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Franklin Delano Roosevelt (President)
Historical Theme: Domestic Policy. Pushed a record number of bills through Congress during his "First 100 Days" program to grant immediate relief to tens of millions of unemployed during the depths of the Great Depression. -
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Fascism in Italy/Mussolini
Fascism was a system of government that stressed the glory of the state. Benito Mussolini had begun his public life in the early 1900s as a member of a Socialist party. Unlike other Socialists, he supported Italy's entry into World War I. By the war's end, he had moved to the far right of Italian politics and strongly opposed socialism and communism. Once in power, Mussolini established a dictatorship. -
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Harry Truman
Historical Theme: Foreign Policy. Forced Japanese surrender in 1945 through the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Assisted in the fouding of the United Nations. Issued the Truman Doctrine to contain communism. Passed the $13 billion Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, including the Axis Powers of both World Wars. -
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Adolf Hitler Rises to Power
Austrian-born Adolf Hitler had an unremarkable early life. His anger about the Treaty of Versailles led him into politics where he joined a small political party known as the Nazis. He gradually began to build support and by 1933 the Nazis were the most powerful party in the nation. He established himself as a totalitarian dictator and began secretly to build up the German armed forces. -
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Dwight D. Eisenhower
Historical Theme: Domestic and Foreign Policy. Launched the Interstate Highway System, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), and established a strong science education via the National Defense Education Act. Deposed the leader of Iran in the 1953 Iranian coup d'̩tat and used nuclear threats to conclude the Korean War with China. First to articulate the domino theory of communist expansion in 1954. -
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J. Robert Oppenheimer
Physicist who led American scientists to the lead of the atomic bomb race. -
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Joseph McCarthy/McCarthyism
U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy delivered a speech before a Republic women's group about the dangers of communism. He claimed there were 205 known Communists working for the U.S. Department of State. McCarthy's tactic of spreading fear and making baseless charges became known asMcCarthyism. -
Japan invades Manchuria
Unhappy with their civilian leaders, the army invaded the Chinese province of Manchuria without the approval of the Japanese government. The goal was to seize Manchuria's land and resources for the use of the Japanese people. The government ordered the army to end the action, to which the army refused. The takeover of Manchuria demonstrated the weakness of the Japanese government and the strength of Japan's nationalists. -
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Holocaust
The genocidal campaign against the Jews during World War II. -
Neutrality Act
Law meant to prevent the nation from being drawn into war as it had been in 1917. -
Italy invades Ethiopia
Mussolini used a border dispute between Ethiopia and an Italian colony as an excuse to launch an an invasion. Italian forces overpowered the Ethiopians and Italy soon conquered the country. The League of Nations as well as President Roosevelt did not step in to help. -
Germany militarizes the Rhineland
The Treaty of Versailles required Germany to keep its troops out of an area in the Rhine River valley along the French border, a policy meant to protect France against possible German aggression. Hitler violated the treaty by sending German troops into the Rhineland, claiming a recent French military agreement with the Soviet Union threatened Germany. While France was alarmed by this, it was unwilling to take military action against Germany and Germany's troops remained in the Rhineland. -
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Spanish Civil War
Political conflict led to war. On the left were Communists. On the right were Fascists and Nationalists. The war attracted interest and involvement from many other countries. Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany sent forces and equipment to the Nationalists. The opponent (Republicans) were supported by the Soviet Union. U.S. volunteers joined the Republican side. By 1939 Nationalists had defeated the Republicans and Spain came under the control of a Fascist dictator. -
Hitler gains control of Austria, Sudetenland & Czechoslovakia
When the Austrian government refused to agree to union with Germany, Hitler sent troops into the country. While strongly worded protests were issued, nothing more was done to stop Hitler. Shortly after, he encouraged Germans in the Sudetenland to protest against Czechoslovakian rule, then began threatening a military attack. Britain and France met with Hitler and agreed to allow him to annex the Sudetenland. While achieving "peace for our time" was boasted, the world was on the brink of war. -
House Un-American Activities Committee
The committee's original purpose was to investigate the full range of radical groups in the United States, including Fascists and Communists. Over time, it came to focus only on the possible threat of communism in the Untied States. -
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Kristallnacht
Anti-Jewish riots broke out across Germany and become known as Kristallnacht, or the "night of broken glass." The Nazis claimed the attacks were a spontaneous reaction to the assassination of a Nazi official by a Jewish teenager. In fact, the Nazis encouraged the violence. Thousands of Jewish businesses and places of worship were damaged. Nearly 100 Jews were killed and over 26,000 more were sent to concentration camps. -
Concentration Camps
Labor camps meant to hold what Hitler called enemies of the state. 26,000 Jews were sent to concentration camps during Kristallnacht. -
Blitzkrieg
A German military tactic. German for "lightning war." Featured an overwhelming combination of air attack and fast-moving armored strikes to drive deep into enemy territory. Using this tactic, by the end of the month, Germany had Poland. -
Rationing
Limiting the amount of a certain product each individual can get. Conserved food and other goods for WWII soldiers. -
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Germany invades Poland
Hitler had a German criminal dressed in a Polish military uniform taken to the German-Polish border and shot. The next morning, Germany claimed it had been attacked by Poland and immediately launched a massive invasion. -
Great Britain & France declare war on Germany
Great Britain and France (the Allies) not to attack Germany, but instead to wait for Hitler's next move. Thinking the forest was too rugged for an army to pass, the French had concentrated their defenses elsewhere. Hitler sent his forces into Denmark and Norway where both countries fell with little resistance. The surprised Allies were unable to help much. -
Japan, Germany, Italy form alliance (Axis Powers)
Japan moved to take control of French Indochina, which threatened British and American interests in the region. The U.S. reacted quickly to this move. President Roosevelt took steps to punish Japan economically and to deny it access to vital oil supplies. Japan's minister of war, General Hideki Tojo, later took control over the country. While American leaders did not realize it, the time for compromise with Japan was over. -
Smith Act
Made it a crime to call for the overthrow of the U.S. government or belong to an organization that did so. -
Germany invades Belgium, The Netherlands & France
The Germans finally made their expected strike toward France, a plan that worked to perfection. One group of German troops quickly conquered the Netherlands and stormed into Belgium. The Belgian, British, and French units were unable to stop the German assault. The surprise attack through the Ardennes forest easily overwhelmed the French force waiting there and the Maginot line was simply bypassed. -
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Battle of Britain
The nation was led by Winston Churchill who refused to even consider negotiating a peace agreement with Germany. The British Royal Air Force used radar to detect approaching airplanes and inflicted heavy damage. the German air force, or Luftwaffe, began bombing London in an attempt to lower morale. Churchill helped keep the nation's spirits up. The British eventually stopped the Luftwaffe and Hitler was forced to call off the attempted invasion. -
Lend-Lease Act
Allowed the nation to send weapons to Great Britain regardless of its ability to pay. -
Britain sinks the Bismarck
After Great Britain managed to sink the Bismarck, the pride of the German fleet, Germany began to rely on a familiar weapon, the U-boat. -
Atlantic Charter
Agreement proclaimed the shared goals of the United Stats and Britain in opposing Hitler and his allies. -
Genocide of Jews
Hitler called for the total destruction of all of Europe's Jews. This killing of an entire people is known as genocide. While the bloody work was first carried out by mobile killing units, this was not fast enough for Nazi leaders, who later adopted the Final Solution. The establishment of six new camps were to be extermination camps for the wide-spread murder of Jews. -
Japan attacks Hong Kong, Singapore, The Dutch East Indies & Burma
In late 1941, Japan captured the British stronghold at Hong Kong. They launched a campaign against the British base at Singapore. It took the Japanese just two weeks to capture this mighty fortress. At the same time, other Japanese forces were easily taking control of the Dutch East Indies. They also conquered British-controlled Burma. -
Douglas MacArthur leads troops to defend the Philippines
General Douglas MacArthur led the defense of the Philippines. He commanded a small force of Americans and a number or poorly trained/equipped Filipino soldiers. his troops were no match for the Japanese invaders. As the Japanese gained ground, MacArthur planned a retreat to the Bataan Peninsula. In March 1942, he was ordered to leave his men, which he did reluctantly. -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
The Japanese strike force attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The raid was a complete surprise to Americans. Nearly 200 aircraft were completely destroyed, an more were damaged. Some 2,400 Americans were dead. Japan lost a handful of submarines and fewer than 30 aircraft. While the attack lasted barely two hours, by the time it was over, the Pacific Fleet was a tangled mass of smoking metal. Complete defeat for the U.S. -
U.S. Declares War on Japan
Angered that Japan did not issue a formal declaration of war, Roosevelt asked Congress for a declaration of war. America was now at war with Japan. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. The nation had entered World War II as one of the Allies. -
Rosie the Riveter
Symbolic figure that represented women of the war. 1942-1945 -
The Manhattan Project
Most significant scientific program of World War II. A top-secret American program to build an atomic bomb. 1942-1946 -
Executive Order 9066 - internment camps
President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 which gave the armed forces the power to establish military zones. It also gave them the power to force people or groups to leave these zones. The clear goal was to remove people of Japanese heritage from the western United States. Japanese Americans were told they would be taken to one of several camps somewhere in the West. This forced relocation and confinement to the camps was called internment. -
Bataan Death March
For five days and nights, the Japanese forced the already starving and sick soldiers to march through the steaming forests of Bataan. Those who dropped out of line were beaten or shot and those who fell were left for dead. The Japanese provided little food or water. Thousands of soldiers perished on this and those who completed the journey did not fare much better. -
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Battle of Midway
Japan decided to try to lure the Americans into a large sea battle. The first step was to attack the American-held Midway Island. Naval intelligence officers had broken a Japanese code and learned about the attack on Midway. Admiral Nimitz placed his three available aircraft carriers carefully; his goal was to stop a landing at Midway and avoid contact with the larger fleet. 3/4 Japanese carriers were damaged while only one American carrier was destroyed. Tremendous American victory. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
Germans attacked Stalingrad, a major industrial center on the Volga River. In some of the bloodiest fighting in the history of warfare, the Soviets refused to let Stalingrad fall. The Germans not only failed to take Stalingrad but exposed themselves to a Soviet counterattack. Stalingrad marked the beginning of Germany's collapse in the Soviet Union. -
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Operation Torch
A plan that called for American forces to invade the North African countries of Morocco and Algeria. French Forces in North Africa soon joined the Allies. -
Tuskegee Airmen
A segregated unit of African Americans, the first ever to receive training as pilots in the U.S. military. -
D-Day
The attack began with soldiers parachuting behind the German lines to try to secure key sites. Ships offshore rained shells on the coastline to destroy German defenses. Allied aircraft filled the sky to provide cover for troops. Amphibious craft helped deliver equipment and soldiers to the beaches. However, the success of the operation came down to the courage of the individual soldiers who would make he landing. Little went according to plan, but soldiers stuck to their assigned tasks. -
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Operation Overlord
Planned invasion of France. The Allies wanted to launch a large invasion of mainland Europe to end the war as quickly as possible. They settled on the beaches of Normandy, in northern France. Decisive Allied victory. -
GI Bill
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act aka GI Bill. GI stood for "government issue," a nickname for members of the armed forces. Included several features aimed at helping veterans make a smooth entry into civilian life. Provided money for veterans to attend college or receive advanced job training. Helped arrange for loans for those wishing to buy a home, farm, or business. Also provided help in finding work and a year's worth of unemployment benefits for those who could not find work. -
World Bank/International Monetary Fund
The World Bank aimed to help poor countries build their economies. Provided grants of money and loans to help with projects that could provide jobs and wealth. Economic policy was the focus of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF was designed to encourage economic policies that promoted international trade. Helped build confidence in the values of different countries' currencies. -
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Battle of the Bulge
The Germans launched a surprise offensive of their own. This referred to the bulge in the Allied battle lines created by the German advance. A key moment in the battle came at the Belgian city of Bastogne. The victory at Bastogne helped blunt the German offensive and became a symbol of American strength and determination. -
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Yalta Conference
A meeting held in the resort town of Yalta in the Soviet Union between the Big Three -- Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin. A key goal was to reach an agreement on what to do with the soon-to-be conquered Germany. Another agreement had to do with the fate of Poland and other Eastern European countries now occupied by the Soviets. Stalin also said the Soviet Union would declare war on Japan three months after Germany was defeated. -
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Battle of Iwo Jima
American forces set out to capture Iwo Jima, a tiny volcanic island heavily guarded by Japanese soldiers, to provide a better base from which to launch their raids. Early in the battle, marines managed to capture the island's tallest point, Mount Suribachi. Japanese troops refused to surrender. By the time it was over, nearly 7,000 Americans were dead and more were wounded. From over 20,000 Japanese defenders, all but a thousand of them fought to the death. -
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Battle of Okinawa
Only 350 miles, this island was to be the launching pad for the final invasion of Japan itself. This would be the bloodiest task the Americans would face in the Pacific. Over 12,000 Americans died and thousands more were injured. The Japanese lost 110,000 troops in the fighting. Americans finally gained control of the island in June. -
V-E Day
Victory in Europe Day. Celebrations erupted in the United States and throughout Europe. -
United Nations
Representatives from 50 countries met in San Francisco, California to establish the United Stations. Like the League of Nations formed after World War I, the United Nations (UN) was meant to encourage cooperation among nations and to prevent future wars. -
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Potsdam Conference
Leaders of the Allied nations met to carry on the work begun at Yalta. There was growing American concern that communism and Soviet influence might spread in the postwar world. Truman had hoped that if he met with Stalin, he could get the Soviet leader to live up to his promises from Yalta. In this regard, the Potsdam Conference was not a success. -
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Atomic Bombs dropped on Nagasaki & Hiroshima
An American B-29 named the Enola Gay flew over the city of Hiroshima and dropped its atomic bomb. Some 80,000 residents died immediately, 35,000 were injured, two-thirds of the city's 90,000 buildings were destroyed. Three days later, the United States dropped a second bomb on Nagasaki. The death toll there was 40,000. -
V-J Day
Victory in Japan day. Japanese emperor Hirohito favored surrender after the two atomic bombs, but military leaders resisted. Some even tried to overthrow the Japanese government and continue the war. Hirohito announced the end of the war in a radio broadcast. -
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Baby Boom
The two decades following World War II marked the beginning of the baby boom, a dramatic rise in the birthrate. -
Iron Curtain
Former British primer minister delivered a speech in which he sharply attacked the Soviet Union for creating what he called an Iron Curtain. This term reflected Churchill's belief that communism had created a sharp division in Europe. -
Communism Spreads
In the late 1940s, the United States adopted a policy known as containment. The creator of this policy, George F. Kennan, believed the United States should resists Soviet attempts to expand its power and influence wherever those attempts occurred. -
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Cold War
The Cold War was the era of high tension and bitter rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union following World War II. -
Truman Doctrine
Policy to support free peoples who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures. Help should be primarily through economic and financial aid which is essential to economic stability and orderly political processes. -
Central Intelligence Agency formed
Formed to collect information about and spy on foreign governments. Increasingly active in the 1950s. CIA agents also took part in secret actions against hostile governments. During Eisenhower's first term, CIA agents helped overthrow governments in Guatemala and Iran. -
Hollywood Ten
Ten Hollywood writers and directors who were thought to hold radical political views were called before HUAC. When they refused to answer questions about their beliefs or those of their colleagues, they were found guilty of contempt of Congress and were sentenced to a year in jail. -
General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade
Another international organization created to promote economic cooperation. Designed to reduce barriers to trade. -
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The Second Red Scare
The fear of communism that permeated American politics, culture, and society from the late 1940s through the 1950s, during the opening phases of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. -
The Marshall Plan
Massive American program of aid to help Europe rebuild and get back on its economic feet. An enormous undertaking. Between 1948 and 1951, the U.S. government spent over 13 billion dollars in 17 different countries. This aid bought food and farm equipment. it rebuilt factories and homes. Helped the United States build strong political support in Western Europe. -
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Berlin Airlift
Within days of the Soviet blockade, British and American airplanes began making deliveries to the people of West Berlin. The planes flew an average of 7,000 tons of supplies into West Berlin daily. In the face of Allied determination, the Soviet Union lifted its blockade. -
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Presented to the UN General Assembly. This document set high goals for all member nations of the UN. Declared a belief that all human beings are born free and equal. Called for an end to slavery, torture, and inhumane punishment. Demanded a variety of civil rights, including the right to assembly and the right to access to courts. It also stated elementary education should be free and available to all. -
Fair Deal
Truman's plan for the country. Included a number of programs in the tradition of the New Deal, including a federal health insurance program and new funding for education. -
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The United States and six other nations (Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Norway, and Portugal) joined the original five to create a new military alliance. According to the treaty, an armed attack against one of the member nations would be considered an attack against all. In the mid-1950s, Greece, Turkey, and the newly created West Germany joined NATO. -
Brinkmanship
The diplomatic art of going to the brink of war without actually getting into war. -
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The Korean War
The Korean War began when North Korea invaded South Korea. The United Nations, with the United States as the principal force, came to the aid of South Korea. China came to the aid of North Korea, and the Soviet Union gave some assistance. -
McCarran Act
Required Communist organizations to register with the government and established a special board to investigate Communist involvement. Also made it illegal to plan for a creation of a totalitarian dictatorship and prevented Communists or other radicals from entering the United States. Vetoed by Truman, but Congress easily overrode Truman's veto. -
Hydrogren Bomb Test
The blast was beyond anything scientists had imagined. The island on which the bomb had been placed simply vanished. -
Warsaw Pact
Established by the Soviets. A military alliance with the Soviet-dominated countries of Eastern Europe. Roughly similar in purpose to NATO, but entirely under the control of the Soviet Union. -
Sputnik
Soviets launched the first-ever artificial satellite named Sputnik. Sputnik was small, only about the size of a basketball and weighed 200 pounds. Less than a month later, the Soviets launched Sputnik II. The Sputnik launches caused great concern in the United States. To many Americans, it signaled that the Soviets had surpassed American scientists in terms of technical skill and knowledge. -
ICBM
Developed at the end of the 1950s. Intercontinental ballistic missiles. Could travel thousands of miles and strike very close to their intended targets. Could also deliver powerful nuclear weapons.