Ch 25: AP World History: World War II
About This Chapter
AP World History: World War II - Chapter Summary and Learning Objectives
Lessons in this chapter explain the contributing factors to World War II, including America's involvement after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The lessons take a look at the European Theater in the war, as well as the Pacific Ocean Theater near Japan. You will examine the anti-semitism of Nazi Germany, which resulted in the Holocaust, or an attempt to eradicate all Jews and undesirables. Lessons finish with a look at the ending of the war, including the D-Day Invasion and the atomic bomb. This chapter is designed to teach you about:
- The inciting factors of World War II
- The beginning of American involvement after Pearl Harbor
- The European and Pacific Ocean Theaters
- Anti-Semitism and genocide in Nazi Germany
- The efforts of the U.S. on the war front
- The atomic bomb and the end of World War II
| Video | Objective |
|---|---|
| World War II: The Start of the Second World War | Describe the inciting events of World War II, including Hitler's invasion of Poland and Japan's invasion of China. |
| The Attack on Pearl Harbor: The Beginning of American Involvement in World War II | Understand the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and its effect on American involvement in the war. |
| The European Theater in World War II: The Eastern Front, Western Front and Fight for North Africa | Analyze the various fronts of the war, including the Eastern Front, Western Front and North African battlegrounds. |
| The Holocaust: Anti-Semitism and Genocide in Nazi Germany | Explore anti-semitism in Nazi Germany and the Final Solution's attempt to eradicate all Jews and undesirables during WWII. |
| The Pacific Ocean Theater of WWII: Japan vs. the Allies | Understand Japan's early advancements in the war and America's strategy of island hopping to push them back. |
| The United States during WWII: The Home Front | Study the effect of the war on U.S. culture, government and society. |
| The D-Day Invasion: The Beginning of the End of Nazi Germany | Chronicle the Allies' invasion of France on D-Day, which led to Germany's eventual surrender. |
| The Manhattan Project and the Atomic Bomb | Recount the development of the atomic bomb during the Manhattan Project and its use in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. |
| Alliances and Expansions during World War II | Explore the alliances formed and the expansions made by various countries during World War II. |
1. World War II: The Start of the Second World War
Learn all about the start of World War II and why the League of Nations could not stop aggression by Italy, Germany and Japan in the 1930s, which led to the outbreak of this second global conflict.
2. The Attack on Pearl Harbor: The Beginning of American Involvement in World War II
On December 7, 1941, the Empire of Japan launched a surprise attack against Allied possessions in the Pacific, including the American military base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After decades of conflict between the two nations, the U.S. declared war.
3. The European Theater in WWII: The Eastern Front, Western Front & Fight for North Africa
Hitler and Nazi Germany dominated the European fields of battle early in WWII. This lesson is an overview of key military operations between 1939 and 1943 in Europe on both the Eastern and Western fronts.
4. The Holocaust: Anti-Semitism and Genocide in Nazi Germany
The Holocaust was the persecution and mass murder of as many as 11 million people by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis between 1933 and 1945. Learn about the people they targeted, the progression of events leading up to the Final Solution and the end of the genocide in this lesson.
5. The Pacific Ocean Theater of WWII: Japan vs. The Allies
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States entered WWII. Watch this video to learn about some of the key battles, as well as the general nature, of the Pacific theater of the war.
6. The United States During WWII: The Home Front
When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, life changed almost overnight for those on the battle front and on the home front. Learn about the war's dramatic and lasting effects on American government, economy and society.
7. The D-Day Invasion: The Beginning of the End of Nazi Germany
Operation Overlord, the invasion of Nazi-occupied Western Europe, began with the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, with Hitler's last stand taking place at the Battle of the Bulge. Learn about these and other events that contributed to the end of Nazi Germany.
8. Hiroshima and Nagasaki: How the Atomic Bomb Changed Warfare During WWII
As America and its WWII allies considered invading Japan, the Manhattan Project successfully developed an atomic weapon. Its use on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, precipitated VJ Day, the end of the Pacific war, on August 14, 1945.
9. Alliances and Expansions During World War II
In this lesson, we will examine the various alliances and territorial expansions surrounding the Second World War. We will see how these led to the outbreak of war and place them in historical context.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the AP World History: Exam Prep course
- AP World History: Foundational Concepts
- AP World History: Major Belief Systems
- AP World History: Ancient Times
- AP World History: Ancient Middle East
- AP World History: Ancient China, Africa, India & America
- AP World History: Ancient Greece
- AP World History: Hellenism and Athenian Philosophy
- AP World History: The Rise of the Roman Republic
- AP World History: The Fall of the Roman Empire
- AP World History: The Dark Ages
- AP World History: Early Middle Ages
- AP World History: The Medieval Warm Period
- AP World History: The High Middle Ages
- AP World History: Asia, Africa & America (1000-1300 CE)
- AP World History: The Late Middle Ages
- AP World History: The Renaissance
- AP World History: The Age of Exploration
- AP World History: The Reformation Across Europe
- AP World History: The Elizabethan Era
- AP World History: The Enlightenment
- AP World History: Political, Technological, and Intellectual Developments (1750-1914)
- AP World History: Colonialism
- AP World History: Imperialism
- AP World History: World War I
- AP World History: The Cold War and Other 20th Century World History
- AP World History: A Globalized World - 1980 & Beyond
- Portions of the AP World History Exam
- How to Write a Good Essay on Your AP Exam
- AP World History Flashcards
- Additional AP World History Flashcards
