SOL Review: World War II

WWII Major theaters of war included Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Leadership was essential to the Allied victory.

Economic and Political causes of WWII: Aggression by totalitarian powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) Nationalism Failures of the Treaty of Versailles Weakness of the League of Nations Appeasement – Policy of avoiding war by granting concessions to an aggressor Tendencies towards isolationism and pacifism in Europe and the United States – Pacifism: opposition to war/violence

Major events of WWII ( ) German invasion of Poland – Britain and France declared war on Germany - Officially started WWII Fall of France – Germany & Italy invaded France France is taken out of the war; changes the balance of power.

Major events of WWII ( ) Battle of Britain – Air battle between Germany and Britain. British victory kept Germany out of Britain, and pushed Hitler to invade U.S.S.R. German invasion of the Soviet Union – Germany started strong, but could not destroy the strength & determination of the Soviets or the harshness of their winter. German retreat.

Major events of WWII ( ) D-Day (Allied invasion of Europe) – General Eisenhower led U.S. and Allied troops in an invasion of Normandy, France. Allies pushed Germany out of France. Soviets were pushing from the other direction. Germany surrendered.

Major events of WWII ( ) Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor – Causes U.S. to enter WWII Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Japan surrendered.

Major leaders of WWII – U.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt—U.S. President – Died one month before the war ended Harry Truman—U.S. President after death of President Roosevelt – Pres. during start of Cold War; Truman Doctrine to support countries against communism

Major leaders of WWII – U.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower— U.S. general, Allied commander in Europe Douglas MacArthur—U.S. general, oversaw U.S. occupation of Japan George Marshall—U.S. general, became Secretary of State, wrote Marshall Plan Eisenhower MacArthur & Hirohito Marshall

Major leaders of WWII – Allies Winston Churchill—British prime minister Joseph Stalin—Soviet dictator

Major leaders of WWII – Axis Powers Adolf Hitler—Nazi dictator of Germany Hideki Tojo—Japanese general Hirohito—Emperor of Japan

Genocide Various instances of genocide have occurred throughout the 20 th century. Genocide: The systematic and purposeful destruction of a racial, political, religious, or cultural group

Elements leading to the Holocaust Totalitarianism combined with nationalism History of anti-Semitism – There had been a climate of hatred against Jews in Europe and Russia for centuries. Defeat in World War I and economic depression blamed on German Jews Hitler’s belief in the master race Final solution—Extermination camps, gas chambers

Examples of other genocides Armenians by leaders of the Ottoman Empire – During & after WWI, by Muslim Ottomans against Christian Armenians, blamed Armenians for Ottoman loss of the war million victims. Peasants, government and military leaders, and members of the elite in U.S.S.R. by Joseph Stalin – Great Purge

Examples of other genocides The educated, artists, technicians, former government officials, monks, and minorities by Pol Pot in Cambodia – ~2 million victims died in an attempt to make Cambodia a Communist nation Tutsi minority by Hutu in Rwanda

Outcomes of World War II European powers’ loss of empires – Colonies gradually gained their independence War crimes trials – Nuremberg Trials in Germany against Nazi war criminals

Outcomes of WWII Establishment of two major powers in the world: The United States and the U.S.S.R. Division of Europe—Iron Curtain Marshall Plan – Financial aid from U.S. to European nations to prevent spread of Communism Formation of NATO and Warsaw Pact

Outcomes of World War II Establishment of the United Nations – Intended to replace the League of Nations to maintain peace and security The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Efforts for reconstruction of Germany Germany and Berlin divided among the four Allied powers Democratic government installed in West Germany and West Berlin Emergence of West Germany as economic power in postwar Europe

Efforts for reconstruction of Japan U.S. occupation of Japan under MacArthur’s administration Democracy and economic development Elimination of Japanese offensive military capabilities; United States’ guarantee of Japan’s security Emergence of Japan as dominant economy in Asia

International Cooperative Organizations United Nations North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Warsaw Pact

Universal Declaration of Human Rights The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was issued in 1948 to protect the “inherent dignity and…the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family….” Established and adopted by members of the UN Provided a code of conduct for the treatment of people under the protection of their government