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On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The explosion destroyed most of the city and killed tens of thousands of people instantly, with many more dying later from radiation. The devastating power of the bomb shocked Japan and the world, and after a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan surrendered, bringing World War II to an end. It also began the nuclear age and changed how future wars would be fought. -
The Lend-Lease Act was significant because it allowed the United States to supply weapons, food, and equipment to Allied nations without directly entering World War II. Passed in 1941, it helped countries like Great Britain and later the Soviet Union continue fighting Nazi Germany. This act marked a major step away from U.S. isolationism and showed strong American support for the Allies. -
The Invasion of North Africa was significant because it gave the Allies their first major victory against Germany and Italy and helped them begin pushing the Axis powers out of the war. -
The invasion of Poland was significant because it started World War II. On September 1, 1939, Germany attacked Poland, and two days later Britain and France declared war on Germany, officially beginning the war in Europe. The invasion showed that Hitler was determined to expand German territory and that appeasement had failed. It also demonstrated the power of Germany’s new blitzkrieg tactics, which would shape how the war was fought. -
Great Britain and France declaring war on Nazi Germany was significant because it officially began World War II in Europe. After Germany invaded Poland, both countries honored their promise to defend it. When Hitler refused to withdraw his troops, they declared war on September 3, 1939. This turned a regional conflict into a global war and showed that appeasement had failed. -
The Selective Service and Training Act was significant because it was the first peacetime draft in U.S. history. Passed in 1940, it required men to register for military service to prepare the United States for possible involvement in World War II. The act strengthened the U.S. military and showed that America was moving away from isolationism and toward supporting the Allies. -
This invasion was significant because it showed how powerful and fast Germany’s military had become. In May 1940, German forces used blitzkrieg tactics to quickly defeat Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, then overran France in just weeks. The fall of France shocked the world and left Great Britain standing alone against Nazi Germany in Western Europe. It also proved that Germany could defeat strong nations rapidly, changing the balance of power in the war. -
The Dunkirk evacuation was significant because it saved the Allied armies from destruction. In 1940, German forces trapped British and French troops in Dunkirk, but over 300,000 soldiers were rescued across the English Channel during Operation Dynamo. Although it was a retreat, it became a powerful symbol of hope for Britain and allowed the Allies to continue fighting instead of being defeated early in the war. -
The Battle of Britain was significant because it was the first major defeat of Nazi Germany. In 1940, Germany tried to gain control of the skies over Britain so it could launch an invasion. The British Royal Air Force successfully defended the country, forcing Hitler to cancel his invasion plans. This victory kept Britain in the war and proved that Germany could be stopped. -
The attack on Pearl Harbor was significant because it brought the United States into World War II. On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii. The next day, the United States declared war on Japan, turning World War II into a truly global conflict. -
America entering World War II was significant because it changed the balance of power in the war. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the United States declared war on Japan, and soon after on Germany and Italy. U.S. involvement brought massive industrial production, fresh troops, and new resources to the Allies, helping turn the war toward Allied victory. -
Germany and Italy declaring war on the United States was significant because it fully brought America into the European side of World War II. After the U.S. declared war on Japan following Pearl Harbor, Hitler and Mussolini declared war on the U.S. in December 1941. This turned the conflict into a truly global war and strengthened the Allied side with American troops, money, and industrial power. -
It was significant because it was the first naval battle fought entirely by aircraft carriers—the opposing ships never directly fired at each other. Instead, planes launched from carriers attacked enemy ships. -
The Battle of Midway is significant because it was the turning point of World War II in the Pacific. Before Midway, Japan had been winning and expanding quickly after attacking Pearl Harbor. At Midway, the United States destroyed four of Japan’s aircraft carriers, which were some of their most important warships. Japan also lost many skilled pilots and could not replace them easily. -
In 1943, Allied forces invaded Sicily and then mainland Italy to weaken Germany and its allies. The invasion caused the Italian government to remove dictator Benito Mussolini from power, and Italy soon surrendered to the Allies. This meant Germany lost an important ally and had to send troops to defend Italy, which reduced the number of German soldiers fighting on other fronts. The campaign also gave the Allies control of key Mediterranean routes and brought them closer to invading Germany self -
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in the largest amphibious invasion in history. This attack allowed the Allies to gain a foothold in France, push German forces back, and free Paris and other occupied countries. It forced Germany to fight on two major fronts—against the Allies in the west and the Soviets in the east—which weakened the German army and sped up the defeat of Nazi Germany. -
On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The blast destroyed most of the city and killed tens of thousands of people instantly, with many more dying later from injuries and radiation. The shocking destruction showed the overwhelming power of nuclear weapons, and after a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan surrendered. This ended World War II and began the nuclear age. -
In December 1944, German forces launched a surprise attack against the Allies in Belgium and Luxembourg, creating a “bulge” in the Allied lines. Although the Germans hoped to split the Allied armies and capture key supply ports, the Allies held their ground and eventually pushed them back. Germany lost many troops, tanks, and supplies that it could not replace, which made it easier for the Allies to advance into Germany and helped bring the war in Europe to an end sooner. -
In February 1945, leaders Franklin D. Roosevelt (United States), Winston Churchill (Britain), and Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union) met at Yalta to discuss final strategies against Germany and what would happen once the war ended. They agreed to divide Germany into occupation zones, to allow free elections in Eastern Europe, and to create the United Nations. These decisions influenced how Europe was rebuilt and also increased tensions between the Allies, helping lead to the Cold War. -
On May 8, 1945, Germany formally surrendered to the Allied forces after Adolf Hitler’s death and the capture of Berlin. This ended nearly six years of fighting in Europe and brought peace to millions of people. Celebrations took place across Allied countries, and the focus of the war then shifted entirely to defeating Japan in the Pacific. -
In August 1945, after the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, Japan agreed to surrender. On September 2, 1945, the formal surrender was signed aboard the USS Missouri. This ended World War II completely, stopped the fighting in the Pacific, and allowed nations to begin rebuilding. It also made the United States and the Soviet Union the world’s two main superpowers and reshaped global politics.