World War II

Question 1

Describe Totalitarian governments.

Answer 1

In totalitarian governments, the government has complete control over every part of public and private life. Totalitarian countries are led by a dictator.

Question 2

What is a dictator?

Answer 2

A dictator is a political leader with complete control of the government.

Question 3

What is fascism?

Answer 3

Fascism involves government featuring extreme nationalism, a dictator, one political party, and prejudice (racism) against some members of society.

Question 4

What three countries made up the Axis Powers?

Answer 4

Germany, Italy, and Japan

Question 5

Who was the leader of Germany during WWII?

Answer 5

Adolf Hitler

Question 6

Who was the leader of Italy during WWII?

Answer 6

Benito Mussolini

Question 7

Who was the leader of Japan during WWII?

Answer 7

Hideki Tojo

Question 8

What was the name of Hitler’s political party/government?

Answer 8

Nazi

Question 9

What goals did Germany have?

Answer 9

Return Germany to powerful position it had before WWI

Question 10

Name three countries that had fascist governments during WWII.

Answer 10

Germany, Italy, and Japan

Question 11

Name four countries that had totalitarian governments during WWII.

Answer 11

Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Soviet Union.

Question 12

Why did WWII begin?

Answer 12

Great Britain & France warned Germany not to invade Poland, but Germany did so anyway. Great Britain & France declared war on Germany.

Question 13

What was the Lend Lease Act?

Answer 13

The Lend Lease Act was when the US loaned Great Britain the materials it needs to fight the war.

Question 14

What was the “date that will live in infamy”?

Answer 14

December 7, 1941, was the date that will live in infamy, according to FDR. It was the Japanese bombing of the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Question 15

Which US battleship was sunk at the attack on Pearl Harbor with more than 1,000 servicemen on board?

Answer 15

USS Arizona

Question 16

Who was president of the United States during most of WWII?

Answer 16

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Question 17

Who was prime minister of Great Britain during most of WWII?

Answer 17

Winston Churchill

Question 18

Who was dictator of the Soviet Union during most of WWII?

Answer 18

Joseph Stalin

Question 19

What type of government did the US and Great Britain have during WWII?

Answer 19

The US and Great Britain had democratic governments during WWII.

Question 20

What type of government did the Soviet Union have during WWII?

Answer 20

The Soviet Union had a communist dictatorship during WWII.

Question 21

What was D-Day?

Answer 21

D-Day was the battle that marked US entry into the war in Europe. It was a surprise attack by sea and air onto Normandy Beach against the German troops in France.

Question 22

Who was Dwight D. Eisenhower?

Answer 22

Eisenhower was Supreme Allied Commander of ground forces in Europe.

Question 23

What was the immediate result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor?

Answer 23

The US declared war on Japan the next day, entering WWII.

Question 24

What was the name of the fictional woman on the propaganda poster who represented women working in the factories to manufacture wartime goods?

Answer 24

Rosie the Riveter

Question 25

Why was food rationed during the war?

Answer 25

Food was rationed because it was in scarce supply. Rationing food meant that everyone would get their fair share.

Question 26

Why did people plant victory gardens?

Answer 26

Food was scarce. Planting a garden meant that there would be more food for your family. In addition, if your family ate food grown in your garden, more food could be sent overseas to feed the soldiers.

Question 27

What is propaganda?

Answer 27

Propaganda is communication that is meant to convince people to do a certain action or think a certain way.

Question 28

What kind of scarce items were recycled to make war goods?

Answer 28

Metal, paper, rubber, etc.

Question 29

What was the Holocaust?

Answer 29

The Holocaust was when the Nazis murdered six million Jewish people. Another six million non-Jews were also murdered.

Question 30

What groups of people other than Jewish people were targeted by the Nazis?

Answer 30

Non-Jewish people who were targeted by the Nazis included Romani people, people with mental or physical disabilities, communists, trade unionists, resistance workers, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and a variety of others.

Question 31

What is Anti-Semitism?

Answer 31

Anti-Semitism is the hatred of Jewish people.

Question 32

Who was Cornelia Fort?

Answer 32

She was a Tennessee pilot who was flying when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor; joined the WAFS to fly planes from factories to military bases; killed in midair collision; first female pilot killed in line of duty

Question 33

What was the Manhattan Project?

Answer 33

The Manhattan Project was the US secret project of building an atomic bomb.

Question 34

Why was Oak Ridge, TN, important?

Answer 34

It was the “Secret City” built by the US government to be a building site for some components of the atomic bombs.

Question 35

What was VE Day?

Answer 35

VE Day was “Victory in Europe Day” - the day that Germany surrendered.

Question 36

Who was Douglas MacArthur?

Answer 36

MacArthur was the American general in charge of troops in the Pacific Theater.

Question 37

What was Island Hopping?

Answer 37

Island Hopping was MacArthur’s strategy of winning and taking over one island at a time until the US forces reached the mainland of Japan.

Question 38

Who was Harry S. Truman?

Answer 38

Truman became President of the US after the death of FDR.

Question 39

What American president authorized the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan?

Answer 39

Harry S. Truman

Question 40

What two Japanese cities suffered atomic bomb blasts?

Answer 40

Atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Question 41

Why did the US make the difficult decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan?

Answer 41

The US dropped the bomb to end the war and avoid the loss of life of thousands of Allied soldiers.

Question 42

What is VJ Day?

Answer 42

VJ Day is “Victory in Japan Day” – the day that Japan surrendered.

Question 43

Who was Cordell Hull?

Answer 43

Cordell Hull was a Tennessean who was the Father of the United Nations. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.