Crash Course U.S. History: World War II

Introduction

• Host: John Green
• Focus: World War II
  • Wide-reaching and complex topic
  • Popular in historical media
  • Current relevance diminished on mainstream channels

War Background

• America pre-WWII influenced by:
  • World War I: U.S. emerged stronger yet disillusioned by high casualties and minimal changes
  • The Great Depression: Hit global trade and influenced foreign policy decisions
• U.S. between the wars:
  • Era of "isolationism" (not 100% accurate)
  • Supported arms reduction treaties, e.g., Washington treaties (unsuccessful)
  • Good Neighbor Policy:
    • Less intrusive in Latin American policies
    • Withdrawal from Dominican Republic and Haiti
    • Still supported dictators: Somoza (Nicaragua) and Batista (Cuba)
  • Focus on limited world trade due to tariffs and economic conditions
  • Congress passed Neutrality Acts in response to rising global hostilities:
    • Banned arms sales to belligerents
    • Influenced by Eurocentric views
    • Popular isolationist groups (e.g., America First)
    • Initial U.S. neutrality in European conflicts

Toward Conflict

• By 1940:
  • FDR recognized threat posed by Nazis
  • Cash and Carry arms sales to Great Britain authorized
  • First peacetime draft (September 1940)
• 1941: Lend-Lease Act
  • Provided military aid to Allies (repay post-war)
  • Arms and war material sent to Britain and USSR
  • U.S. froze Japanese assets, halting trade

Pearl Harbor

• Dec. 7, 1941: Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
  • Heavy U.S. casualties and equipment losses
  • Led to Congress declaring war on Japan
  • Germany declared war on the U.S.
• American roles both in Europe and the Pacific

Pacific Theatre

• Battles:
  • Bataan Surrender: Largest surrender in U.S. history
  • Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942): Protected Australia
  • Battle of Midway (June 1942): Significant U.S. victory
• Strategy: Island Hopping
  • Taking islands for use as bases
  • Heavy, costly fighting (e.g., Guadalcanal)

European Theatre

• North Africa campaign:
  • Initial battles in North Africa (Nov 1942)
  • 1943 defeat of Rommel in desert
• Invasion of Europe:
  • Began with Sicily and Italy
  • D-Day: June 6, 1944, Normandy invasion
  • Key role in ending Nazi occupation
• Liberated Paris, participated in assault on Germany

Mystery Document

• Authored by Ernie Pyle (war correspondent)
• Describes non-warrior American soldiers winning battles

End of War

• European war ended with Russian capture of Berlin
• Continuing Pacific conflict until August 1945
  • Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima (Aug 6) and Nagasaki (Aug 9)
  • Japanese unconditional surrender
  • Harsh death tolls from radiation

Ethical Considerations of Atomic Bombs

• Arguments Against:
  • Potential for Japanese surrender if emperor stayed
  • Primary targets were civilians
  • Aimed to threaten USSR
  • Qualitative difference from conventional weapons
• Arguments For:
  • Prevented possible high American and Japanese casualties from invasion
  • Part of broader civilian-targeted warfare during WWII

Implications of WWII and Bombing

• Innovations in warfare: Aerial bombardment
  • Civilian casualties: WWII (~40%) vs WWI (~10%)
• Use of history to explore and foster empathy for those affected by war decisions

Conclusion

• WWII history offers a lens to understand the complexity of ethics in wartime decisions
• Encourages empathy for soldiers and civilians
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