World War II Key Terms and Events

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Totalitarianism

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A government where one person or group has total control. People have very few freedoms.

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Nazi Party

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A political group led by Adolf Hitler in Germany. Wanted to make Germany powerful again and blamed others for their problems.

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Appeasement

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Giving in to an aggressive country to avoid a fight. Example: Britain let Hitler take land before WWII to avoid war.

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Axis Powers

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Countries that fought together in WWII: Germany, Italy, Japan.

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Allied Powers

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Countries that worked together to fight the Axis Powers: United States, Great Britain, Soviet Union, France.

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Neutrality Acts

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U.S. laws that tried to keep the country out of WWII. Stopped trading weapons with countries at war.

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Cash and Carry Plan

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The U.S. sold supplies to countries if they paid cash and transported the goods themselves.

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Destroyers for Bases

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The U.S. gave old navy ships to Britain in exchange for using British military bases.

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Lend-Lease Act

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A law that let the U.S. lend weapons to Allied countries during WWII. Helped the Allies without sending U.S. soldiers at first.

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Pearl Harbor

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A surprise attack by Japan on a U.S. navy base in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. Led the U.S. to join WWII.