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America in World War II 1941-1945

America in World War II 1941-1945. Mr. Long AP US History. America’s Mindset. What was America’s mindset prior to entering WWII? Isoloationalism We need to fix our own problems (Great Depression) Didn’t know much about the war What was US policy towards the War prior to involvement?

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America in World War II 1941-1945

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  1. America in World War II1941-1945 Mr. Long AP US History

  2. America’s Mindset • What was America’s mindset prior to entering WWII? • Isoloationalism • We need to fix our own problems (Great Depression) • Didn’t know much about the war • What was US policy towards the War prior to involvement? • Neutrality Acts • Lend-Lease Act • The Stimson Doctrine (1932) • US would not recognize any territorial acquisitions achieved by force. (After Japan took Manchuria in 1931)

  3. America’s Mindset • What caused the change in people’s mindsets? • PEARL HARBOR sparked a “revenge” mindset towards Japan. NATIONAL UNITY/PATRIOTISM

  4. America’s War Strategy • Most American’s wanted a “Japan First” strategy to war to get revenge for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. • Washington’s War Strategy wins out… • ABC-1 Agreement: • FDR went for a “GET GERMANY FIRST” strategy • It is more important for the Allies to stop Germany from becoming an unconquerable Fortress in Europe • Full Scale war on Japan would wait until Europe was won; the US sent just enough troops to hold Japan off.

  5. Mobilizing toward TOTAL WAR • Racial Issues • Unlike WWI national unity was strong and their were no ethnic witch hunts • EXCEPTION = Japanese Americans • Executive Order #9066 • Japanese American’s • Most lived on the West Coast (Closer to Japan) • Rounded up and put in internment camps to “protect them from mobs and violence on streets after Pearl Harbor” • Decision in Korematsu v. US said this was constitutional. • In 1988 the gov apologized and paid $20,000 to survivors

  6. Mobilizing toward TOTAL WAR • ECONOMY • Many New Deal programs ended (All jobs were war jobs) • Huge war orders ended the Great Depression • $100 Billion ordered in 1942 • War Production Board took control of industry • Ended the production of non-essential items (EX: passenger cars) • Price controls: regulated prices, wage ceilings, rationed critical items to keep consumption down. • Agricultural output increased (new machines, fertilizers) • Need for valuable resources changed life… • Rubber: Speed Limits, gasoline rationed • Steel: License Plates

  7. Mobilizing toward TOTAL WAR • PEOPLE • Selective Service Act 1940 • African Americans move North to work in factories • Women join the workforce “Rosie the Riveter” • Over 200,000 joined the military • Smith-Connally Anti-Strike Act 1943 • Gave the Federal Gov the authority to seized and run industries effected by strike (Labor Unions had pledged not to strike, some did) • Took over coal industry and railroads for a short time • Bracero Program • Brought workers from Mexico to harvest crops

  8. Rising Sun in the Pacific • Japan’s dream = New massive Empire • They began to take island after island • Guam, Wake Island, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaya, Burma much of coastal China. • Battle Midway:June 1942 • US intercepted messages about a Japanese attack on Midway Island • Adm. Chester Nimitz sent US fleet suprising the Japanese instead of being surprised. • THE U.S. WON IN A ROUT • This is the turning Point in the PACIFIC WAR

  9. America Leapfrogging Toward Tokyo • After stopping the expansion of Japan the US began “Island hopping” toward Japan. • PLAN: to take the smaller weaker islands, build Air Force bases and then take stronger islands by bombing and cutting off the resources. • Two main thrusts (MacArthur in south, Nimitz in central Pacific) • Guadalcanal (Aug 1942) • New Guinea (Aug 1944) • Marianas Islands • Future take-off point of B-29 Bombers (Atomic Bombs)

  10. The Allied Halting of Hitler • War was slow in Europe • REASONS: • American War machine was slow to get going (but amazing) • German U-boats were very successful • Allies didn’t gain control of Atlantic until 1943 (Battle of Atlantic) • German “Enigma Code”

  11. The Allied Halting of Hitler • 1942 was the TURNING POINT of the war in Europe • British bombed the Germans in Cologne, France • Americans bombed Germany itself • Battle of El Alamein (Oct 1942) • Stopped Germans from linking to Japan via the Mediterranean Sea (Suez Canal in Egypt) • Russians stopped Germans at Stalingrad (Sept 1942) • Month later pushed Germans back and recaptured 2/3 of their lost territory in one year

  12. Battle over a Second Front United States Britain • US want to elevate pressure from USSR by going through Europe (France) straight at Germany • Britain wants to take war far from England and attack the “soft underbelly” (N. Africa) and go through Italy to get to Germany

  13. A Second Front • The Allies chose the “Soft Underbelly” Approach • Gen. Eisenhower led an attack on N. Africa (Nov. 1942) • Allies push Germany out of Africa by May 1943 • Casablanca Conference • Roosevelt and Churchill met to make plans for war in Jan. 1943 • Decide to seek “unconditional surrender” of Germany

  14. A Second Front • The Allies move up to Italy • Mussolini was overthrown and Italy surrenders (Sept. 1943) • German soldiers refuse to stop fighting • Allied thrust got bogged down and stalled about half way up the Italian peninsula. (Mere distraction for D-Day) • Positives of “soft approach” • Took some of Germans men/supplies • Defeated Italy • Negatives of “soft approach” • Delayed the D-Day invasion • Gave Russia extra time to fall further into Eastern Europe

  15. D-Day: June 6, 1944 • Tehran Conference (Nov.-Dec 1943) • The “Big Three” met to formulate goals and coordinate attacks. (European second Front) • D-Day (June 6, 1944) • Assault across the English channel • Largest amphibious assault in history • Assault took place at Normandy • Germans had thought it would take place Calais (narrowest point in the channel) • Gen George Patton led U.S. troops across the channel • PARIS was liberated in August of 1944 = moral boost

  16. Election • Roosevelt had served 12years to this point in time but even with a war at hand an election year loomed. • FDR WON ELECTION in a BIG WAY (432-99) • Harry Truman was his Vice President • FDR continued to win elections throughout the Great Depression and War mainly because… • HE WAS BEING SUCCESSFUL AND WHY CHANGE SUCCESS DURING HARD TIMES/WAR.

  17. Last Days of Hitler • The Nazi army is on the retreat after Russia pushed back and Paris was captured (Days are numbered) • Hitler’s last real offensive came at the Battle of the Bulge • Nazi troops surprised American troops in the Ardenne Forest. • US troops pushed back creating a “bulge” in battle line • Reinforcements allowed US troops to win and continue to make progress towards Berlin

  18. Hitler’s Last Days • Germany officially surrendered on May 7, 1945 • V-E Day = May 8, 1945

  19. THE END

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