World War II Overview
Pre-War Events
- Great Depression: Heavily impacted the US and the world, leading to a focus on domestic issues and isolation.
- Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928): An ineffective agreement that made war illegal but had no enforcement mechanism.
- Rise of Dictatorships:
- Fascist governments rise in Europe (Mussolini in Italy, Hitler in Germany).
- Communist regime under Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union.
- Militaristic government in Japan.
- Stimson Doctrine (1931): US response to Japan's invasion of Manchuria, refusing to recognize land taken by force.
- Nye Committee: Suggested US involvement in WWI was for business profit, influencing Neutrality Acts.
Neutrality Acts (1935-1937)
- Banned US trade with warring nations.
- Restricted US citizens from traveling on ships from warring countries.
Rise of Tensions
- Panay Incident (1937): Japanese attack on US ship leads to FDR's Quarantine Speech advocating for economic embargos.
- Appeasement: Notably at the Munich Conference, where Chamberlain conceded parts of Czechoslovakia to Hitler, hoping to avoid war.
- Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (1939): Agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union not to attack each other.
Beginning of World War II
- Germany Invades Poland (Sept 1, 1939): Marks the start of WWII.
- US Neutrality Act (1939): Allowed cash and carry trade with democracies under attack.
- Isolationists vs. Interventionists:
- Committee to Defend America advocated for aiding Allies.
- America First Committee, including Charles Lindbergh, resisted involvement.
- Lend-Lease Act (1941): Allowed US to lend/lease supplies to nations deemed vital.
US Entry into WWII
- Pearl Harbor (Dec 7, 1941): Japanese attack prompts US to declare war.
Key Events of WWII
- Manhattan Project: Development of nuclear weapons led by J. Robert Oppenheimer.
- D-Day Invasion (June 6, 1944): Led by Eisenhower, crucial for Allied victory.
- Yalta and Potsdam Conferences:
- Yalta: Stalin promised free elections in Eastern Europe but did not follow through.
- Potsdam: Truman revealed the atomic bomb to Stalin.
Holocaust
- Genocide of 11 million people, including 6 million Jews.
End of WWII
- Atomic Bombs on Japan:
- Hiroshima (Aug 6, 1945): "Little Boy" bomb.
- Nagasaki (Aug 9, 1945): "Fat Man" bomb.
- Justified as saving American lives.
Post-War Developments
- United Nations: Formed to replace the League of Nations.
- Cold War Beginnings: US joins NATO, marking a shift in foreign policy.
Domestic Impact of WWII
- Women: "Rosie the Riveter" symbolizes women's workforce participation.
- Japanese Internment: Under Executive Order 9066, upheld by Korematsu v. US.
- Mexican-American Workers: Bracero program and Zoot Suit Riots in LA.
- Sun Belt Growth: Industrial growth in the southwest US.
Key Exam Topics
- Compare US policies pre- and post-WWI and WWII.
- Impact on specific groups (women, African-Americans, etc.).
- Change in US foreign policy post-WWII (UN, NATO, Cold War).
Important Exam Points
- Know Korematsu v. US, Nye Committee, Zoot Suit Riots, and Truman's atomic bomb rationale.
- Understand Soviet election promises at Yalta Conference.
These notes summarize the key points from the lecture on World War II, providing a comprehensive review for exam preparation.