“ Learning to Lead our Lives ”

1. “Learning to Lead our Lives” Title: What was the nature and extent of American involvement in World War 2 Skill: Historical Enquiry NGfL: USA 1929 -1990 All images/ cartoons are believed to be in the public domain. Many of the images were sourced from the internet encyclopaedia wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org

2. What is this? How is it connected to American Involvement in World War Two? photograph public domain Nation archives: http://www.archives.gov

3. Why were the Americans so important to winning WW2? Clip art Compliments of www.ace-clipart.com

4. American Involvement in World War Two. France. Japan Midway Islands. Italy and Africa. Hawaii Roll the mouse over the highlighted country to discover more! On to task http://serc.carleton.edu/usingdata/nasaimages/index4.html

5. Why did the US enter WW2? In 1939 America was still isolationist, but was operating the Lend-Lease policy The Imperial Japanese Navy made its attack on Pearl Harbour on the morning of December 7, 1941. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbour, Oahu, Hawaii, was aimed at the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy and its defending Army Air Corps and Marine air forces. The attack damaged or destroyed twelve U.S. warships and 188 aircraft, and killed 2,403 American servicemen and 68 civilians USS Shaw (DD-373) exploding during the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor." By an unknown photographer, December 7, 1941 National Archives and Records Administration, General Records of the Department of the Navy, 1798-1947 Back to map photograph public domain Nation archives: http://www.archives.gov

6. The Battle of Midway in 1942: • US air force defeated the Japanese Navy. • The victory at Midway stopped a major Japanese attempt to capture the Midway islands as a possible prelude to an invasion of Hawaii. The success of the operation effectively tipped the balance of sea power in the Pacific Ocean in favour of the United States. Japanese plane carrier circling to avoid attack by United States airmen at Midway, as seen from a B-17 American bomber Back to map Photograph public domain from the Library of Congress http://memory.loc.gov

7. 1942- 43: Successes in North Africa and Italy. • The US forces helped the British defeat the Nazis in North Africa and helped invade Italy, causing Fascist Leader Mussolini to flee. Back to map photograph public domain Nation archives: http://www.archives.gov

8. 1944: the D-Day landings • Allied troops landed in France, they began a slow advance across France towards Germany. • 25th August 1944 allied troops retook Paris. Back to map photograph public domain Nation archives: http://www.archives.gov

9. US uses the Atomic bomb on Japanese cities Hiroshima Nagasaki. • August 1945, America had been bombing Japan and still the Japanese were refusing to surrender. President Truman ordered that 2 atomic bombs should be dropped on 2 Japanese cities (Hiroshima and Nagasaki). • In total, these 2 bombs killed 115,000 Japanese citizens. photograph public domain Nation archives: http://www.archives.gov Back to map

10. Was the dropping of the Atomic Bomb justified? Against For Using the information from the worksheet provided, in pairs discuss whether you think the use of the Atomic bomb was justified?