CH 39 Outline

Chapter 39

America in World War II,

1941-1945

Chapter Themes

Unified by Pearl Harbor, America effectively carried out a war mobilization effort that produced vast social and economic changes within American society.

Following its “get Hitler first” strategy, the United States and its Allies invaded and liberated conquered Europe from Fascist rule.  The slower strategy of “island-hopping” against Japan also proceeded successfully until the atomic bomb brought sudden end to World War II.

Chapter Summary

A.    Pearl  Harbor-  was a loud wake-up call, which aroused great national unity.

1.      the plan-  take care of Europe first and defend the Pacific from further Japanese advance.

B.     America at home

1.      the lone blight-  Japanese internment camps held Japanese Americans hostage.

2.      economy-  is mobilized giving jobs to women,  African Americans and Mexican workers.  Many left rural towns and moved to the cities of the North and West.

3.       Full Employment and Prosperity-  is brought by the war time industries.

4.      social change-  millions of Americans are enlisted in the military and millions of others are forced to move making new communities across America.

C.    Japanese conquest-

1. halt to Japanese aggression- is achieved in the Battles of Midway and the Coral Sea. 
2. Island hopping-  American forces then begin to “island hop” their way back to Japan.

D.    In Europe-

1. American forces-  first begin fighting in North Africa and Italy.
2. D-Day-  American forces storm the beaches of Normandy creating a second front in France, eventually pushing back the invading forces.

E.     Roosevelt- wins his fourth term in office and ends the war.

1. Allied troops-  push the German forces back till they run into the Russian forces, put an end to Hitler’s campaign.
2. The Bomb-  the war in Japan is ended when atomic bombs are dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.