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Japan invades Manchuria
Japanese invade Manchuria, and it started aggression towards China and Indochina. The US responds to aggression and limits trade and embargo policies. This was Japan's attempt at economic domination. -
Nuremburg Trials
Laws passed to limit and discriminate against Jews. These were passed by Hitler in 1935. This led up to the eventual war crimes and ethnic genocide of Jews. -
Munich Pact
Britain and France had a policy of appeasement. The Munich Pact stated that they will give Hitler more land if he promises to not invade. He invaded in 6 months. -
Kristallnacht
In English, this means "night of broken glass". Germans did many horrendous acts towards Jews, such as torching their synagogues, vandalized Jewish homes, schools, and businesses. They also killed close to 100 Jewish people. -
Neutrality acts of 1939
Neutrality acts are labelled as cash and carry, destroyers for bases, and lend-lease. Cash and carry were if you could come overseas to purchase equipment. Destroyers for bases meant the US lent boats for bases in Europe. Lend-lease let Britain borrow military supplies. -
Germany invades Poland
Hitler broke the Munich Pact when he invaded Czechoslovakia, and then Poland. France and Britain declared war on Germany. Germans utilized blitzkrieg warfare. -
Lend-Lease Act
The lend-lease act allowed Britain to borrow military supplies from the US. FDR states: “sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend or otherwise dispose of to any such government and defense article”. He also stated it is similar to a neighbor asking to borrow a hose. -
Atlantic Charter
FDR and Winston Churchill create this. It endorsed self-determination and general security. Showed FDR opposing Japanese and German aggression. -
Executive Order 8022
Prohibited racial or ethnic discrimination in the defense industry. This allowed people of color to fight alongside whites in wars. It protected people of color. -
Atlantic Conference
Alliance strengthened with the US and Britain. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Hawaii unexpectedly. Attack was based on the US restricting embargo. FDR stated, "A date that will live in infamy". -
Korematsu v. US
Fred Korematsu refused to leave his home following the executive order. It made its way to the supreme court and he stated it violated his constitutional right. He lost and the supreme court held it as constitutional. -
Executive order 9066
This order was the authorization of internment camps for the Japanese in America. Japanese people were ordered to sell their property and belongings. This was all done out of fear for another surprise attack. -
Operation Torch
The invasion of North Africa to secure the Mediterranean sea away from German control. It also aimed to protect the supply of oil. This took the pressure off the USSR, but they had other issues to deal with. -
Battle of Midway
The US strategy of island hopping was used to launch air attacks and prepare for invasion. This strategy was used at the Battle of Midway and stopped Japanese advances. The Japanese had perseverance and always win mentality when it came to war. -
D-Day (Invasion of Normandy)
Provided a Western front. Germany was now engaged in 3 fronts. They had to divert resources to a western front, of which were the Soviet Union, Italy, and France. -
Battle of the Bulge
The last German offensive was the beginning of the end for the Nazis. American, British, French, and Soviet soldiers marched into Berlin. Hitler had committed suicide, and this led to the post-war division of Germany. -
Yalta Conference
Final plans for defeat and discussion of post-war plans. The USSR had different motives than the US in post war plans. This created tensions between the two nations. -
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
President Truman launched atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This was to avoid the loss of American lives. The Japanese surrendered. -
United Nations Created
An intergovernmental organization with the goal of international cooperation. The idea based on Woodrow Wilson's League of Nations. America participated in the UN. -
Truman Doctrine
The attempt to contain communism. Greece and Turkey were offered financial aid. This was to resist the rebel forces. -
Israel is Established
Self-determination was admired by America, and Israel fit their same goals. They were also a Jewish nation, which was targeted in WW2. This showed Hitler's impact on Jews. -
Marshall Plan
The US feared that Western Europe would elect socialist or communist governments. This was treated by offering financial aid to these countries. It was also referred to as the economic recovery plan of 1948. -
Berlin Airlift
Soviets blockaded Berlin in protest. The US won this confrontation. The Berlin airlift was to supply people with food and resources. -
US Establishes NATO
Stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It established an alliance against the USSR. The warsaw pact was created in retaliation. -
Soviet Union Tests Atomic Bomb
The US developed the hydrogen bomb in response to this. This created a nuclear arms race. This also raised tensions. -
Korean Conflict
Communist North Korea invaded South Korea. The US believed it was planned by the USSR and it was ordered to take action. The final agreement settled on the 38th parallel as the boundary marker. -
Eisenhower Doctrine (Suez Crisis)
Israel was very supported by America as the homeland of Jews. The USSR influenced Arab nations to oppose Jews. Eisenhower intervened in the Suez Crisis and extended containment to the middle east. -
Soviet Union Launches Sputnik
Congress passes the National Defense Education Act in response. It set the precedent of math and science being crucial to public education. Along with the arms race, the competition didn't stop, but America eventually got the first person on the moon. -
NDEA
A direct reaction from the launch of Sputnik. It was believed if math and science were taught in school, there would be more scientists and smart people. It was to counteract the fear that consumerism made Americans less competitive. -
Rise of the Berlin Wall
There were two zones of Germany; the east and west. East Germany was controlled by the USSR. The west was controlled by Britain and America. The physical iron curtain was unveiled as the Berlin wall. It was to contain communism. -
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
Soviets invaded to discuss a friendly government. US-supported Afghan resistance movement discreetly due to containment policy. Rebel groups in Afghanistan evolved into the Taliban. -
Fall of Berlin Wall
The reasons for the weakening Soviet Union; changes and strain, liberation in Eastern Europe. The Berlin Wall marked the end of the Cold war. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.