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Germany Invades Poland
Adolf Hitler comes to power in Germany. After several acts of aggression toward other nations, Germany invaded Poland, leading Britain and France to declare war on Germany. The United States did not want to get involved in the conflict yet, but the Lend-Lease Act was eventually passed. -
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America Improves Economy
Between the years 1941 and 1945, American economy grew drastically. The unemployment rate was very low, many women joined the workforce, and the economy was booming compared to the Great Depression. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, a United States naval base in Hawaii. The U.S. was unprepared, and the Japanese were able to destroy a significant amount of ships and planes, and they killed over 2,000 people. -
Battle at Midway
In June, the United States won an important victory against Japan at Midway, a U.S. naval base in the Pacific. This battle is considered the turning point for war in the Pacific. -
The Revenue Act
The Revenue Act was passed, instituting withholding taxes and increasing the tax rate. This helped raise much more money for the United States to participate in the war effort. -
War Productions Board
The War Productions board was created to support a war-focused economy in the U.S. By 1942, the United States was producing more military goods than all the Axis powers combined. The auto industry was especially successful during this time. -
Bracero Program
Many Hispanics in America joined the Bracero program. The Braceros helped farmers during the war, and agriculture was a much needed industry at the time. -
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Battle of Stalingrad
German and Soviet forces fought at Stalingrad for several months. Soviets suffered heavy casualties throughout the war, but the Battle of Stalingrad is considered to be the turning point in the war in the Allies’ favor. -
D-Day
The Allies, led by American Dwight Eisenhower, invaded western France, which was occupied by Germany. The day was called D-Day, and it was the largest amphibious invasion in history. This was the first major battle to liberate Europe. -
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In August, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and again three days later on Nagasaki when Japan refused to surrender. Japan did surrender soon after, leading to the end of WWII.