Chapter 27 AMERICANS IN WORLD WAR II The American Nation 4/23/2017 Chapter 27 AMERICANS IN WORLD WAR II Section 1: Early Difficulties Section 2: The Home Front Section 3: Victory in Europe Section 4: Victory in Asia CHAPTER 27--AMERICANS IN WORLD WAR II

Objectives: Section 1: Early Difficulties What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Allied Powers and Axis Powers in 1941? What steps did the United States take to prepare for war? Where did the Japanese military attack after Pearl Harbor? What were the early turning points of the war in the Pacific? What were the major battles in Europe and North Africa in 1942?

SECTION 1 Early Difficulties Question: What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Allied and Axis Powers?

THE ALLIED AND AXIS POWERS–STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES SECTION 1 Early Difficulties THE ALLIED AND AXIS POWERS–STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES The Allied Powers advantage: the United States had tremendous production capacity advantage: the Soviet Union had vast manpower advantage: Britain and the Soviet Union had not been defeated disadvantage: faced a long, drawn-out fight on several fronts disadvantage: enemy held firm control of conquered area spread over an enormous area—both in Europe and the Pacific The Axis Powers advantage: better prepared for war advantage: had firm control over invaded areas advantage: had been rearmed since the 1930s advantage: already had airfields, barracks, and military training centers advantage: economies ready for war disadvantage: had to defend multiple fronts

U.S. preparations for war Section 1: Early Difficulties U.S. preparations for war increased production: agriculture and industry expanded the government: numbers and authority began to direct the economy Equip and feed American Army and assist allies Public sector economic direction began to raise the army

U.S. preparations for war: continued Section 1: Early Difficulties U.S. preparations for war: continued War Production Board: Direct conversion of civilian industries to serve military No cars built from 1942-1945 Limits placed on cloth in clothing (pleats and cuffs outlawed) Office of Price Administration Scarcity created by war demand for goods could cause inflation Goods rationed Gasoline Sugar Meat coffee canned goods

What is the message of these propaganda posters?

U.S. preparations for war: raising an army Section 1: Early Difficulties U.S. preparations for war: raising an army Selective Training and Service Act 2/3 of all soldiers serving were draftees 21-35 (later expanded to 18-45) Began in summer of 1940 (over a year before Pearl Harbor) Army needed to grow over 50X to fight the war!

American Strategy In World War II Europe First Concentrate military resources on European Theatre Keep Britain in the war- Win Battle of Atlantic Caution in opening a second front in Europe (North African Campaign begins in November 1942 Stop Japanese offensive Protect Australia, New Guinea and Pacific perimeter

Japanese attacks after Pearl Harbor Section 1: Early Difficulties Japanese attacks after Pearl Harbor Clark Air force Base in the Philippines (America’s Far-East Fleet) Burma and Hong Kong Center’s of British power in the Pacific the Netherlands East Indies Oil resources Japan needed Wake Island

                                      

The Bataan Death March Army of 70,000 Americans and Filipinos surrender- Largest surrender of the war Forced to march without food or water Those who fell behind or stopped for water were shot Estimated 5000-11,000 did not live to finish the march

Japan and prisoners of War 1/3 of all American POWs dies or were killed by Japanese captors Japanese looked on surrendering troops as sub-human Japanese did not follow Geneva Convention

Early turning points of war in Pacific Section 1: Early Difficulties Early turning points of war in Pacific Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942) Stopped Japanese advance on Australia Offset bitterness of losses: Pearl Harbor, Bataan Battle of Midway First clear naval victory over Japan Weakened Japanese force in Pacific Guadalcanal (August-October 1942) First offensive in Pacific Tide turns in Pacific War

Major battles of 1942 in Europe and North Africa Section 1: Early Difficulties Major battles of 1942 in Europe and North Africa Battle of El Alamein British stop German drive to Suez Canal and Mid-East oil Battle of Stalingrad Soviets stop German drive to Soviet oil fields-end of German drive against USSR (BARBAROSSA) Battle of the Atlantic April 1941- Keep Britain supplied America’s first offensive in Europe: Operation Torch November 1942