World War II Key Terms and Figures

NATIONALISM

• The belief that your own country is better than all others.

• The idea that all countries should be governed by a single global authority.

• The practice of promoting international cooperation and understanding.

• The belief that cultural identity is more important than national identity.

APPEASEMENT

• The policy of compromising or giving in to the demands of another country in order to avoid trouble and maintain peace.

• A strategy of aggressive military expansion to assert dominance over other nations.

• The act of forming alliances to strengthen military power against potential threats.

• A diplomatic approach that involves ignoring the demands of other countries to maintain sovereignty.

HIDEKI TOJO

• Military dictator of Japan.

• Prime Minister of Canada during WWII.

• Leader of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

• President of the United States during the Great Depression.

ISOLATIONISM

• The policy that a nation should limit its involvement in the affairs of other countries.

• The practice of engaging in international trade without restrictions.

• A strategy to form alliances with other nations for mutual benefit.

• The approach of intervening in foreign conflicts to promote democracy.

FASCISM

• A political system where total power is given to a dictator and individual freedoms are denied.

• A form of government where citizens have equal rights and freedoms.

• A democratic system where leaders are elected by the people.

• A political ideology that promotes the separation of church and state.

HARRY S. TRUMAN

• U.S. President who approved the New Deal

• U.S. President at the end of WWII who approved dropping the atomic bombs on Japan

• U.S. President during the Great Depression

• U.S. President who initiated the Civil Rights Movement

ADOLF HITLER

• Dictator of Germany and leader of the Nazi party.

• Famous scientist known for the theory of relativity.

• Renowned artist and founder of the Impressionist movement.

• Influential civil rights leader in the United States.

LEND/LEASE ACT

• US would lend/lease goods to Great Britain in return for military bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean.

• US would provide financial aid to Germany for rebuilding after World War I.

• US would send troops to Europe to fight alongside the Allies.

• US would trade weapons for oil with Middle Eastern countries.

NAZI

• National Socialist Workers Party; German political party before and during WWII; led by Adolf Hitler.

• National Alliance for Zealous Independence; a modern political movement in Germany.

• National Association of Zookeepers; a group advocating for animal rights.

• New Age Zealots Initiative; a cultural organization promoting alternative lifestyles.

ALLIED POWERS

• United States, Great Britain, Russia, France, China, and 41 other countries.

• Germany, Italy, Japan, and their allies.

• United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

• France, Spain, Portugal, and Brazil.