and an An invasion of France and North Africa, and an airborne assault of Italy were the footholds in the airborne assault of Italy were the footholds in the European theater for the AlliesEuropean theater for the Allies

Ultimately, the Russian army took Berlin, ending Ultimately, the Russian army took Berlin, ending the European war; later, two atomic weapons the European war; later, two atomic weapons were dropped on the island of Japan, ending the were dropped on the island of Japan, ending the Pacific campaign in 1945Pacific campaign in 1945