1. Americans at War
11.7 Students analyze America’s participation in World War II
Explain U.S. and Allied wartime strategy
Identify the roles and sacrifices of individual American soldiers as well as the unique contributions of the special fighting forces

2. Expanding the Military
Selective Service
After Pearl Harbor, Americans were eager to sign up for military service
But 10 million soldiers were still needed to fight, so the Select Service (draft) was instated again (originated during WWI.)
Men between the ages of 21 and 35 were required to register with the military
The men were selected by a lottery system

3. Expanding the Military
Women Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC)
Women could volunteer for non combat positions

4. Expanding the Military
Minority Units
Tuskegee Airmen
African American fighter pilots
Code Talkers (Navajos and Comanche’s)
Native American message carriers
442nd Infantry
Japanese American Unit
One of the Most decorated and celebrated units in WWII (18,143 awards)

5. Decisive Battles Pacific Theater Strategy
Doolittle Raid (April 18, 1942) – first US attack on Japan Mainland
Midway (June 4 – ) - Navy sank several Japanese ships carrying supplies and reinforcements
Tinian (July 24 – August 1, 1944) – army base with runway for airplanes
Iwo Jima (February 19 – March 26, 1945) – Marine base used as an emergency landing strip for the Army Air Corps
Okinawa (April 1 – June 22, 1945) –siege a large island only 340 miles from mainland Japan (needed for the invasion of mainland Japan)
Strategy
Island Hopping – take control over select islands rather than all of the occupied islands

6. Decisive Battles Atlantic Theater
Normandy – D-Day (June 6, 1944)
Allied invasion of the Beaches of Normandy, France
Orchestrated by General Dwight D. Eisenhower (the future President of the Untied States)
Germans Surrender May 7, 1945 – V-E Day
Hitler commits suicide a few days prior

7. Potsdam Conference July 26, 1945 – Gathering of Allies
President Truman (USA), Prime Minister Winston Churchill (UK), Stalin (USSR), and other allied leaders
Discussion of Unconditional Surrender from Japan
Negotiated new boarders of Europe after Germany Surrenders
This leads to issues during the Cold War

8. Japanese Surrender Firebombing Manhattan Project Operation Downfall
Fire Bombing in Tokyo (February – August 1945 – B29 airplanes dropped fire bombs setting the city a blaze
Manhattan Project
Code name for the project to build the atomic bombs (only three were built)
Operation Downfall
dropping of the atomic bomb
Hiroshima - August 6, 1945
Enola Gay (B-29 bomber) dropped the nuclear bomb “Little Boy”
Nagasaki – August 9, 1945
Bockscar (B-29 bomber) dropped nuclear bomb “Fat Man”

9. Atomic Bombs Justifications for dropping Bomb Unforeseen Aftermath
Shorten the war
Japanese were prepared to fight to the death
Save American lives
Other option was a land invasion with entire US forces
An invasion of the Japanese mainland would not be necessary
Unforeseen Aftermath
Radiation Poisoning

10. Soldiers Return Home G.I. Bill Migration to California
Allowed servicemen returning from the war
A low interest, zero down payment home loan
Higher education allowance
Migration to California
Many servicemen left from the ports of Long Beach and San Diego and fell in love with California
When they returned from the war, they brought their families to the “Golden Coast”