The seeds of new conflict had been sown in WWI. The postwar years brought to Europe economic difficulties and a rise of powerful dictators driven by nationalism and the desire to expand their territory. Stalin, Mussolini and Hitler established totalitarian governments in Russia, Italy and Germany. Militant leaders took control of Japan. These actions of totalitarian aggression led to World War II in 1939. The US struggled to remain neutral but eventually was drawn into WWII after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. On the battle front, the USA fought on two fronts: the Pacific and in Europe. At home, Americans committed to total war, women and minorities participated by working in factories, the government took increasing control over the American economy. After FDR’s death in 1945, new president Harry Truman ended the war by utilizing the advances of the Manhattan Project by dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. World War II transformed America into an economic and political superpower.
TEXTBOOK CHAPTERS FOR UNIT 6 16 - 17
Unit 6, The World War II unit includes chapters 16 and 17 from the text.
Chapter 16 pages 526 to 559 Chapter 17 pages 560 to 599
Chapter Briefs Chapter briefs provide short summaries for each section of a chapter. Each section is broken down into a few consise paragraphs with the main idea identified. All chapter briefs contain a few key review questions. To view go to the chapter briefs tab in the unit.