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Period: to
World War II
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Roosevelts Opposes Aggression in a Speech
There was a lot of violence during this time, and many of the attacks on China by the Japanese shocked Americans. President Franklin Roosevelt gave a speech in Chicago where he criticized the aggressive behaviors of other countries. His solution was to join peace-loving nations, but he didnt have a plan as to what the peace-loving nations should do against the violent ones. His speech was strongly criticzed, but it did warn some Americans as to what kind of threat the Japanese were. -
Kristallnacht
Many acts of violence against Jews were ocuring. The most serious attack occured and was named "Night of the Broken Glass." After a Jewish regugee killed a German diplomat in Paris, the Nazis ordered attacks on Jews in Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland. The Secret police destroyed more than 1500 synogogues, 7500 Jewish-owned businesses, killed more than 200 Jews, and injuered 600 others. -
Blitzkrieg on Poland
A German blitkrieg attacked Poland from three different directions. Blitzkrieg means "lightening war" and it really used the power of speed and firepower. The Germans were able to use the new technology such as planes and tanks to attack Poland. Sadly, Poland fell to defeat, depite the fact that France and Britain declared war against Germany. -
Pearl Harbor
Japan's Navy attacked Hawaii, where the US Navy's main pacific was was located There were 6 aircraft carriers, 360 planes, and a mixture of battleships, cruisers, and submarines. It was a surprise attack in order to stop Americans from having such strong resistance to Japanese expansion. Sadly, may devastating things occured due to Pearl Harbor. The House voted 388 to 1 to declare war against. This brought all the American people together in unity in facing the task of winning a global war. -
Japanese Take the Philippines
It was very difficult for General Douglas MacArthur to hold the US positions in the Phillppines because he had very little support. Once the Japanese were destroying many of the army's plances and equipment it was even harder. Japan took Guam, Wake Island, and Hong Kong. Then on Decemeber 22 the main land attack and the US army had to retreat against the Japanese because of their strength -
Battle of Coral Sea
Finally the US was able to gain hopedue to what happened at the Battle of Coral Sea. The US sent two aircraft carriers( the USS Lexington and USS Yorktown) along with other support vessels to counter Japans plan of attacking New Guinea. It was the very first sea fight in which the enemy warchips never even sighted each othe. The US planes attacked Japanese ships and although it was technically a tie, because it forced Japan to call off their attack on New Guinea, it was considered a victory! -
Battle of Midway
This battle was one fo the most important naval battles in WWII. The US beat Japan in a decisive defeat, and sank 4 Japanese aircraft carriers( which ha many of Japan's most expeirenced pilots on board. The US only lost 1 aircraft carrier. This was the major turning point and it made Japan on the defenseive end of the war! -
D-Day
The Allies hit Germany with force. On 4 beaches the US planned to destroy German communication and transportation networks .The Allies gained a hold in France, which was the first step and thenheaded to Berlin. more than 1 million Allied troops landed at Normandy! This led to the advance of the Allies. -
V-E Day
Germany finally surrendered. Hitler was a phyical wreck and after mandy losses, he commited suicide. His plan for 1000 year Reich only lasted 12 years. Americans celebrated V-E( Victory in Europe) Day. Sadly President Roosevet passed away a few weeks earlier, and now President Harry Truman had to lead the nation to final victory, -
Hiroshima is Destroyed
US pilots dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Within 2 minutes more than 60,000 residents were dead or missing. This caused Japanese leaders to debate whether to surrender or continue to fight. This atomic bomb was so intense it was described "as if it was looking directly into a kitchen oven."
