Glossary
A date which will live in infamy
A famous phrase used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to describe December 7, 1941, the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Example:
FDR's powerful declaration, 'a date which will live in infamy', galvanized American public opinion and solidified support for entering World War II.
Bataan Death March
A brutal forced march of American and Filipino prisoners of war by the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines in 1942, resulting in thousands of deaths.
Example:
The horrific Bataan Death March became a symbol of Japanese wartime brutality and fueled American resolve.
Casablanca Conference
A meeting between Roosevelt and Churchill in January 1943, where they agreed to invade Sicily and Italy and demand unconditional surrender from the Axis powers.
Example:
At the Casablanca Conference, the Allies committed to the principle of unconditional surrender, signaling their resolve to completely defeat the Axis.
D-Day (Normandy Invasion)
The Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, marking the largest seaborne invasion in history and a crucial turning point in World War II.
Example:
D-Day opened a vital second front against Nazi Germany, forcing them to divide their forces and accelerating their defeat.
Declaration of War
A formal act by which a state enters into armed conflict with another state.
Example:
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Congress swiftly approved FDR's request for a declaration of war against Japan, officially bringing the US into WWII.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
The Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War II, responsible for planning and executing the D-Day invasion.
Example:
Dwight D. Eisenhower's leadership was crucial in coordinating the complex Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day.
Economic Sanctions
Trade restrictions and financial penalties imposed by one country on another, often to pressure a change in policy.
Example:
The US imposed economic sanctions on Japan, halting the export of vital resources like oil and steel, which Japan viewed as a direct threat to its expansionist goals.
European Theater
The primary area of combat operations in Europe during World War II, involving Allied forces against Nazi Germany and its allies.
Example:
The Allies prioritized defeating Germany in the European Theater before fully committing to the war in the Pacific.
General Douglas MacArthur
A prominent American general who commanded the Allied forces in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Example:
General Douglas MacArthur famously vowed 'I shall return' after being forced to evacuate the Philippines, a promise he later fulfilled.
George C. Marshall
A highly respected American Army Chief of Staff during World War II, known for his strategic planning and logistical genius.
Example:
George C. Marshall was instrumental in organizing and equipping the massive American military for global conflict.
George Patton
A highly skilled and aggressive American general known for his leadership of armored forces during World War II.
Example:
General George Patton's rapid advances across France after D-Day were legendary, earning him the nickname 'Old Blood and Guts'.
Harry S. Truman
The 33rd President of the United States, who made the controversial decision to use atomic bombs against Japan to end World War II.
Example:
Harry S. Truman faced the immense burden of deciding whether to deploy the atomic bomb, a choice that continues to be debated.
Hiroshima
A Japanese city that was the target of the first atomic bomb dropped by the United States on August 6, 1945.
Example:
The bombing of Hiroshima instantly killed tens of thousands and ushered in the nuclear age.
Island-Hopping Strategy
A military strategy employed by the Allies in the Pacific Theater, involving bypassing heavily fortified Japanese islands and seizing strategically important ones to establish airbases and supply lines.
Example:
The island-hopping strategy allowed the US to conserve resources and rapidly advance towards the Japanese mainland.
Isolationist Sentiment
A national policy of avoiding political or economic entanglements with other countries, particularly prevalent in the US before WWII.
Example:
Strong isolationist sentiment in the United States prior to Pearl Harbor contributed to the nation's reluctance to intervene in European conflicts or aid Jewish refugees.
Japanese Diplomatic Code
Secret communication systems used by the Japanese government, which US Naval intelligence successfully broke before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Example:
The US ability to read the Japanese diplomatic code provided crucial insights into Japan's aggressive intentions, though it didn't prevent the Pearl Harbor attack.
Japanese War Crimes
Atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese military during World War II, including massacres, torture, and forced labor.
Example:
Reports of Japanese war crimes, such as the horrific Nanjing Massacre, fueled American outrage and solidified public support for the war effort.
Kamikaze Attacks
Suicide attacks by Japanese military aviators against Allied naval vessels during the final stages of World War II.
Example:
The desperate kamikaze attacks inflicted heavy casualties on Allied ships, demonstrating the fierce resistance of Japanese forces.
Limited Immigration Policies
Strict laws and quotas that restricted the number of immigrants allowed into the United States, particularly during the 1930s and 1940s.
Example:
Despite growing awareness of Nazi persecution, limited immigration policies in the US prevented many Jewish refugees from finding safe haven.
Manhattan Project
A top-secret research and development undertaking by the United States with the support of the United Kingdom and Canada during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons.
Example:
The Manhattan Project was a monumental scientific and engineering feat that fundamentally altered the course of warfare.
Nagasaki
A Japanese city that was the target of the second atomic bomb dropped by the United States on August 9, 1945, leading to Japan's surrender.
Example:
The bombing of Nagasaki, just three days after Hiroshima, further pressured Japan to accept unconditional surrender.
North Africa Campaign
An Allied military campaign fought in North Africa from 1940 to 1943, aimed at driving Axis forces out of the region.
Example:
The North Africa Campaign provided valuable combat experience for American troops and secured a vital strategic foothold for the Allies.
Pacific Theater
The vast area of combat operations in the Pacific Ocean and East Asia during World War II, primarily involving the United States against Imperial Japan.
Example:
The Pacific Theater was characterized by intense naval battles and the challenging 'island-hopping' strategy.
Pearl Harbor
A surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.
Example:
The devastating attack on Pearl Harbor propelled the United States into World War II, ending its period of isolationism.
Potsdam Conference
The final wartime conference of the Big Three (Truman, Stalin, and Attlee) in July-August 1945, where they issued an ultimatum to Japan and discussed the occupation of Germany.
Example:
At the Potsdam Conference, the Allied leaders finalized plans for Germany's occupation and issued the demand for Japan's unconditional surrender.
Tehran Conference
The first meeting of the Big Three in November 1943, where they discussed the opening of a second front against Germany and Soviet entry into the war against Japan.
Example:
The Tehran Conference was significant for the agreement to launch a cross-channel invasion of France, which would become D-Day.
The Big Three
The leaders of the three major Allied powers during World War II: Franklin D. Roosevelt (US), Winston Churchill (Great Britain), and Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union).
Example:
The Big Three met at several key conferences to coordinate war strategy and plan for the post-war world.
The Holocaust (Shoah)
The systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.
Example:
The horrors of The Holocaust revealed the depths of human cruelty and prompted a global reckoning with genocide.
Trinity Test
The code name for the first detonation of a nuclear weapon, conducted by the United States Army on July 16, 1945, in New Mexico.
Example:
The successful Trinity Test confirmed the devastating power of the atomic bomb, setting the stage for its use in Japan.
United Nations
An international organization established in 1945 to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars, replacing the League of Nations.
Example:
The creation of the United Nations at the end of WWII reflected a global desire for a more effective system of collective security and diplomacy.
Yalta Conference
A crucial meeting of the Big Three in February 1945, where they discussed the post-war division of Germany, free elections in Eastern Europe, and the formation of the United Nations.
Example:
The Yalta Conference laid the groundwork for the post-war international order, though some agreements later contributed to Cold War tensions.