Der

U.S. Timeline of the 1940s

By BrandonP123
  • Period: to

    January 1, 1940 - December 31, 1949

    Timeline of the 1940s
  • U.S. Congress reintroduces the draft.

    U.S. Congress reintroduces the draft.

    The U.S. Congress approves the first peacetime conscription draft in anticipation of possible American involvement in WWII.
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected to his third term as President of the United States.

    Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected to his third term as President of the United States.

  • Mount Rushmore is completed.

    Mount Rushmore is completed.

  • Lend-Lease Act is approved.

    Lend-Lease Act is approved.

    $50 billion given to Britain, Soviet Union, France, and China.
  • RKO Pictures releases Citizen Kane.

    RKO Pictures releases Citizen Kane.

    RKO was famous for musicals. Citizen Kane was the 2nd most famous.
  • Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

    Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

    Preventive action in order to keep he U.S. Pacific fleet from interfering.
  • Executive order 9066 is signed.

    Executive order 9066 is signed.

    Allowed local military commanders to designate military areas from which everyone was excluded.
  • Battle of Midway.

    Battle of Midway.

    Destroyed Japan's naval strength.
  • Manhattan Project begins.

    Manhattan Project begins.

    Used to explore the isolation of radioactive isotopes and the production of the atomic bomb.
  • Detroit, Michigan Race Riots.

    Detroit, Michigan Race Riots.

    Riots in Detroit that took three days for officials to restore order.
  • D-Day.

    D-Day.

    The first invasion of Normandy, France.
  • G.I. Bill of Rights signed into law.

    G.I. Bill of Rights signed into law.

    Signed in by President FDR; gave returning veterans benefits.
  • Americans land at Iwo Jima.

    Americans land at Iwo Jima.

    The fighting on Japan's Iwo Jima lasted from February 19 to March 26, 1945.
  • Harry S. Truman becomes President.

    Harry S. Truman becomes President.

    Vice President Truman becomes President when Roosevelt died.
  • Germany surrenders.

    Germany surrenders.

    After Hitler's suicide, Germany had no options other than to surrender.
  • Bombing of Hiroshima.

    Bombing of Hiroshima.

    America drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
  • Bombing of Nagasaki.

    Bombing of Nagasaki.

    America drops an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.
  • First meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.

    First meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.

    The first meeting of the U.N. was held in London's Central Hall.
  • National Basketball Association of America is founded.

    National Basketball Association of America is founded.

    Later named the NBA, this association was founded by the owners of the major ice hockey arenas.
  • Jackie Robinson debuts at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

    Jackie Robinson debuts at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

    Showed his speed was a force to be reckoned with.
  • Marshall Plan

    Marshall Plan

    The Marshall plan was created in the summer of 1947 for America to assist Europe financially after WWII.
  • President Truman is re-elected.

    President Truman is re-elected.

    Defeated Thomas Dewey in the 1948 elections and created "The Fair Deal."
  • NATO is formed.

    NATO is formed.

    North Atlantic Treaty Organization; formed for the defense of Europe and the North Atlantic against Soviet aggression.