The Coming of War Chapter 16 Vocabulary

Totalitarianism  Theory of government in which a single party or leader controls the economic, social, and cultural lives of its people.  (see chart on p 517)

Benito Mussolini  Founder of Italian fascism  Once appointed the premier of Italy, he worked to destroy democracy and created a dictatorship.

Fascism  Aggressive nationalism  Believed that the nation was more important than the individual.  Individualism weakens a nation, and a strong government led by a dictator was needed for a strong, orderly society.

Joseph Stalin  Dictator of the USSR, beginning in  Cruel, Ruthless, and tyrannical  At least 10 million people were killed under Stalin’s rule.

Adolf Hitler  Anti-communist and Mussolini supporter  Leader of the Nazi (Nationalist-Socialist) Party (anti communist, nationalistic)  Argued that Germans were part of a superior race and that Germany needed more “lebensraum” (living space).  Took power in Germany in 1933.

Spanish Civil War  Civil war between the government and fascists led by Francisco Franco.  Germany and Italy supported Franco in his bid to take over Spain.

Appeasement  The policies of giving concessions in exchange for peace.

Blitzkrieg  “lightning war”  Used large numbers of massed tanks to break through and rapidly encircle enemy positions.  Supporting the tanks were waves of aircraft that bombed enemy positions and dropped paratroopers to cut their supply lines.

Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact  Promise between Germany and the USSR not to declare war against each other.  Also, promised to attack Poland and split it up.

Axis Powers  Germany, Italy, and Japan

Allies  Britain  France  USSR (eventually)  US (eventually)  China

Nye Committee  Investigated US entry into WW1, and created the impression that economic profit led America’s entry into the war.  Part II: Turned American towards isolationism.  Part III: On your own

Neutrality Acts  Made it illegal to sell weapons to any nation at war.  Didn’t distinguish between aggressors and victims.

Cash and Carry Provision  Amended previous Neutrality Acts by stating that the US could sell weapons to warring nations if they paid cash and carried the arms on their own ships.

Tripartite Pact  Alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan, signed in September, 1940

Lend-Lease Act  Removed the cash requirement from the cash and carry provision  Made it possible for the US to lend or lease arms to any country “vital to the defense of the United States.”

Winston Churchill  Replaced Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister of Great Britain.

Atlantic Charter  Committed FDR and Churchill to a post war world of democracy, non-aggression, free trade, economic advancement, and freedom of the seas.

Hideki Tojo  Prime Minister of Japan who was focused on Japanese expansion.  Originally sought to keep the US neutral, but later planned the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor  US Naval base in Hawaii and site of the 1941 Japanese attack.

Douglas MacArthur  Commander of US Army forces in Asia  When the Japanese took the Philippines, MacArthur evacuated to Australia, but pledged to return.

Bataan Death March  Forced march of Filipino and American prisoners up the Bataan Peninsula.  More than 7000 prisoners died.