A Time of Conflict

Preparing for War

Essential Questions
How did the major events of Pearl Harbor,
Iwo Jima, D-Day, VE and VJ Day and the
Holocaust help shape World War II?
Which major event led to the beginning of
Americas involvement in World War II?

America Enters The War

Japan wanted to control other Asian
countries.
In 1941, the Japanese attacked the U.S.
Navy at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Thousands of Americans died.
The next day, Congress declared war on
Japan.
The United States joined the Allies and en
tered World War II.

The Home Front

The U.S. armed forces grew weaker in the
1920s and 1930s. The U.S. military was not
ready for a war when Japan attacked Pearl
Harbor in 1941.
The United States needed to mobilize for war.
Mobilize means to get ready to fight.
The military needed soldiers. The soldiers
needed guns, uniforms, airplanes, and tanks.
More than 15 million Americans joined the
armed forces, including 100,000 women. Some
were drafted.

At Home In Wartime
Many people were afraid Japanese Americans
would help Japan during the war.
The government forced over 100,000 Japanese
Americans to move to internment camps, a
place where prisoners are held during wartime.
Most of these people were American citizens.
Some Italian Americans and German Americans
were sent to internment camps as well.

Winning The War

German and Japanese victories surprised the Allies, but
they fought back. The Allies defeated Germans and
Italians in North Africa. Then the Allies attacked Italy. At
the same time, the Soviets defeated German troops.
Allied airplanes took control of the skies over Europe.
On June 6, 1944, nearly 200,000 Allied soldiers invaded
France. This is known as D-Day.
One million soldiers landed in France within 10 days.
The Allied and Soviet soldiers advanced on Germany.
Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945.
This day was called Victory in Europe Day. It is known as
V-E Day.

Winning The War

Fighting in The Pacific
On August 6, 1945, Americans dropped an
atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. It
killed nearly 100,000 people. Three days
later, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on
Nagasaki, Japan.
Japan surrendered.
August 14, 1945, was called Victory in
Japan Day. It is also known as V-J Day.

A Changed World
Millions of people died during the war. Many
people did not have homes or food.
After the fighting had ended, Allied soldiers
discovered that the Nazis had killed millions of
people in concentration camps.
A concentration camp is where large numbers
of people were held prisoner and forced to work.
About twelve million people died or were killed in
concentration camps. About six million were
Jews.
This mass murder is called the Holocaust.

Video
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