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Executive Order 9066
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, for protection of the United States against possible foreign spies, President Roosevelt signed an order to relocate 110,000 Japanese Americans, including 75,000 citizens, on the West Coast into relocation camps during World War II.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://features.apmreports.org/order-9066/ -
The Battle of Midway
A turning point battle in World War II was the Battle of the Midway which was fought at Midway Islands in the Pacific. This is where the Japanese fleet encountered their first major defeat against the U.S. military. At the end of the Midway on June 7, Japan invades the Aleutian Islands, the first invasion of American soil in 128 years.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://kmistudio.artstation.com/projects/8Qo8G -
The Atomic Bomb
The development of the first atomic bomb is signed into an agreement between the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Hyde Park, New York.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: http://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/2016/09/30/fdr-and-the-bomb/ -
"Operation Watchtower"
The United States Marines land on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands in the first American offensive of World War II, it was knowns as "Operation Watchtower."
Source Desc: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-forces-invade-guadalcanal
Image Desc:https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/solomon-islands-campaign-guadalcanal -
"Operation Torch"
The US and Great Britain invaded North Africa in an effort to drive the Germans out.
Source Desc: https://www.britannica.com/event/North-Africa-campaigns/Operation-Torch
Image Desc: https://www.thoughtco.com/world-war-ii-operation-torch-2361497 -
Battle for Kasserine Pass
The US suffers its first major defeat in World War II at the Battle for Kasserine Pass in Tunisia.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://www.sutori.com/en/item/untitled-c101-74e6 -
Race Riots
Race riots broke out Detroit, Michigan and Harlem, New York causing forty deaths and seven hundred injuries. The riots were due to white workers protesting against black employees being promoted and white workers were furious about black neighbors hoods extending.
Source Desc: https://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/race-riot-1943
Image Source: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2016/12/29/detroit-riot-william-scott-race/95675688/ -
"Operation Overlord"
The Tehran Conference was held during World War II by "The Big Three" - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet leader Josef Stalin. They planned for three days for an invasion of Europe that would take place in June 1944. This became know as "Operation Overlord."
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/original-hand-drawn-map-dday-invasion-616496513 -
D-Day
The Normandy Invasion, D-Day, occurs when 150,000 Allied troops, including American forces and those of eleven other Allied nations, land in France. Allied soldiers stormed the beaches of France, and liberated Paris. The Allies quickly advanced through the Atlantic Wall making this battle the largest amphibious military operation in history.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/spotlight-saturday-d-day -
G.I. Bill of Rights
The G.I. Bill of Rights is signed into law, by President Roosevelt providing veterans funds.
Source Desc: https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/servicemens-readjustment-act#:~:text=Signed%20into%20law%20by%20President,WWII%20and%20later%20military%20conflicts.
Image Desc: https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/gi-bill-signed -
Ammunition Ships
The greatest continental U.S. tragedy of World War II occurs when two ships loading ammunition at Port Chicago Naval Weapons Station in California explodes. The accident killed three hundred and twenty people.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://museumca.org/story/port-chicago-explosion-1944 -
US Retakes Guam
The US forces start to take Guam back from the Japanese after they had occupied the Island during WWII, the battle would last till August 10.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Source: https://gfl.matsuda.tips/doll/g228 -
FDR Fourth Term
Franklin Roosevelt was the only president to run three full terms and get voted in for a fourth term, but sadly in April 12, 1945 a month after he was sworn in he suddenly died.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/dsplay-newspaper-franklin-roosevelt-1832972781 -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge also called "the greatest America battle of the war" by Churchill, took place in a region of Belgium. It was Hitlers last major offensive to try and split the allies from their pursuit to Germany. The battle lasted 6 brutal weeks in freezing cold temperatures.
Source Desc: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-the-bulge
Image Desc: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8176637/The-freezing-hell-Battle-Bulge-Colorized-images-resilience-troops.html -
Yalta Conference held by "The Big Three"
President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and Premier Josef Stalin hold the Yalta Conference in the Soviet Union to discuss what to do with defeated Europe and Germany.
Source Desc: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/yalta-conference#:~:text=The%20Yalta%20Conference%20was%20a,coast%20of%20the%20Crimean%20Peninsula.
Image Source: https://www.presidentialwaxmuseum.com/exhibits/yalta-conference/ -
Battle of Okinawa
Thirty thousand United States Marines land on Iwo Jima and on April 1, the American troops invaded Okinawa, beginning the Battle of Okinawa, which would continue until June 21.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/723109283901250281/ -
Harry S. Truman
After Roosevelt suddenly died, Harry S. Truman becomes the 33rd President of the United States.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/harry-s-truman/ -
End of the War
When World War II came to a end the entire world celebrated. Thousands gathered together in the streets to rejoice over the good news.
Source Desc: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/end-world-war-ii-1945
Image Desc: https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2019/05/08/v-e-day-1945-the-celebration-heard-round-the-world/ -
First Atomic Bomb
The first atomic bomb, the Trinity Test, is exploded at Alamogordo, New Mexico, after its production at Los Alamos.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Source: https://www.atomicarchive.com/history/trinity/jumbo.html -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
President Harry S. Truman gives the go-ahead for the use of the atomic bomb with the bombing of Hiroshima and three days later another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan thus leading to the surrender of the Japanese Emperor.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html -
The General Assembly
The United Nations held its first general assembly meeting almost two and a half months after it was founded. Fifty-One nations including the Security Council nations of China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.A. This would also lead to the discontinuing of the League of Nations 4 months later.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/Stock-Images/general-assembly-inside-united-nations.html -
AEC Established
The Atomic Energy Commission is established. It was created to supervise the development, use and control of nuclear energy for military and civilian applications.
Source Desc: https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/basic-ref/glossary/atomic-energy-commission.html
Image Desc: https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/atomic-energy-commission -
The Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine is announced to the U.S. Congress. It would give aid to countries who were threatened by communist. Truman would implement the act on May 22.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://apprend.io/apush/period-8/truman-doctrine/ -
Cold War Begins
After World War II ended the Cold War begin with the Soviet Union. The Soviets began to try and spread their communist propaganda and take over western Europe. The Soviet Union also began to make their own atomic weapons that could potentially be used on US cities or anywhere else putting terror in the hearts around the world.
Source Desc: https://www.britannica.com/event/Cold-War#ref284221
Image Desc: https://www.forces.net/news/cold-war-what-was-it-and-how-did-it-start -
Berlin Airlift
After the War, Germany was divided into sections. The Soviets controlled the East and the Allies controlled the West. The soviets however cut off all access to the West side leaving the Germans to starve. As a result the US sent B-29 bombers that would land every 45 seconds, full of food and supplies for the German people.
Source Desc: https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/berlin-airlift
Image Desc: https://www.britannica.com/place/Berlin/Berlin-divided -
NATO
The North American Treaty Organization, is formed by the United States, Canada, and ten Western European nations (Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom). The treaty stated that any attack against one nation would be considered an attack against them all.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://www.news9live.com/knowledge/russia-ukraine-conflict-what-is-nato-and-why-was-it-formed-154990 -
US Withdraws from Korea
In 1949 the US made the decision to withdraw its troops from Korea.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1940.html
Image Desc: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/research-files/consequences-us-troop-withdrawal-korea-spring-1949-office-reports-and -
Korean War
The Korean War started and lasted for three years when North Korea invaded South Korea.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Desc: https://www.military.com/history/korean-war-everything-you-need-know.html -
22nd Amendment
In 1951, Congress passed the 22nd Amendment to limit presidencies to two terms.
Source Desc. https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Desc: http://retronewser.com/2021/02/27/twenty-second-constitutional-amendment-limiting-u-s-presidents-to-two-terms-of-office-ratified/ -
Dwight D. Eisenhower
In 1952 the United States voted for Dwight D. Eisenhower making him the 34th President. He was known for his famous slogan "I like Ike."
Source & Image Desc: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/dwight-d-eisenhower/ -
Atoms for Peace
In an effort to qualm the fears of a nuclear warfare, President Eisenhower gave a speech before the United Nations.
Source Desc: https://www.atomicheritage.org/key-documents/eisenhowers-atoms-peace-speech
Image Desc: https://voicesofdemocracy.umd.edu/teaching-eisenhowers-atoms-for-peace-speech/ -
Colored Television
The first color televisions go on sale.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1950.html
Image Desc: https://www.metv.com/lists/half-a-century-ago-the-tv-networks-finally-went-full-color
