The Legacy of the War

World War II (1939-1945)

Chapter 27, Section 5

Essential Questions:

• If YOU are told to do something by a teacher, and YOU do it, but then YOU get in trouble for it, are YOU responsible for YOUR actions?

WWII: The Human Cost• Over 20 Million

Soldiers Were Killed During WWII

• The Soviet Union Lost 7.5 Million Soldiers, the Most of Any Country!

• The United States Lost Over 400,000

• 400 Gold Stars at the WWII Memorial

World War II Memorial

In Memory of 400,000+

World War II Destruction• WWII Was Fought w/ NO

Limits/Boundaries:– Cities Were Bombed– Villages Were Destroyed– Millions of Civilians Were

Killed!

• Fighting Took Place on 5 Different Continents

• Over 20 Million Soviet Citizens Were Killed!

• Over 10 Million Chinese Citizens Were Killed!

WWII Refugees• Refugees Are Citizens

Who Are Forced Out of Their Homes/ Country (War, Genocide, Floods, Earthquakes, Etc…)

• WWII Created Over 21 Million Refugees:– Orphans of Soldiers– P.O.W’s– Concentration Camp

Survivors– Citizens Who Fled When

Enemy Armies Arrived– Etc…

Post War U.S. Economy• U.S. Economy was

“Booming” After WWII

• WWII Ended the Great Depression

• No Attacks on U.S.:– U.S. Factories Were in Full

Swing!– Everyone Had $$$ to Spend!

• Europe’s Economies Were in Ruins:– Factories Were Bombed– Cities/Villages/Ports/

Roads/Bridges/ Transportation Was All Destroyed!

Helping Japan? Really?• At the End of WWII,

U.S. Forces Occupied Japan for Several Years

• Made Japan Create a New Constitutional Monarchy(Democracy)

• The U.S. Provided Japan with $Billions of Dollars for Recovery!

• WHY Would We Do That?

The Marshall Plan• In 1948, the U.S.

Agreed to Give European Countries Over $13 Billion Dollars

• United States Wanted to Help European Countries Get Back on Their Feet!

• Or Was Their Another Motive? What Might the U.S. Be Afraid of?

The G.I. Bill of Rights• When WWII Ended,

Millions of Soldiers Returned Home!

• Wanted Their Jobs & Apartments Back! Competition Grew! (Racism too)

• U.S. Passed the G.I. Bill of Rights:– Provided $$$ for

Veterans to Go to College

– Provided a Living Allowance

– Exists to This Day!

The Nuremberg Trials (1945)

• An International Court Case to Make Judgment of War Crimes Charged Against Nazi Leaders

• Trial was Held in Nuremberg, Germany

• 24 Nazi Leaders Were Charged with Crimes Against Humanity for Their Role in the Holocaust

• HUGE Trial!

Nuremberg Trails (1945)

• “I Was Just Following Orders”

• 19 Nazis Were Found Guilty, 12 Were Given the Death Penalty

• 185 Other Nazi Leaders Were Found Guilty in Later Trials

• Nuremberg Upholds an Important Idea: You Are RESPONSIBLE RESPONSIBLE for Your Actions, Even In Wartime!

Ethnic Cleansing/Genocide

• To Exterminate a Group Based on Race, Culture, Creed, Beliefs, Etc…

• Unfortunately Happens All Over the World!

• Major Genocides That Have Grabbed the World’s Attention:– Cambodia (1973)– Somalia (1990)– Rwanda (1994)– Bosnia (1995)– Darfur (2005)

The United Nations• Created in April of

1945

• “Nations Must Work Together in Order to Secure World Peace”

• Prevent Wars & Resolve Conflicts Peacefully!

NYC (East Side)

United Nations• UN Still Exists

Today: 65 Years & Counting!

• Headquarters Located in Manhattan (NYC)

• Works Every Single Day On Negotiating & Diplomatically Solving International Problems:– Prevent/End Wars– Genocide– Poverty– Natural Disasters– Economies– Nuclear Weapons– Etc…

The General Assembly

United Nations• Outbreak of WWII Also

Showed the Weakness of the League of Nations:– Created After WWI– 14 Points = Wilson

• Why Did the US Choose to Stay Out of the League of Nations?

• The United States DID Join the United Nations & is a Huge Member to this Day!

International Tensions• In 1948, the United

Nations Created the Nation of Israel

• Wanted to Create a Homeland for Jewish in Palestine

• Palestinians Were Very Angry! Arab Nations Surrounding Israel Attacked Right Away!

• United Nations & United States Have Always Assisted in the Defense of Israel

• Fighting Dates Back Thousands of Years!

U.S. vs. Soviet Union• At the End of WWII,

2 Countries Emerged as Super Powers:– United States– Soviet Union

• What Promise Did Stalin Break at the Yalta Conference?

• Why Did this Scare the United States?

• What Were We Afraid Of?

International Tensions• 27.5 Million Russians Died

During WWII– 7.5 Million Soldiers– Over 20 Million Civilians

• Stalin Wanted a “Buffer Zone” to Make Sure the U.S.S.R. Couldn’t be Invaded Again (aka = East Bloc)

• Created Communist Dictatorships in Countries that the Soviet Union Freed (AGAINST YALTA!)

The Cold War Begins!• In 1946 Winston

Churchill Declared that an “Iron Curtain” Had Come Down Across Europe

• By 1949 All the Governments of Eastern Europe Except Yugoslavia Were Stalinist/Soviet Regimes

• The Cold War Was On!

Communism Today!

Essential Questions:

• If YOU are told to do something by a teacher, and YOU do it, but then YOU get in trouble for it, are YOU responsible for YOUR actions?