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America in World War II 1941-1945

Discover how America's involvement in World War II transformed the nation's economy, mindset, and war strategy. Learn about the impact of war on the home front and the pivotal battles in the Pacific and Europe.

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America in World War II 1941-1945

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

  2. The End of the Depression • The US entered WWII in the Depression and came out very prosperous. • GNP (Gross National Product) had doubled • Corporate Profits doubled • Disposable income Doubled • War production ends the Great Depression • War costs $330 billion (10x WWI) • Most money used to finance the war came from borrowing • National Debt went from $49 billion to $259 billion • During war most Americans experienced prosperity and doubling of income

  3. America’s Mindset • What caused the change from Isolation to involvement? • 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 get revenge for Pearl Harbor. • On December 8, 1941 Hitler declared war on the U.S • ABC-1 Agreement (U.S. and Britain): • 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. WAR at Home • Racial Issues • Unlike WWI national unity was strong • EXCEPTION = Japanese Americans – Most affected by Washington’s policies • 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. WAR at Home • ECONOMY • 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 • Other valuable materials rationed Rubber, Gasoline, Steel, etc.

  7. WAR at Home • PEOPLE • Selective Service Act 1940 (15 million men will serve) • African Americans move North to work in factories • Women join the workforce “Rosie the Riveter” (200,000 women will serve) • Smith-Connally Anti-Strike Act 1943 • Gave the Federal Gov the authority to seized and run industries effected by strike • Took over coal industry and railroads for a short time

  8. War 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 surprising the Japanese • THE U.S. WON IN A ROUT • Midway is the turning Point in the PACIFIC WAR

  9. War in the Pacific • 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

  10. War in Europe • War was slow in Europe • REASONS: • American War machine was slow to gain momentum • German U-boats were very successful • Allies didn’t gain control of Atlantic until 1943 (Battle of Atlantic) • Turning Point – Allies break German “Enigma Code” • German “Enigma Code”

  11. War in Europe • 1942 was the TURNING POINT of the war in Europe • British and American Air Forces gain upper hand – Americans bomb in the day British bomb at night • Battle of El Alamein (Oct 1942) • Stopped Germans from linking to Japan via the Mediterranean Sea (Suez Canal) • Russians stopped Germans at Stalingrad (Sept 1942) Hitler’s fortune begin to decline • Month later pushed Germans back and recaptured 2/3 of their lost territory in one year

  12. Battle over a Second Front • US want to elevate pressure from USSR by going through Europe (France) straight at Germany • Most direct route • Britain wants to take war far from England and attack the “soft underbelly” (N. Africa) and go through Italy to get to Germany • Cut Russia off from taking too much of Europe

  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 • Take Sicily and Launch attack into Italy • 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 in 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) Ultimately this approach fails and allies plan for direct invasion through France • 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 move 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. Agree on the opening of a second front in Europe • D-Day (June 6, 1944) Eisenhower over-all command • 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) • 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 432 Thomas Dewey-99) • Harry Truman was 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. War in Europe Ends • The Nazi army is on the retreat after Russia pushed back and Paris was captured • Hitler’s last real offensive came at the Battle of the Bulge • Nazi troops surprised American troops in the Ardennes Forest creating a “bulge” in battle line. • Reinforcements allowed US troops to win and continue to make progress towards Berlin

  18. War in Europe Ends • Hitler kills self on April 30 and Germany officially surrendered on May 7, 1945 • V-E Day = May 8, 1945

  19. War in Pacific Ends • Successfully taking island after island and getting closer to Japanese home islands • Okinawa April 1945 • Relentless bombings March 9, 1945 130,000 die in firebombing of Tokyo U.S. set to invade Japanese home islands – HOWEVER Manhattan Project delivers Atomic Bomb in July (U.S. had spent tons on the program for fear that the public would not tolerate the casualties that would result from an invasion of Japan)

  20. War in Pacific Ends • Truman chooses to use Atomic bomb to end war • Save lives vs an invasion of Japan • Keep Russia out of Pacific War? • Demonstrate America’s new power? • Hiroshima – August 6, 1945 • Nagasaki – August 8, 1945 • Japan surrenders August 10 • Japan was enticed to surrender when U.S. allowed them to keep emperor Hirohito on the throne

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