Showing posts with label FDR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FDR. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

War for Europe and North Africa - Part II

Read the remainder of Chapter 25-2 (pages 779 onward) (War for Europe and North Africa)
6. What was D-Day?
On June 6, 1944, the Allies invaded Normandy in northern France. Three divisions parachuted down behind German lines. They were followed by thousands of soldiers from the sea.

7. What happened at the Battle of the Bulge?
After the U.S. captured their first German town, Hitler wanted to retaliate. Germans broke through weak American defenses. Hitler hoped that a victory would split American and British forces and break up Allied supply lines. When the German tanks drove into the Allied territory, it created a bulge in the lines, and that's why it's called the Battle of the Bulge. This battle went on for a month. The Germans had pushed back and it seemed too look the way it had before the battle, but really the Germans had lots a lot of soldiers and machinery so they were not able to fight anymore.

8. What did Allied troops find in Germany?
Allied troops found Nazi death camps in July 1944 when they were pushing eastward into Germany. They found many dead bodies and many starving, emaciated prisoners.

9. What happened to Hitler? What happened to F.D. Roosevelt? Who became U.S. President?
Hitler killed himself. F.D.R. died on April 12, 2945 and Vice President Harry Truman became president.

Monday, March 8, 2010

War for Europe & North Africa

Read Chapter 25-2 (pages 775 - 779)

1. To what did Roosevelt and Churchill agree early in the war?
They agreed to strike against Hitler. They thought that Germany and Italy posed a greater threat than Japan.

2. Why was winning the Battle of the Atlantic so crucial to the fortunes of the Allies?
Britain depended on supplies from North America. Hitler knew that if he cut of their path, Britain would be starved into submission.

3. Why was the Battle of Stalingrad so important?
The Soviet Victory against Germany marked a turning point in the war. From that point on, the Soviet army began to move westward toward Germany.

4. What happened in the war in North Africa?
Stalin believed that if Great Britain and America opened a second front across the English Channel would force Hitler to divert troops from the Soviet front. Churchill and Roosevelt didn't think that the Allies had enough troops to attempt invasion on European soil. Instead they launched Operation Torch, an invasion of Axis controlled North Africa. Many Allied troops invaded and went eastward. After months of heavy fighting, the Afrika Korps surrendered.

5. What happened after the Allies invaded Italy?
Hitler was determined to stop the Allies in Italy rather than fight on German soil. This battle was called "Bloody Anzio" lasted four months. After the battle, German armies continued to put up strong resistance. The effort to free Italy didn't succeed until 1945 when Germany was close to collapsing.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Japan and U.S. Relations in 1941

From the I.B. description of the summary of evidence: "[It] should indicate what the student has found out from the sources he or she has used." It will take the form a bullet-pointed list.
The IA question: Using the documents and your own knowledge assess the state of diplomatic relations between Japan and the U.S. in 1941.
DIRECTIONS: Based on this question, create a bullet-pointed list of evidence from each document. List the evidence under each document ID.


Japan and U.S. Relations in 1941
Document A

-Japan plans to advance in the south and make a negative impact on America's source of strategic materials
-Japan plans to defeat many countries, including America


Document B
-Great Britain and the U.S. have a racist view towards Japanese people
-They don't want to be encircled by Japan
-The U.S. and Great Britain don't like Tojo and Japan

Document C
-Japan believes that the U.S. has been making it impossible for Japan to establish negotiations because it is imperialist


Document D
-Japan is scared of the emperor and think that he is going to use hostilities
-Japan wants to repay obligations to the emperor, bring the government closer together and try as hard as possible to reach their war aims to please the emperor

Document E
-The U.S. was attacked suddenly by Japan on December 7, 1941 in Oahu
-The U.S. was at peace with Japan before the attack
-There was no hint of war or armed attack previous to this day
-The attack was deliberately planned
-Japan was faking peace in order to make the attack a suprise
-FDR asked Congress to declare war on Japan on December 7, 1941

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

America Moves Toward War

Chapter 24-4

1. What did the 1939 Neutrality Act allow?
It allowed warring nations to buy U.S. arms as long as they paid cash and transported them in their own shops, called "cash-and-carry".


2. Who were the Axis powers?
Germany, Italy and Japan

3. What did the Lend-Lease Act do?
The president leased arms and other supplies to any country whose defense was vital to the United States

4. What pledges were contained in the Atlantic Charter?
Both countries (Great Britain and the U.S.) pledged collective security, disarmament, self-determination, economic cooperation, and freedom of the seas.

5. Who were the Allies?
America, the Soviet Union and Great Britain.

6. What did the attack at Pearl Harbor do to the U.S. Pacific fleet?
The Japanese killed and wounded many Americans. The surprise raid has sunk 21 ships, including 8 battleships-nearly the whole U.S. Pacific Fleet.

7. Why did Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S.?
Because the U.S. declared war against Japan. Since Germany and Italy had agreements with Japan, they had to back Japan up in war.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

"Isolationism" and FDR (1935 - 1941)

Read pages 13-26 in U.S. Isolationism - Part II

1. What were the goals of the isolationists? Why is "isolationism" a misleading term?
Isolationists thought that it was more important to focus on problems in America than to get involved with struggles overseas. The name implies that they believed that America should isolate themselves from other countries, but many isolationists supported international trade. Most also supported the international laws put im place after WWI. The main goal of isolationists was to stay out of war and preserve peace. They believed that the way to do this was to remain nuetral in other country's conflicts. They did not want to compromise American
interests.

2. What did some isolationists feel that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia?
The believed that the Pacific and Atlantic oceans protected the U.S. from other countries. They were on good terms with hall other countries in the wester hemisphere.

3. What were the purposes of the Nye Committee hearings?
The Nye Committee was a committe to investigate the reasons why the U.S. entered WWI. Nye believed that if everyone knew why we entered that war, we could avoid being involved with another war overseas. The hearings of the committe made many americans think that the U.S. went to war because coporations looking for money convinced President Wislon. This increased the isolationist mood in the U.S.

4. List two impressions that the Nye Committee hearings created.
-That corporations looking for money convinced President Wislon to go to war.
-It influenced congress and the U.S. declared itself a "neutral" country between 1914 and 1917

5. What were the purposes of the Neutrality Acts?
The Neutrality Acts were made to prevent the U.S. from supplying one side or another during war.

6. List two reasons that some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous.
-They worried about an intrusive government
-They worried about an overly powerful presidency

7. What was "Cash and Carry"?
"Cash and Carry" was part of the Neutrality Act of 1939. This meant that the U.S. could sell things to belligerents as long as they payed for what they were given and took the supplies back themselves.

8. Why did President Roosevelt freeze Japanese assets in the United States?
President Roosevelt thought he could stop further aggression from Japan by prohibiting the sale of fuel and scrap metal to them. This had the opposite effect and Japan invaded northern French Indochina. When this happened, President Rooselevet had to freeze Japan's assets in the U.S. which meant that they couldn't use investments or money they had in the U.S.

9. What was the purpose of the America First Committee?
The American First Committee was made to keep the U.S. out of war.

Monday, February 22, 2010

World Events Set Stage for Isolationism

1. What was the Japanese reaction to the Treaty of Versailles? (pgs. 4 - 5)
Some people in Japan believed that their country should engage the great powers and support the international system to obtain the natural resources and markets that Japan's growing economy needed. Others believed that the great powers (especially Britain, France and The U.S.) would never treat Japan with respect. Some worried that the League of Nations would be used to keep Japan as a second tier power. Japan opposed the Treaty and the League. Since the amendment didn't pass, the Japanese turned away from the West and toward a more nationalist stance.

2. Read the pull-out box on page 4 entitled, "Japan Becomes a Great Power." Cite specific evidence Japan was becoming a strong power that rivaled European & American interests. And, why specifically was Japan threatened by U.S. actions?
Japan's economy was rapidly growing and their political and military power were increasing which made it a large financial contributor to the proposed League of Nations. Japan modeled its navy on Britain's, its banking system on the U.S.'s, and its army and constitution on Prussia's. Manufacturing and mining increased and also the goods and services provided by Japan increased. Some people thought that Japan was relying too much on the military and others thought that Japan would need to use its military strength to achieve its goals. When Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War, it gained access to parts of Manchuria. Japan annexed Korea in 1910 and then in 1914, Japan declared war against Germany. Japan wanted to expand into China, but Britain and the U.S. thought that this would interfere with their interests. In Japans view, the U.S. was posing a threat to their own plans for expansion when they were increasing their presence in the Pacific.

3. Why was the Washington Naval Conference convened and what was accomplished? (pg. 6) (Note: Japan signs the agreement.)
The conference was called because Japan's growth as a naval power in the Pacific threatened U.S. interests. People at the conference wanted to limit a naval arms race and to discuss issues related to the nations of the Pacific Ocean and the Far East. The parties agreed to limit the size of the naval ships, placed a temporary prohibition on building new battleships, outlawed the use of poison gas, and limited the role of submarines in future wars. The nations signed an agreement affirming China's sovereignty and establishing a policy of open trade with China. They also agreed to address disputes over issues in the Pacific.

4. The Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact relected two strong and widely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)
The Pact was a treaty between the U.S. and France that made war between them illegal. Later 62 nations signed it. Americans remembered the deaths of WWI and wanted to avoid being dragged into another European war. Also, policy makers continued to resist the obligations of permanent alliances and wished to preserve the ability to act when and where they wanted.

5. Why did Hitler enjoy popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s? Give three reasons. (pgs. 9 - 10)
He improved the economy and reduced unemployment and restored national pride for Germans that were still humiliated by the defeat in WWI and by how poor they had become. Hitler used his power to pass legislation that enabled him to enact laws without the approval of the president or parliament. He quickly put the Nazi government in control and took away freedoms guaranteed by the German constitution.

6. Japan voiced its intentions to invade China for what two reasons? (pg. 10)
Japanese military leaders voiced intentions to invade China to obtain raw materials and increase Japan's power.

7. Compare the Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria. What did they accomplish?
Some people think that the Japans bombed their own railway so they could blame it on the Chinese and use it as an excuse to invade, like the Reichstag fire in Germany.


8. Why was the united States unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force? (pgs. 11 - 12)
The U.S. had drastically reduced the size of its military since WWI and was not prepared to fight back. Also, Japan began to violate the treaties it had signed.

9. Describe the major similarities and differences among liberal democracy, fascism, and socialism. (pg. 8)
Liberal democracies have a constitution, with elected representatives whose decision making is regulated by a rule of law that emphasizes the rights and freedoms of individuals. Fascism puts the economy under government control and emphasizes the control of state over the individual. Socialism hoped to create a classless society, which included dismantling the capitalist economic system by having the state own land, factories etc. Fascism and socialism are both two extremes of the political spectrum. Liberal democracy is socialism at a lower level.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

New Deal Essay Outline

How, and with what success, did the United States government try to solve the problems caused by the Great Depression?
Thesis: The government and Franklin Delano Roosevelt tried to solve the problems caused by the Great Depression by making programs through the New Deal to help certain issues and promote relief, recovery and reform. Some programs and acts in each of these categories were successful, and some weren’t.

I. Relief

a. Emergency Banking Act-effective, people gained trust in the banks again

b. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-also helped people gain trust in the banks and they felt safe depositing their money

c. Federal Emergency Relief Administration (and the Civil Works Admin.)

Somewhat successful- there were immediate results that provided trust in the banks and made some jobs that had limited long-term benefits. The FERA and the CWA spent a lot of money that added to the country’s debt.

II. Recovery

a. National Recovery Administration-not successful, ruled unconstitutional because there was too much government control of free market

b. Tennessee Valley Authority-successful, government was the mediator between the states and built damns which provided the area with jobs and electricity.

c. Social Security Act-Important and successful in the long run

III. Reform

a. Agriculture Adjustment Administration-somewhat successful, Improvements in agriculture. Limitations-declared unconstitutional because it was inhumane to kill livestock the way they did.

b. Securities Exchange Commission-regulated stock market, effective because it restored confidence in the stock market.

c. Civilian Conservation Corps-effective, jobs for people and also conservation

d. Public Works Administration-successful, provided jobs

IV. Counter Argument- Huey Long and Father Coughlin

a. They thought that the New Deal was too complicated and wasn’t realistic

b. They were opposed to F.D.R. packing the court-he would essentially be taking over government if he packed the Supreme Court.

c. Long’s Share The Wealth Program

d. Government getting too involved with everything

Saturday, January 30, 2010

FDR & the New Deal 22.2 and 23.1

22-2:
1. Describe how people struggled to survive during the depression.
-There were deadly dust storms that people in the middle of the country had to survive.
-In cities people lost their jobs, were kicked out of their homes and had to live on the streets. Shantytowns, small towns with many shacks made out of scrap material that homeless people made, were common. Soup kitchens and bread lines offered poor people food for little money. African Americans and Latinos were increasingly being discriminated against, and there was a lot of racial violence. Mexicans in the southwest were being deported, even though many had been born in America.
-In rural areas most farmers could grow food for their families. But with falling prices and rising debt, many farmers lost their land.

2. How was what happened to men during the Great Depression different from what happened to women? Children?
-Many men were used to having a job to support their families so when they lost their jobs during the Great Depression, they didn't know what to do. Some left their families.
-Women worked hard to help their families. Many women canned food and sewed clothes. They also managed household budgets. Many had jobs but a lot of people thought that women shouldn't work when there were unemployed men. Many women were too ashamed to reveal their hardship and refused to beg.
-Children's poor diets and lack of health care led to serious health problems. The school year was shortened and some schools were closed. Many children worked in sweatshops instead of going to school. Some teenagers traveled around the country looking for work and adventure. This was dangerous and many of them were beaten or jailed by freight yard patrolmen.

3. Describe the causes and effects (on people) because of the Dust Bowl.
The Dust Bowl (Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado) was caused because farmers had used tractors to prepare the grasslands for crops. This had removed the thick protective layer of prairie grasses and then the farmers ruined the land through overproduction of crops. In the early 1930s a drought and winds caused big dust storms because there wasn't any grass or trees to hold the soil down. The dust traveled hundreds of miles.
Because of the Dust Bowl, thousands of farmers left their land behind and headed to California. Some of them found work as farmhands but many didn't find work.

23-1 through page 696:
Objective: Summarize the initial steps Franklin D. Roosevelt took to reform banking and finance.
4. What was the New Deal and its three general goals? (The 3 Rs)
The New Deal was a program that FDR designed to alleviate the problems of the Great Depression, specifically relief for the needy, economic recovery, and financial reform.

5. What did Roosevelt do during the Hundred Days?
Congress passed more than 15 major pieces of New Deal legislation. These laws expanded the federal government's role in the nation's economy.
Roosevelt declared a bank holiday to prevent further withdrawals. He persuaded congress to pass the Emergency Banking Relief Act which authorized the Treasury Department to inspect the country's banks. The ones that were stable reopened and the ones that were unable to pay their debts stayed closed.

6. Why were Roosevelt's fireside chats significant?
FDR's fireside chats were important because they made Americans feel as if the president were talking directly to them and explained the New Deal measures in simple language. This brought the country closer together because the average American could get direct information about what was happening with the country.

7. Describe four significant agencies and/or bills that tightened regulation of banking and finance.
The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation which provided federal insurance for individual bank accounts, reassuring millions of bank customers that their money was safe.
The Federal Securities Act of 1933 required corporations to provide complete information on all stock offerings and made them liable for any misrepresentations.
In June of 1934, Congress created the Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate the stock market. One goal of this commission was to prevent people with inside information about companies from rigging the stock market for their own profit.