WWII Study Guide Searching for Peace

U.S. Enters
World War II

Multiple Choice

The United States was not fighting World War II in 1940, but how were they involved?

• Sending supplies to Germany and Italy

• Sending supplies to the Allies, especially UK and USSR

• Making all important economic decisions for European countries.

• They were in no way involved in World War II

Atlantic Charter

■ Roosevelt and Churchill meet on a ship in the

middle of the Atlantic Ocean to discuss the war.

■ FDR would not ask Congress for a declaration

of war, but would “he would wage war.”

■ The term “United Nations” was used as a way

for the Allied nations to unite against the Axis
Powers.

Multiple Choice

What important decision did President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) make during the Atlantic Charter.

• The United States would help the Allies by "waging" war.

• The United States would immediately declare war on Germany.

• FDR immediately declared war on Churchill.

• The United States would give up islands in the Atlantic to Germany.

Another Concern

■ Pacific Fleet was transferred from California to

Hawai’i in May 1940.

■ While the U.S. showed great concern in Europe,

Japan began taking over Indochina (Southeast
Asia)

■ U.S. responded by freezing Japanese assets and

cutting off their oil supplies.

■ Confrontation with Japan was likely.

Multiple Choice

The Pacific Region became a major concern of the United States while fighting was going on in Europe.

• True

• False

High Alert

■ U.S. had broken Japanese code and could tell an

attack was very possible.

■ It was assumed the attack would occur in the

Pacific.

■ Exactly when and where were apparently unclear.

Multiple Choice

Why did Japan begin to act aggressivley towards the United States?

• They wanted to control the West Coast of the U.S.

• The U.S. had bombed Tokyo following the invasion of Manchuria.

• U.S. scientists had created a mutant lizard in a laboratory they had let loose in Tokyo the previous summer

• The U.S. banned the sale of oil, steel, and other materials to Japan.

The Attack

■ Early Sunday, December 7, 1941 Japanese

launched an attack from aircraft carriers.

■ The Target→ Pearl Harbor Hawai’i, large U.S.

Naval Base.

■ 2,403 killed, 1,178 injured, 21 ships sunk or

damaged…the Pacific Fleet suffered greatly.

■ Japan also attacked the U.S. in the Philippines,

Guam, and Wake Island.

Multiple Choice

The U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in the Hawiian Islands was the only point of attack by the Japanese.

• True

• False

The Reaction

■ The following day, FDR asked Congress for a

declaration of war against Japan.

■ December 11th, Germany declared war on the

U.S.

■ The U.S. acknowledged War now existed against

Germany and Italy.

Multiple Choice

What happened after Pearl Harbor?

• U.S. declared war on Germany; then Japan declared war on the U.S.

• U.S. declared war on Japan; then Germany declared war on the U.S.