U.S. History II - The Second World War, 1941–1945 - Quick Guides

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Study GuideU.S. History II–The Second World War, 1941–19451.The Home FrontThe U.S. was fully mobilized for World War II afterPearl Harborin December 1941, but preparationshad begun earlier with thedraftin 1940 andrearmament. By the end of the war, about15 millionAmericans served in the military, andwartime productionsoared. Thegross national productincreased from $91 billion in 1939 to $166 billion in 1945, and17 million new jobswere created.Fighting on Two Fronts•Europe: The Allies initially disagreed on the best way to defeatNazi Germany, but keydecisions from1942 to 1945led to theCold War.•Pacific: After initial losses, the U.S. started going on theoffensiveagainstJapan, with majorbattles like theinvasion of Guadalcanal (1942)and eventually dropping the first atomicbombs onHiroshimaandNagasaki.1.1The War’s Impact on the Economy•End of the Great Depression: Unemployment dropped from17% in 1939to just1.2% by1944. The issue became too few workers, not too few jobs.•Women in the Workforce: As men went to war, millions of women replaced them in factories,often takingnontraditional jobs. The image ofRosie the Riveterbecame iconic.•Victory Gardens & Scrap Drives: Citizens grew their own food to help with shortages, andcollected rubber, metals, etc., to support the war effort.1.2The Wartime Economy & Production•War Production Board (WPB): This new agency oversaw the conversion of industries frommaking consumer goods to military supplies liketanks,planes, andships.•Rationing & Price Controls: TheOffice of Price Administration (OPA)controlled pricesand rationed goods likegasoline,food, andshoes.•Wages & Inflation: With so many workers in high demand, wages increased, and thegovernment kept inflation in check.

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Study Guide1.3Financing the War•The war was funded bytax increases(e.g., theRevenue Act of 1942) andwar bonds.•Federal income taxwas collected throughpayroll deductionsstarting in 1943, bringingmany Americans into the tax system for the first time.1.4Life for Women, African-Americans, and Hispanics•Women in the Military: Over200,000women served in auxiliary military roles like theWomen’s Army Corps (WACs)andWAVES (Navy).•African-Americans: Despitesegregationand discrimination in the military,over two millionAfrican-Americansworked in war plants by 1944. TheTuskegee Airmen, a famous all-blacksquadron, became heroes.•Hispanics: Many Hispanic soldiers earned prestigious awards, but they also faceddiscrimination. InLos Angeles, arace riotin 1943 led to violence againstMexican-American youth.1.5The Internment of Japanese-Americans•Following thePearl Harbor attack, fear and prejudice led toExecutive Order 9066, whichforced110,000 Japanese-Americansintointernment camps. Many were U.S. citizens, andthe evacuation was racially motivated, as there was no real security threat.•The442nd Regimental Combat Team, a unit made up of Japanese-Americans, became themost decorated unitin WWII.•Supreme Courtupheld the internment policy inKorematsu v. U.S.(1944), but in1988, thegovernment apologized and compensated survivors.1.6Politics During the War•GI Bill of Rights (1944): This law provided veterans with benefits likeeducation,homeloans, andjob preferences.•Presidential Election (1944): Roosevelt, despite his poor health, ran for a fourth term andwon againstThomas E. Dewey.•Congressional Elections (1942): Republicans gained seats, and the government startedreducing some New Deal programs.

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Study Guide2.The World at WarThe United States' military strategy during World War II focused on defeatingGermanyfirst, whilealso battling Japan in the Pacific. Although the U.S. faced a two-front war, the initial priority was todefeat Germany, which influenced both the European and Pacific theater strategies.2.1Naval War in the Pacific: 1941–1945•Early Japanese Advances(1941–42):oPearl Harbor Attack (December 7, 1941): Japan's surprise attack prompted the U.S.to enter the war.oJapan quickly seized several territories, includingMalaya,Singapore,Guam,WakeIsland, andHong Kong, and invaded thePhilippines.oBataan and Corregidorsurrendered in 1942; GeneralDouglas MacArthurfled toAustralia.•Doolittle Raid (April 18, 1942):oU.S. bombers attacked Tokyo. While militarily insignificant, it boosted Allied morale.•Key Naval Battles:oBattle of the Coral Sea (May 1942): First major naval battle fought entirely byaircraft carriers. Japan’s plans to invadePort Moresbyfailed.oBattle of Midway (June 1942): Japan lost four aircraft carriers and almost 300planes, ending its offensive in the Pacific and protecting Hawaii.•The Pacific Island-Hopping Strategy:oGuadalcanal Campaign (August 1942–February 1943): The first major offensive,where Japan was forced to abandon the island.oBy 1943,American and Australian forceshad gained control of the northern coastofNew Guinea.oTheB-29 Superfortressbombing campaign began in June 1944, targeting Japanfrom newly captured islands in theMariana Islands.•Liberation of the Philippines:oMacArthur returned to the Philippines(October 1944).

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