America in World
War II
Life on the Home Front
Why did America enter WWII?
WWII began in
1939.
America entered
the war after
Japan attacked
Pearl Harbor in
1941.
President Roosevelt’s Speech
Listen to FDR’s
speech from
December 8, 1941.
How does it make
you feel?
How do you think
the listeners felt
that day?
Why did Japan attack America?
Japan wanted oil in
the Pacific Ocean.
Wanted islands in
the Pacific.
Japan had to get
rid of America’s
ships in the Pacific
to get oil & islands.
America after Pearl Harbor
Japan=US enemy
Japanese people
in America were
feared to be spies.
Americans sent
many Japanese
Americans to
relocation camps .
The sides of World War II
Axis Powers =
Japan, Germany,
Italy
Allied Powers =
America, England,
France
WWII was fought
in Europe and the
Pacific.
Hitler and Nazi Germany
Hitler hated Jews.
Sent people to
concentration
camps to die.
Hitler wanted
Germany to take
over the world.
Life on the Homefront
At home, civilians did all they could to help
the war effort: saved oil, rationed food,
collected goods, and made planes and
tanks. Patriotic songs were popular.
Propaganda helped to promote patriotism,
but also hatred of the Germans,
Japanese.
The End of World War II
Back on the Home front
First Germany and
Italy surrendered.
Japan
surrendered after
atomic bombs
were dropped.
Americans
celebrated V-E and
V-J Day.
Some questions to think about…
Why did the United States wait until after
Pearl Harbor to enter World War II?
Do you think the U.S. should have gone to
war against Hitler first?
Should the United States have dropped
the atomic bomb?
Could the Japanese have been stopped
any other way?
SC Social Studies Standards
5.5.1 Investigate the ways people can work together to
promote the principles and ideals of American democracy
5.5.3 Identify historical figures who shaped values and
principles of American democracy
5.2.10 Analyze the causes of World War II and explain
why the United States intervened
5.2.11 Explain the impact at home and abroad of the United
States involvement in World War II
5.12.4 Explain why and how people compete for control
of Earth’s surface
Works Cited
“Atomic Bombs in World War II Japan.”
http://cidc.library.cornell.edu/DOF/japan/captioned
/notgod.htm#top
Boehm, Richard G. (2000). United States in
Modern Times. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt Brace
& Company.
“V-J Day.” http://www.strandlab.com/vjday/
Black, Wallace. (1991). Pearl Harbor! New
York: Crestwood House Inc.