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Japan Invades Manchuria
Difficult economic position led Japanese politics and forced heavy import trade. As a result, military leaders argued that the only way for Japan to get resources was to seize new territory. Manchuria, rich with raw resources, was the perfect place for a conquest. -
Frankling Delano Roosevelt elected POTUS
F.D.R. elected with nationwide support. -
Good Neighbor Policy
In a speech Franklin Roosevelt announced that the U.S. would remain neutral in South American affairs. During a time when militaries would invade over disagreements of resource distributions, this was a safeguard against conflicts. -
Beginning of the Holocaust
Following Hitler's appointment as Chancellor of Germany, the building of concentration camps Dachau and Buchenwald commences. Two days later Hitler is granted dictatorial power. -
The U.S. formally recognizes the U.S.S.R.
Following 16 years of non-recognition of the Communist structure, Roosevelt and Soviet commisar of Comissar of Foreign Affairs, Maxim Litvinov, negotiate a new affair. -
Hitler gains military power
On this day, Hitler, already chancellor, won the election for president and gained military control. By using Storm Troopers, Hitler killed all opposition and intimidated all citizens to vote for him or face brutal consequences. -
Neutrality Act of 1935
The Neutrality Act made it illegal for Americans to sell arms to any country at war. This was done in effort to distance the U.S. from German and Italian agressors who were fostering war. -
Italy Invades Ethiopia
Italian dictator, Mussolini,was set on annexing Ethiopia into Italy’s newly created colony of East Africa. Although the Italian military was successful in occupying Ethiopia, the Abyssinians did not surrender to the Italian forces, and so a war commenced. -
F.D.R. elected for 2nd term
The Supreme Court became Roosevelt's main focus during this term. Roosevelt aied to create American jobs and set a minimum wage. -
Japan invades China
Succesful in their attacks on Manchuria, Japanese forces led a full-scale attack on China. As neither country had declared war formally, the neutrality acts did not apply so FDR authorized the sale of weapons to China. -
Nazi-Soviet Non-agression Pact
German-officials and Soviet leaders promise non-agression towards each other. Stalin agreed under the creed that he best way to protect the USSR was by turning capitalist nations against each other. The treaty shocked the world as Fascism and Communism are polar opposites. -
Germany Invades Poland / War In Europe Begins
Hitler demanded to return of Polish seaport, Danzig, which had a 90% German population. A vital part of Polish trade-economy, the Polish government refused. Britain and France guaranteed their intervention if Germany invaded Poland. -
Selective Service and Training Act
After France's surrender to Germany, members of Congress introduced the Selective Service and Training Act. This ensured the military the new recruitment of young American men and insured against foreign attack. -
F.D.R. elected for 3rd term
Roosevelt's landslide victory demonstrated the public's support of his policies. Fireside Chats on the radio brought families to support his cause and feel a personal connection with him. Roosevelt broke the unwritten rule of serving only two terms in office as he felt it was his duty to lead the nation through WWII -
Four Freedoms Speech
The Four Freedoms Speech was projected by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It highlighted the freedoms that every man, woman and child should have: the Freedom of Speech, the Freedom of Worship, the Freedom from Want, and the Freedom from Fear. -
Lend Lease Act
The Lend-Lease Act allowed the U.S. to give Britain aid while remaining neutral in the war. This was enacted by FDR under the excuse to Axis powers that our assistance was only neccesary as the nations we helped were essential for the US's defense. -
Attacks on Pearl Harbor
Japanese forces led a surprise attack on Naval bases in Pearl Harbor. This was done in effort to destroy the U.S.A's ability to defend island nations that Japan aimed to loot for resources. -
U.S. enters WWII
Following the attacks on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, America was obligated to grow a strong and forceful army. Americans who went to war in 1941 were not well trained and had no previous military experience. -
Japanese-American Internment Camps
Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the temporary installation of "War Relocation Camps" in which Japanese Americans would be placed against their will. This was done under the belief that Japanese Americans could be active spies. The camps were viewed with large distatse by many as they judged people by their race to be affiliated with nefarious plots with foreign governments. -
Battle of Midway
This battle, carried out within the Midway Atoll between Japanese and American forces, resulted in a decisive and strategic victory for the USA. The Japanese navy assumed U.S. aircraft carriers would be weak and undefended but the U.S. took their assumptions and set up an ambush of their own. -
G.I. Bill Introduced
The G.I. Bill [ The Serviceman's Readjustment Act] promised war veterans a range of benefits. These include low-cost mortgages, covering of tuition, as well as one year of unemployment compensation. -
D-Day
The allied military landing on the beaches of Normandy, codenamed D-Day, was an act of military strength to cause Nazi Germany to lose its footholds on Europe. The loss of many lives on both sides highlight the horrors of war, yet this day was essential to the fall of Fascist government. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge took place in the Ardennes mountains. Hitler's army aimed to recapture Antwerp to demonstrate that Germany would not surrender, therefore causing the Allies to cease their attacks. It was a surprise attack and many Allied forces lost lives yet the Allies prevailed. -
Korematsu vs U.S.
Fred Korematsu challenges Supreme Court arguing his right had been violated by placing Japanese Americans in internment camps. Court ruled in Ex Parto Endo, that the government could not hold a citizen deemed loyal to the country. -
FDR elected for 4th term
The only man to ever be elected for four terms, FDR's popularity was reassured by the American public. By this time his health was in fast decline and he died months later in Georgia. -
Yalta Conference
This conference took place in Crimea months before the war ended. Leaders of the UK, US and USSR: Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin met to discuss the current issues and made decisions on how to deal with Germany -
Battle of Okinawa
Fought on the Ryuku Islands of Okinawa, this battle was the largest amphibious assault. The allied forces aimed to take the island and use it as an airforce base from which air operations would begin and end in the Japanese mainland. -
Harry Truman takes office
Truman succeeded the presidency following FDR's death. Under Truman the war was successfully concluded and marked the beginning of tensions with the USSR, thus marking the start of the Cold War. -
End of WWII
The end of WWII neared and can't be pinpointed as many events occured within a few days. Hitlers suicide, the large number of Axis POWs, the surrender of Fascist leaderships in Italy all signified that Nazi forces would hold up much longer. -
Atomic bombing of Hiroshima
Hiroshima was a military and industrial city with heavy involvements in the Japan-U.S. war effort. The United States saw this as an optimal city to set as an example through military attack, and so the first use of atomic weaponary was utilized. -
Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki
Nagasaki was of great wartime importance as it was a main naval and industtrial activity. The USA bombed it with atomic means days after Hiroshima and this ended the war
