International Diplomacy and WWII

1929-1945

College Board Main Idea

The involvement of the United States in WWII, while opposed by most Americans prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, vaulted the United States into global political and military prominence and transformed both American society and the relationship between the United States and the rest of the world.

From Neutrality to War

Pearl Harbor (Dec. 7, 1941) 2,400 died in less than

2 hours High government

officials knew of the attack because they had broken the Japanese codes. However, they did not know the exact date or target and thought it would be in Southeast Asia.

Declaration of War the next day

Mobilization

The mass mobilization of American society to supply troops for the war effort and a workforce on the home front ended the Great Depression

It also provided opportunities for women and minorities to improve their socioeconomic positions

Mobilization

Industrial Production War Production Board,

Office of War Mobilization

Government contracts Office of Price

Administration (OPA) Unions – Smith-Connelly

Anti-Strike Act Financing the War▪ Income tax & bonds

Mobilization

African-Americans Race riots in Detroit and NYC “Double V” campaign – NAACP membership rises Congress of Racial Equality

Mexican-Americans Worked in defense industries Served in the military Braceros Zoot suit riots

Navajos used as “code talkers”

Mobilization

Women 5 million enter the

workforce Serve in wartime

industries 200,000 in military

noncombat roles “Rosie the Riveter”

American Values in Wartime

Japanese-Americans Suspected of being potential spies FDR established internment camps Nisei regiments in the U.S. Army Korematsu vs. U.S. 1988 – Federal gov’t offered apology and

compensation

Japanese-American Grocery Store

Manzanar: War Relocation Center

Theaters of Fighting

Fighting Japan▪ After Pearl Harbor Japan takes over much of

East and Southeast Asia▪ The Pacific Front operations are based in Los

Angeles▪ The Battle of Midway is the turning point ▪ Island-hopping▪ How do Kamikaze pilots, and the battles for

Okinawa and Iwo Jima foreshadow the necessity of the A-bomb?

Theaters of Fighting

Atomic Bombs Manhattan Project Alamogordo, New Mexico Harry S. Truman calls on

Japan to surrender unconditionally or face “utter destruction”

Hiroshima, Aug 6th and Nagasaki, Aug 9th 1945

Japan Surrenders

Theaters of Fighting

North Africa and Italy

FDR decided to help Britain defeat Germany and Italy on this front before opening the Western front

Battle of El Alamein (led by Patton) protected the Suez Canal from capture

Theaters of Fighting

Western Europe

The liberation of France began with D-Day, June 6, 1944

Germany surrendered in May, 1945

(FDR had died in April, 1945)

The Invasion at Normandy

WWII Technology

Development of Sonar SOund Navigation And Ranging Collaboration between American and

British engineers led to creation of RADAR

DDT developed and used in the Pacific

WWII Technology

Manhattan Project: Long-Term Impacts Government maintains strict secrecy $2 Billion in taxpayer money spent to

make the most deadly weapon in history This initiates the start of “big science” –

government contract for expensive research and development programs

The War’s Legacy

The dominant American role in the Allied victory and postwar peace settlements, combined with the war-ravaged condition of Asia and Europe, allowed the United States to emerge from the war as the most powerful nation on earth

The War’s Legacy

The Bataan Death March Influences the Geneva Convention

The Holocaust & the Nuremburg Trials

The extent of the holocaust & the international tribunal for war criminals led to an increased demand for a Jewish homeland

Israel created in 1948

The War’s Legacy

Conservative politics returned, New Deal programs were slashed. War mobilization enormously expanded government power, especially the power of the executive branch. As never before the federal government managed the economy, molded public opinion, funded scientific research, and influenced people’s daily lives.