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Japan Invades Manchuria
The US response to Japanese aggression, limited by isolationist policies, was limited to imposing trade restrictions, such as embargoes on gar and iron. This even is important to US history because before the US had did this Japanese was depending on the US with trade. -
Munich Pact
The Munich Pact was when Britain and France agreed to allow Hitler to take more land, in exchange for Hitler’s agreement to seek no more territory after that concession. Hitler broke the Pact less than 6 months later by continuing to take territory, ending European policy of appeasement. This event is important to US history because of all the land that Hitler gained during this time. -
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Kristallnacht
Nazis in Germany torched synagogues, vandalized Jewish homes, schools and businesses and killed close to 100 Jews.The actions of Hitler, including the passage of the Nuremberg Laws and attacks on Jews such as Kristallnacht were reported but little action was taken to stop the Nazis. -
Neutrality Acts of 1939
Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts in the 1930s to prevent US involvement in war and maintain US isolationism. These acts prohibited the sale of arms or lending of money to any country involved in any military action. Cash and Carry which was buy goods from the US if they paid cash up front and carried the merchandise on their own ships. This is important to US history because with the cash and carry the US was gaining money while the other people was doing everything else. -
Germany Invades Poland
Germany’s invasion of Poland on Sept. 1, 1939 led to France and Britain declaring war on Germany. This is important to US history because this even was the reason WWII started. -
Atlantic Charter
FDR & British Prime Minister Winston Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter August 1941- a broad statement of US and British war aims. It endorsed self determination and an international system of general security. It also showed FDR’s commitment to opposing German and Japanese aggression. This is important to US history because alliance strengthened between US & Great Britain by signing the Atlantic Charter. -
Lend-Lease Act
Congress authorizes Roosevelt to “sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend or otherwise dispose of to any such government and defense article” which he thought it was “necessary in the interest of the defense of the United States". This even is important to US history is because it provided military aid to any country. -
Executive Order 8802
Philip Randolph threatened to organize a march on Washington demanding equal access to war-time jobs. In response FDR issued Executive Order 8802, prohibiting ethnic or racial discrimination in the nation's defense industry. This event is important to US history because it helped eliminate racial discrimination. -
Atlantic Conference
Atlantic Conference Churchill & FDR - alliance strengthened between US & Great Britain by signing the Atlantic Charter. This event is important to US history because it strengthened the relationship between the USA & GB. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Surprise attack launched by Japanese against Pearl Harbor naval base, as well as nearby airfields. Japan attack in response to US embargoes and because it saw the US Pacific fleet as threat to its growing empire 2400 Americans killed, 1300 wounded and 19 US ships sunk or damaged. This event is important to US history because it would drive the US into isolation and into WWII. -
Executive Order 9066
FDR issued Executive Order 9066 which authorized the internment of Americans of Japanese descent and resident aliens from Japan. This even is important to US history because this document order the removal of resident enimies. -
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Battle of Midway
Victory at Midway stopped the Japanese advance and put them on the defensive. This event is important to US history because it stop the Japanese advance. -
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Operation Torch
The invasion of North Africa was launched to free the Mediterranean Sea from German control and protect the oil fields in the Middle East. This event is important to US history because it marked the largest American campaign to date int eh Atlantic theater and the first major operation carried out. -
D-Day (invasion of Normandy)
The invasion of Normandy on D-Day finally provided the long-awaited western front. Germany was now engaged on 3 fronts & had to divert resources to a western front Soviet Union, Italy, & France. Normandy - operation overlord - invasion of France. This event was important to US history because it was the turning point for World War II in Europe. -
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Battle of the Bulge
American+British+French marched towards Berlin from the west after Battle of the Bulge Soviets marched from the east. Met at Berlin to crush what was left of the Nazis. Hitler committed suicide as they neared Berlin. This leads to the post-war division of Berlin and Germany and Cold War tension over Soviet control of Eastern Europe. This is important to US history because it marked the last German offense on the Western Front -
Korematsu v. United States
red Korematsu was a Japanese American who refused to leave his home per the Exec. Order (9066) issued in regards to Japanese Americans and resident aliens. He took his case to the Supreme Court, arguing that internment violated his Constitutional rights. Korematsu lost & the Supreme Court upheld Japanese internment as Constitutional. -
Yalta Conference
Churchill, FDR, Stalin - Final plans for the defeat of Europe & began a discussion of post-war European Plans. This event is important to US history because it began a discussion of post-war European Plans. -
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Bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki
President Truman decided to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima (Aug 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (Aug 9. 1945) to prevent the necessity for landing and fighting on the Japanese home islands which would result in too many American lives lost. This event is important to US history because the use of atomic bombs created mistrust between Soviet Union and the United States because the technology was not shared and it started an arms race between the USSR and the U.S. and it save American lives,& end the war. -
United Nations is created
The US played a key role in helping to organize and start the United Nations. United Nations: intergovernmental organization tasked to promote international cooperation and to create and maintain international order. The idea based in the League of nations originally proposed by Woodrow Wilson. -
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Nuremberg Trials
Nuremberg Trials established the precedent that individuals are responsible for their own actions and for future trials on war crimes. The precedents set by Nuremberg Trials and the conviction of Nazis has not however, brought an end to genocide throughout the world. This event is important to US history because of the precedent it set for the future. -
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine pledged to contain communism in Europe and was first applied when the United States supplied military and financial aid to Greece and Turkey to resist the communist-backed rebel forces there. This event is important to US history because it implied American support for other nations. -
Marshall Plan
The US offered financial aid (Marshall Plan) to promote economic rebuilding and prevent the fall of European countries to communism. The Marshall Plan or Economic Recovery Plan of 1948, was proposed by Sec. of State George Marshall. This event is important to US history because it was financial and military aid to to Greece and Turkey to prevent a fall to communist rebel forces. -
Israel is established
US supported the self-determination of the Jewish people with the creation of the Jewish state of Israel. US promptly recognized & supported Israel demonstrates the impact of German war crimes on the conscience of the US & the world. This event is important to US history because the US recognized & supported Israel. -
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Berlin Airlift
The first test of US policy by the Soviet Union came when the Soviets blockaded Berlin. The US won this first Cold War confrontation with the Berlin Airlift. The US supplied the people of Berlin with food, water and other supplies via air drops. This event is important to US history because it was first test of US policy by the Soviet Union. -
US establishes NATO
The US established a military alliance aimed at the Soviet Union. In 1955, the Soviet Union organized the Warsaw Pact. A military alliance of Eastern European nations against NATO. This event is important to US history because of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance against the Soviet Union. -
Soviet Union tests Atomic Bomb
The Soviet Union tested an atomic bomb led the United States to accelerate the development of the hydrogen bomb and began a nuclear arms race. This event is important to US history because it started a nuclear arms race. -
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Korean Conflict
In 1950, communist North Korea invaded South Korea. Formal peace negotiations ended with North Korean forces contained above the 38th parallel, a victory for containment, at a cost of 36,000 American lives. This event is important to US history because it turned US public opinion against the war. -
Eisenhower Doctrine
President Eisenhower intervened in Suez Crisis in 1956 and extended containment to the Middle East (Eisenhower Doctrine). This event is important to US history because it contain communism in Middle East. -
Soviet Union launches Sputnik
The space race took off when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik on Oct 4, 1957. This event is important to US history because it intensifies the arms race and raises Cold War tensions. -
National Defense Education Act
As a result, the US Congress passed the National Defense Education Act to promote science and math skills, counteract the fear that consumerism had made Americans less competitive and less likely to win the arms race. This event is important to US history because it promotes math and science skills. -
Rise of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall which became a symbol of the Cold War. The city of Berlin, Germany was divided at the end of World War II. This event is important to US history because it was to separate East & West Germany and keep people of the eastern bloc from escaping to freedom in the west through Berlin 1962. -
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan on Dec 24 1979 to prop up a friendly government. The US supported the Afghan resistance movement (much of it done secretly) because of the containment policy. This event is important to US history because the Soviets try to prop of govt/ US supports the Afghan resistance movement. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 considered to be the end of the Cold War. This event is important to US history because it ended the Cold war.