1. What factors have affected viewpoints on Truman's decision?
- The devistation the bomb caused was outstanding. It absolutle devistated the Japanese (75000 instant deaths and tens of thousands more due to radation poinioning)
- The ability of the US to win without the bomb.
- The devistation an invasion would have caused on both sides.
- The unimaginable treatement of US prisioners of war in Japanese death camps.
2. Do you think he made the right decision? Give your reasons.
Harry Trubman not only made the right decision in droping the atomic bombs on Japan, he made the only morally right decision he possably could have. As President, he took an oath. In said oath he promised the American people he would protect them and their rights above all else. Invadeing Japan would have been absloutly devistateing for America. an estimated 220,000 soldiers would have been killed, which means 220,000 wives left widowed, parents left childless, and children left with only one parent. droping the bombs was directly responsable for saveing the lives of these would be casualitys of war. As devistateing as this was for the Japanese, a domestic war would have been almost if not equally devistateing. The bottom line is droping the bombs saved lives, which is what Trubman promised the American people he would do.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The War in the Pacific
1. What was the importance of the Battle of Midway?
The battle was the turning point of the Pacific aspect of the war. The US devistated the Japanese, destorying 4 aircraft carriers with 250 planes. After this battle the US continued to push the Japanese back across the Pacific towards Asia.
2. What strategy did the United States adopt in fighting Japan?
After Midway, the US stayed on the offensive, "leapfroging" from one pacific island to the other in order to push the Japanese back and lessen their presence in the Pacific.
3. Why did the Japanese fight so hard on Iwo Jima?
The Japanese realized that their chances of not completly loseing the war were diminishing and that a loss at Iwp Jima would mean almost certain failure of the war.
4. Why did the Allies believe Okinawa was a foretaste of an invasion of Japan?
They believed the great losses suffered at Okinawa would be what an invasion of Japan would be like becasue of highly defended the island was. Japan itself would be similarly defended, which would mean a similar resistance and death toll.
5. What was the Manhattan Project?
The Manhattan Project was a project led by many US scientists who developed the atomic bomb.
6. Ultimately, why did President Truman decide to drop atomic bombs on Japan?
He decided it was necessary to drop the bomb becasue in the long run it would save lives. As much destruction as it caused it prevented all the destruction that an invasion and lenghtly battle would have caused.
The battle was the turning point of the Pacific aspect of the war. The US devistated the Japanese, destorying 4 aircraft carriers with 250 planes. After this battle the US continued to push the Japanese back across the Pacific towards Asia.
2. What strategy did the United States adopt in fighting Japan?
After Midway, the US stayed on the offensive, "leapfroging" from one pacific island to the other in order to push the Japanese back and lessen their presence in the Pacific.
3. Why did the Japanese fight so hard on Iwo Jima?
The Japanese realized that their chances of not completly loseing the war were diminishing and that a loss at Iwp Jima would mean almost certain failure of the war.
4. Why did the Allies believe Okinawa was a foretaste of an invasion of Japan?
They believed the great losses suffered at Okinawa would be what an invasion of Japan would be like becasue of highly defended the island was. Japan itself would be similarly defended, which would mean a similar resistance and death toll.
5. What was the Manhattan Project?
The Manhattan Project was a project led by many US scientists who developed the atomic bomb.
6. Ultimately, why did President Truman decide to drop atomic bombs on Japan?
He decided it was necessary to drop the bomb becasue in the long run it would save lives. As much destruction as it caused it prevented all the destruction that an invasion and lenghtly battle would have caused.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
War for Europe and North Africa - Part II
6. What was D-Day?
A group of almost 3 million allied forces landed behind German lines in Normandy, France and attacket, beginning the largest land-sea-air attack in army history.
7. What happened at the Battle of the Bulge?
After the allied forces took their first German city, the Germans launched an offensive on the allied forces to try to regain the lost territory. The battle lasted one month and crippled the Nazi forces, who lost 120,000 soldiers.
8. What did Allied troops find in Germany?
They found the Nazi death camps that were used by the Nazis in an attempt to eliminate all non-aryans liveing in Europe.
9. What happened to Hitler? What happened to F.D. Roosevelt? Who became U.S. President?
Hitler killed himself after it was evident that Germany was goingf to have to surrender. FDR died of a stroke befoere he got to see the allied forces win the war and his VP Harry S. Trubman took over as President of the United States.
A group of almost 3 million allied forces landed behind German lines in Normandy, France and attacket, beginning the largest land-sea-air attack in army history.
7. What happened at the Battle of the Bulge?
After the allied forces took their first German city, the Germans launched an offensive on the allied forces to try to regain the lost territory. The battle lasted one month and crippled the Nazi forces, who lost 120,000 soldiers.
8. What did Allied troops find in Germany?
They found the Nazi death camps that were used by the Nazis in an attempt to eliminate all non-aryans liveing in Europe.
9. What happened to Hitler? What happened to F.D. Roosevelt? Who became U.S. President?
Hitler killed himself after it was evident that Germany was goingf to have to surrender. FDR died of a stroke befoere he got to see the allied forces win the war and his VP Harry S. Trubman took over as President of the United States.
Monday, March 8, 2010
War for Europe & North Africa
1. To what did Roosevelt and Churchill agree early in the war?
Both countries agreed that Germany and Italy posed the greatest threat to the allied nations. Therefore they both decided to focas most of their firepower on Europe early in the war and to take on Japan after gaining the upperhand in Europe.
2. Why was winning the Battle of the Atlantic so crucial to the fortunes of the Allies?
It was very important to the allies because if they could not ship in the Atlantic than there would be no way to ship foods to Great Britian and the Brtitsh would be forced to surrender.
3. Why was the Battle of Stalingrad so important?
Even though the Soviets ended up loseing 1,100,000 men in defending Staingrad, their victory there is looked upon as a turning point in the war. From that point forward, the Germans were continually moved beckwards and the Soviets eventually moved westward towards and into Germany.
4. What happened in the war in North Africa?
Rather than opening a new front in Germany the US and Britain invaded Aferica and defeated all axis powers there.
5. What happened after the Allies invaded Italy?
Allied forces defeated Mouslinni's army and he was arrested and declared the "most hated man in Italy". Hitler didnt like the idea of fighting the war on German soil, however, and rather brought the fight to Italy. There, 40 miles from Rome, a battle that would take 4 months began, ending with 30,000 axis casualitys and 25,000 allied casulaties.
Both countries agreed that Germany and Italy posed the greatest threat to the allied nations. Therefore they both decided to focas most of their firepower on Europe early in the war and to take on Japan after gaining the upperhand in Europe.
2. Why was winning the Battle of the Atlantic so crucial to the fortunes of the Allies?
It was very important to the allies because if they could not ship in the Atlantic than there would be no way to ship foods to Great Britian and the Brtitsh would be forced to surrender.
3. Why was the Battle of Stalingrad so important?
Even though the Soviets ended up loseing 1,100,000 men in defending Staingrad, their victory there is looked upon as a turning point in the war. From that point forward, the Germans were continually moved beckwards and the Soviets eventually moved westward towards and into Germany.
4. What happened in the war in North Africa?
Rather than opening a new front in Germany the US and Britain invaded Aferica and defeated all axis powers there.
5. What happened after the Allies invaded Italy?
Allied forces defeated Mouslinni's army and he was arrested and declared the "most hated man in Italy". Hitler didnt like the idea of fighting the war on German soil, however, and rather brought the fight to Italy. There, 40 miles from Rome, a battle that would take 4 months began, ending with 30,000 axis casualitys and 25,000 allied casulaties.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Mobilizing for WWII.
1. Selective Service System
The selective service system provided for a larger base of recruits when the US was preparing themselfs for the war. The 5 million volenteers they had wasen't enough and this system provided 10 million more soldiers for the war effort.
2. Women
the WAAC established a system where women could help the war effort in a number of non combat aspects so that the men could focas on combat.
3. Minorities
Many minorties signed up to fight in the war despite the descrimination. Soma Japanese-Americans were able to be spies for the US. Also the Native Americans volnteered in record numbers.
4. Manufacturers
Manufacturers ended up mass produceing war materials rather than private macherniary. They were able to mass produce to an extent that it greatly contributed to the war efort on the US's side because we had the resources to mass produce much more than the axis powers.
5. Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD)
The estlabilishment of the OSRD created an opprunity for the US to have the most advanced possible weapons and equipiment during the war because it brought together many of the greatest thinking minds and used them to work together to help create these war techlolgys.
6 Entertainment industry
Propaganda films were made to glorify the USSR and vilify the Nazis and the Japanese to encourage more volunteers to sign up to serve.
7. Office of Price Administration (OPA)
The riseing demand and dropping supply on consumer goods threatened to couse hige inflation. The OPA did not allow for this to happen because it froze prices on most consumer goods.
8. War Production Board (WPB)
The WPB made sure that companies produced the necessary amount of war goods for the US war effort.
9. Rationing
Rations were placed on the amount of gods that could be used in the war effort that citizens liveing domestically could consume. This ment that there was always enough for the soldiers who needed it.
The selective service system provided for a larger base of recruits when the US was preparing themselfs for the war. The 5 million volenteers they had wasen't enough and this system provided 10 million more soldiers for the war effort.
2. Women
the WAAC established a system where women could help the war effort in a number of non combat aspects so that the men could focas on combat.
3. Minorities
Many minorties signed up to fight in the war despite the descrimination. Soma Japanese-Americans were able to be spies for the US. Also the Native Americans volnteered in record numbers.
4. Manufacturers
Manufacturers ended up mass produceing war materials rather than private macherniary. They were able to mass produce to an extent that it greatly contributed to the war efort on the US's side because we had the resources to mass produce much more than the axis powers.
5. Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD)
The estlabilishment of the OSRD created an opprunity for the US to have the most advanced possible weapons and equipiment during the war because it brought together many of the greatest thinking minds and used them to work together to help create these war techlolgys.
6 Entertainment industry
Propaganda films were made to glorify the USSR and vilify the Nazis and the Japanese to encourage more volunteers to sign up to serve.
7. Office of Price Administration (OPA)
The riseing demand and dropping supply on consumer goods threatened to couse hige inflation. The OPA did not allow for this to happen because it froze prices on most consumer goods.
8. War Production Board (WPB)
The WPB made sure that companies produced the necessary amount of war goods for the US war effort.
9. Rationing
Rations were placed on the amount of gods that could be used in the war effort that citizens liveing domestically could consume. This ment that there was always enough for the soldiers who needed it.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Japan and U.S. Relations in 1941
Japan and U.S. Relations in 1941
Document A
- Japan wanted to defeat England.
- They saw the defeat of the US as a way of helping themselfs defeat England.
- They were trying to take over many countrys in Asia and the pacific.
Document B
- There was a great deal of raceism in the US in the early 1940s.
- FDR and the US government was "turning his back" to Japan by not looking at the country as a threat because of raceist views against them.
Document C
- The US made a peace proposal that the Japanese say as unsatisfactory not even a month before the attack on pearl harbor.
- Japan had negoiatiors in the US "trying" to work out a peace deal.
- Japan didn't want the US to expect they planned on atticking Pearl Harbor.
- Japan was dishonest with the US leading up to pearl harbor.
Document D
- The Emperor ordered the attack on pearl harbor.
- The japanese were highly motivated in their attack on Hawaii
- the japanese believed success was necessary at the attack on pearl harbor to bring their country to glory and anything else would mean complete destruction for the empire.
Document E
- The US and japanese had many deceptions ion their pre war communications
- The japansese lied to the US to make them unprepared for the attack
- The US felt betrayed by the Japenese attack on pearl harbor.
Document A
- Japan wanted to defeat England.
- They saw the defeat of the US as a way of helping themselfs defeat England.
- They were trying to take over many countrys in Asia and the pacific.
Document B
- There was a great deal of raceism in the US in the early 1940s.
- FDR and the US government was "turning his back" to Japan by not looking at the country as a threat because of raceist views against them.
Document C
- The US made a peace proposal that the Japanese say as unsatisfactory not even a month before the attack on pearl harbor.
- Japan had negoiatiors in the US "trying" to work out a peace deal.
- Japan didn't want the US to expect they planned on atticking Pearl Harbor.
- Japan was dishonest with the US leading up to pearl harbor.
Document D
- The Emperor ordered the attack on pearl harbor.
- The japanese were highly motivated in their attack on Hawaii
- the japanese believed success was necessary at the attack on pearl harbor to bring their country to glory and anything else would mean complete destruction for the empire.
Document E
- The US and japanese had many deceptions ion their pre war communications
- The japansese lied to the US to make them unprepared for the attack
- The US felt betrayed by the Japenese attack on pearl harbor.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
America Moves Toward War
1. What did the 1939 Neutrality Act allow?
It allowed for waring nations to purchace war materials from the US so long as they came to the US to buy the materials and transported them back to their own country up front. They also had to pay up front for the materials.
2. Who were the Axis powers?
Japan
Germany
Italy
3. What did the Lend-Lease Act do?
The lend lease act allowed the US to "lend" war materials to the allied nations in the war. In reality they were giveing the materials to the countrys in the hopes that it would help them win the war before the US had to get involved.
4. What pledges were contained in the Atlantic Charter?
The Atlantic Charter was a pact between Great Bratian and the US in which they pledged to collective security, disarment, self-determination, economic coorperation, and freedom of the seas.
5. Who were the Allies?
The Allies were the United Nations, an improved verison of the League of Nations.
6. What did the attack at Pearl Harbor do to the U.s. Pacific fleet?
The attacket left the US PAcific crippled and it took a long time to recover.
7. Why did Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.?
They declared war on the US because of the egos of their leaders. They didnt want to look afraid to the rest of the world.
It allowed for waring nations to purchace war materials from the US so long as they came to the US to buy the materials and transported them back to their own country up front. They also had to pay up front for the materials.
2. Who were the Axis powers?
Japan
Germany
Italy
3. What did the Lend-Lease Act do?
The lend lease act allowed the US to "lend" war materials to the allied nations in the war. In reality they were giveing the materials to the countrys in the hopes that it would help them win the war before the US had to get involved.
4. What pledges were contained in the Atlantic Charter?
The Atlantic Charter was a pact between Great Bratian and the US in which they pledged to collective security, disarment, self-determination, economic coorperation, and freedom of the seas.
5. Who were the Allies?
The Allies were the United Nations, an improved verison of the League of Nations.
6. What did the attack at Pearl Harbor do to the U.s. Pacific fleet?
The attacket left the US PAcific crippled and it took a long time to recover.
7. Why did Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.?
They declared war on the US because of the egos of their leaders. They didnt want to look afraid to the rest of the world.
Monday, March 1, 2010
"Isolationism" and FDR (1935 - 1941)
1. What were the goals of the isolationists? Why is "isolationism" a misleading term?
Isolationists wanted first and foremost to stay out of war, not to completly isloate the US from forgin trade and interaction completly, as the title isolstionist might infer. They felt the best way for the US to handle the ongiong forgin issues was to keep a policy of neutrality.
2. What did some isolationists feel that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia?
They felt the geographic distance between the US and Asia/Europe and the US allies in the western hemisphere would protect them from danger.
3. What were the purposes of the Nye Committee hearings?
They were ment to reveal the reasoning behind America's enterence into WWI as being a buisness move by big buisnesses and banks to make money off the war. Those who put on the hearings hoped it would sway many Americans to the isolationist cause.
4. List two impressions that the Nye Committee hearings created.
a. greed was behind the US entering WWI
b. the US must not let the same thing happen again and have millions of US soldiers killed because of greed
5. What were the purposes of the Neutrality Acts?
It was to prevent the US from entering the war for any reason. It bared the US from selling war materials to any country during the war.
6. List two reasons that some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous.
a. He attempted to "pack" the Supreme court
b. He ran for a 3rd tearm as president
7. What was "Cash and Carry"?
This part of the new neutrality act passed in 1939 allowed for the US to sell goods to waring nations as long as they payed the US for the goods and came and picked the goods personally.
8. Why did President Roosevelt freeze Japanese assets in the United States?
He did this as an economic sancion of Japan for occupying French Indochina.
9. What was the purpose of the America First Committee?
It was a committie dedicated to keeping the US out of war.
Isolationists wanted first and foremost to stay out of war, not to completly isloate the US from forgin trade and interaction completly, as the title isolstionist might infer. They felt the best way for the US to handle the ongiong forgin issues was to keep a policy of neutrality.
2. What did some isolationists feel that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia?
They felt the geographic distance between the US and Asia/Europe and the US allies in the western hemisphere would protect them from danger.
3. What were the purposes of the Nye Committee hearings?
They were ment to reveal the reasoning behind America's enterence into WWI as being a buisness move by big buisnesses and banks to make money off the war. Those who put on the hearings hoped it would sway many Americans to the isolationist cause.
4. List two impressions that the Nye Committee hearings created.
a. greed was behind the US entering WWI
b. the US must not let the same thing happen again and have millions of US soldiers killed because of greed
5. What were the purposes of the Neutrality Acts?
It was to prevent the US from entering the war for any reason. It bared the US from selling war materials to any country during the war.
6. List two reasons that some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous.
a. He attempted to "pack" the Supreme court
b. He ran for a 3rd tearm as president
7. What was "Cash and Carry"?
This part of the new neutrality act passed in 1939 allowed for the US to sell goods to waring nations as long as they payed the US for the goods and came and picked the goods personally.
8. Why did President Roosevelt freeze Japanese assets in the United States?
He did this as an economic sancion of Japan for occupying French Indochina.
9. What was the purpose of the America First Committee?
It was a committie dedicated to keeping the US out of war.
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