We continued notes and discussion.
1) The date of Pearl Harbor?
December 7, 1941. December 8, we declared war.
2) Why did Japan do what they did?
It started with us stopping trading with them after they invaded French Indu-china. They attacked us to keep us out of the war and get back to trading with them. We said you need to withdraw from French Indu-China and also actual China in order for us to trade with them again. None of their ideas to get us to give in to trading with them again worked, so they thought that if they attacked us we would give in.
3) What did the U.S. do in response?
The day after the attack president he met with both sides of congress and after they met they entered the war. "Woke a sleeping giant". It brought us closer together. The pro isolation party went away from it.
4) What happened at Pearl Harbor?
2 waves of Japan airplanes dropped bombs at Pearl Harbor. They had the element of surprise.
What were the causes of WW2?
Europe:
Treaty of Versaille, Hitler's actions in form of leaving the Treaty of Versaille, the great depression, Hilter and Mussolini's actions (annexed Albania and Ethiopian Africa) in the 1930's, Failure of the League of Nations, Policy of Appeasement, Hilter's invasion of Poland , Rise of Nationalism.
Asia:
The Great Depression, Japan invasion of Manchuria in 1931, Japanese invasion of China in 1937
United States:
Quit trading supplies(oil) with Japan in the summer of 1941, tough policies towards Japan in Fall 1941, Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941
Short term effects on US:
Lost about 400,000 american lives (55million world wide)
Long term:
Got us out of the great depression, provided jobs. Minimum wage was great in the 50's. The states were more agreeing with each other, so the federal government became very very powerful. After WW2, the government expanded. Women were working more when the men came back.
Worldwide:
German Nazi party was completely destroyed and Germany was broken into 4 zones. Japanese cities were destroyed from bombing and Japan was placed under military rule. There were most deaths ever in a war. United Nations starts, League of Nations fixed, has military, still around today. Major Powers of the world were discovered. Biggest concern after taking down Germany was the Soviet Union, Cold War, US vs. USSR.
Casablanca Conference- January 1942. "Unconditional Surrender" means that they will have to do whatever we tell them they have to do, not deal made (when germany surrenders) 1) Churchill decided to focus on North Africa into Italy, Stalin and Roosevelt wanted to invade on the beaches of France. FDR and Stalin agreed so they decided to fight in Africa first then up through Italy.
North African Campaign:
Took place in North Africa from June, 1940 to May, 1943. Took place in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts also in Morocco, Algeria and ended in Tunisia. The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis Powers. Allies: US, France, GB Axis: Germany (Afrika corps), Italy, Japan, Vichy French. The area was in conflict due to colonial interests dating back to the late 1800's. The United States began direct military assistance in North Africa in May, 1942.
Operation torch was November 1942, from November to May (6 months before germans and italians surrendered) we were giving direct soldiers. It was a D Day type invasion. The big invasion of northern africa. In 6 months we defeated the germans.
Now that North Africa is defeated, what are our 2 military options to defeat the germans?
1) to invade france (normandy) 2) to invade Italy
Why not invade france next?
The germans were too strong there, we also knew that Stalin wanted us to come so the German troops would send more away from the nazi-communist war.
Operation Husky (Invasion of Sicily-July/August 1943) and Operation Avalanche (Invasion of Itlay) were next. Operation Husky was July 10,1943 and it was a land, airborne invasion. They invaded Sicily and when they got there it was really crappy and miserable, it was very mountainous too. It lasted 2 weeks, late July into early August. Mussolini was captured, saved by Hitler, then captured once again to be killed. Operation Husky is when Mussolini lost power.
Generals
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