U.S. II Ch. 35 and 36 Practice Tests

Click the links below to navigate to practice tests for Chapters 35 and 36. You can take each test up to 5 times until the date of the Final Exam.  Remember to print your results if you'd like to keep a copy.

Link to Ch. 35 Practice Test: On the Eve of World War II

Link to Ch. 36 Practice Test - World War II

U.S. II: Chapter 37 Notes - The Cold War; Postscript and Study Questions

CHAPTER 37 NOTES: THE COLD WAR BEGINS – 1945-1952

“America stands at this moment at the summit of the world.” –Winston Churchill

There's more:  Click here to download the rest of the Chapter 37 notes, including a Postscript, Study Questions for the Chapter, and Study Questions for the Exam.

OVERVIEW:

WWII ended American isolationism – the U.S. was now the world’s most powerful nation.  The United States offered substantial financial assistance to rebuild Europe via its 1947 Marshall plan, and in 1949 it joined NATO, breaking a 150-year tradition of avoiding such treaties.   The postwar arrangements in Eastern Europe sparked disagreement between the United States and the Soviet Union, and they squared off in a battle of ideologies – democracy vs. communism – that became known as the Cold War.  China became communist in 1949 and complicated the picture.  Truman formulated his Doctrine of supporting peoples resisting communism.  The United States became involved in the Korean War (1950-1953) as part of its effort at “containment” of communism. At home, American freedoms suffered in the McCarthyism of the 1950s as people were accused of communist sympathies.

WWII also ended the Great Depression in the U.S.  America emerged from WWII with the world’s strongest economy.  The country embarked on a period of economic growth and prosperity that would last throughout the rest of the 40s, the 50s, and the 60s, as long as energy costs remained relatively low.  Americans experienced high standards of living, and a “baby boom” helped increase the population dramatically.  Liberal presidencies (except for Eisenhower) meant many generous government programs for Americans.  Postwar Americans were on the move - people moved out to the suburbs in great numbers, and many Americans relocated to the Sunbelt.

US II - link to Ch. 35 Test - print and practice

At the end of this paragraph is link to your Chapter 35 test - take the test as a practice test, then print your results.  Keep the printout in your binder to use for studying for exams.  You may take the practice test up to 5 times.
When you're ready to take Ch. 35 as a practice test, click here:   Chapter 35 Test

U.S. II Ch. 35 Notes - FDR and the Shadow of War

CHAPTER 35 – FDR AND THE SHADOW OF WAR

I. Affairs in the International Early 1930s

A.     The London Conference – 1933

1.        In the summer of 1933, 66 nations sent delegates to the London Economic Conference – hoping to organize a global attack on the depression

2.        FDR at first agreed to send delegates, but then declared that U.S. would not take part

3.        Without U.S. support the Conference fell apart and strengthened the global trend towards nationalism

B.      Affairs in Asia and Europe

1.        The Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1934 provided for independence of the Philippines by 1946

2.        In 1933 FDR formally recognized the Soviet Union to open up trade and bolster a counter weight to possible German power in Europe and Japanese power in Asia

C.      Continuing the Good Neighbor Policy in Latin America

1.        The last marines left Haiti in 1934

2.        Cuba was released from U.S. control , although the naval base at Guantanamo was retained

D.     Lowering the Tariff

1.        Congress passed the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act in 1934 designed to lower the tariff

2.        Secretary of State Cordell Hull succeeded in negotiating pacts with 21 countries by 1939

3.        By these agreements the president was empowered to lower existing rates by as much as 50% provided that the other countries involved would do the same

4.        U.S. foreign trade increased dramatically

II.               Foreign Aggression Leading up to World War II

A.     Mussolini’s Italy

1.        Mussolini had taken control of Italy in 1922 and created a fascist state

2.        Shared power with King Victor Emmanuel III

3.        Signed an agreement with Pope Pius XI – recognized Vatican as an independent state

4.        Looking to expand in Africa attacked Ethiopia in 1935– withdrew from the League of Nations

5.        In 1936 allied with Hitler to form the Rome - Berlin Axis

6.        In 1936 gave aid to fascist General Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War

7.        In April of 1939, attacked and occupied Albania

B.      Japan

1.        In 1931 attacked Manchuria (in China)

2.        In 1932, when threatened by the League of Nations, they withdrew and continued Chinese aggression

3.        in 1936, they terminated the Washington Naval Treaty and accelerated the construction of giant battleships

4.        In 1937 , after all out attacking China, Japan sunk an American gunboat, the Panay but quickly apologized

5.        In 1940 became part of the Axis powers with Italy and Germany

C.      Hitler’s Germany

1.        Jan. 1933 – Hitler appointed Chancellor

2.        March 1933 – Enabling Act grants Hitler absolute dictatorial power

3.        Oct. 1933 – Germany withdraws from the League of Nations

4.        1935 – Nuremburg Laws deprive Jews of all rights of citizenship

5.        March 1935 – Hitler announces German rearmament

6.        March 1936 – German armies move into the demilitarized Rhineland

7.        July 1936 – Hitler supports Franco in Spain

8.        March 1938 – Germany annexes Austria

9.        Sept. 1938 – Munich Conference – Britain and France agree to German seizure of the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia

10.  March 1939 – Germany occupies the rest of Czechoslovakia

11.  August 1939 – Nazi-Soviet nonaggression pact is signed

12.  Sept. 1, 1939 – Germany invades Poland

13.  Sept. 3, 1939 – Britain and France declare war on Germany – World War II begins

III.          U.S. Reaction to Aggression and the Continuing War

A.     The Neutrality Acts of 1935, 36, 37

B.      The Neutrality Act of 1939

1.        Provided that the European democracies might buy American war materials on a “cash and carry basis”.

2.        FDR was also authorized to proclaim danger zones into which American merchant ships would not enter.

C.      Events up to the Fall of France

1.        The months following the fall of Poland were known as the “Phony War”

2.        The Soviet Union took over Finland

3.        Beginning in April 1940 Germany overran Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium – “blitzkrieg”

4.        By late June of 1940 France surrendered

5.        Beginning in August 1940 – Hitler launched air attacks against Britain known as the Battle of Britain

6.        On June 22, 1941 Germany launched an attack on the Soviet Union

D.      U.S. Bolsters Britain

1.        Sept. 1940 – Destroyers for bases deal

2.        1941 – Congress passed Lend-Lease Law – lend needed munitions to allies – get them back at end of the war

3.        Atlantic Conference – August 1941 – Churchill and Roosevelt off the coast of Newfoundland – drew up the Atlantic Charter

E.       U.S. Enters the War

1.        By the fall of 1941, U.S. in an undeclared war in the N. Atlantic with Germany

2.        Congress voted in November 1941 to repeal the Neutrality Act of 1939, enabling merchant ships to be legally armed and enter the combat zone with munitions for Great Britain

3.        On Sunday, December 7, 1941, Japanese bombers attacked Pearl Harbor

4.        On December 8, 1941 the U.S. declared war on Japan.

5.        On December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.

US II- Ch. 35 Learning Objectives

Homework for Monday, 5/2:
Read about FDR and the Shadow of War, Ch. 35 pp. 806-818.
As you read, take notes on Study Goals (aka Learning Objectives) 1 and 2. (see below)
Print a copy of the Study Goals to keep in your binder.

Ch. 35 Study Goals -  Be able to:

1. Describe the isolationist motives and effects of FDR's early foreign policies.
2. Explain how American isolationism dominated U.S. policy in the mid-1930s
3. Explain how America gradually began to respond to the threat from totalitarian aggression while still trying to stay neutral.
4. Describe Roosevelt's increasingly bold moves toward aiding Britain in the fight against Hitler and the sharp disagreements these efforts caused at home.
5. Discuss the events and diplomatic issues in the Japanese-American conflict that led up to Pearl Harbor.