Chapter Twenty-Seven
America And The World, 1921–1945
Multiple Choice
1. How did U.S. exports in 1929 compare to exports in 1914? A) They were halved.
B) They had tripled.
C) They had remained stagnant.
D) They had increased tenfold.
E) They had increased marginally.
Answer: B
Rationale:
Between 1914 and 1929, U.S. exports had tripled, reflecting the country's growing role in
international trade following World War I. This period saw significant economic expansion
and increased industrial production, leading to a surge in exports.
2. The nations that comprised the Axis Powers in World War II were _______.
A) Germany, France, and Spain
B) Germany, China, and the Soviet Union
C) Germany, Italy, and Japan
D) Britain, France, and the United States
E) the Soviet Union, China, and the United States
Answer: C
Rationale:
The Axis Powers in World War II consisted of Germany, Italy, and Japan. These nations
formed a military alliance seeking to expand their territories and influence, leading to conflict
with the Allied Powers.
3. The weakness of the League of Nations was revealed when it did nothing after Italy
invaded _______. A) Ethiopia
B) Libya
C) Egypt
D) Spain
E) Greece
Answer: A
Rationale:
The weakness of the League of Nations was exposed when it failed to take effective action
after Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935. Despite Ethiopia's appeals for help, the League's
response was limited, highlighting its inability to prevent aggression by member states.
4. In the 1930s, support for pacifism was particularly strong among _______.
A) college students
B) high-ranking businessmen
C) labor unions
D) the elderly
E) the lower classes
Answer: A
Rationale:
Support for pacifism was notably strong among college students in the 1930s. Many young
people, disillusioned by the devastation of World War I, advocated for peace and noninterventionist policies to avoid another global conflict.
5. What did the Nye Committee investigate?
A) war crimes committed during World War I
B) possible German spies in the United States
C) American munitions dealers
D) liberal antiwar activists
E) American communists
Answer: C
Rationale:
The Nye Committee investigated American munitions dealers and their alleged role in
promoting U.S. involvement in World War I for financial gain. The committee's findings
contributed to growing isolationist sentiments in the United States during the interwar period.
6. What did the first neutrality act, passed in 1935, prohibit?
A) adding new troops to the U.S. armed forces
B) sending troops to aid allies at war
C) traveling outside of U.S. borders
D) selling arms to nations at war
E) covering foreign wars in the news
Answer: D
Rationale:
The first neutrality act, passed in 1935, prohibited the sale of arms and munitions to nations at
war, aiming to prevent the United States from being drawn into conflicts abroad. This
legislation reflected the desire to maintain neutrality and avoid entanglement in foreign wars.
7. British and French leaders met with Hitler in Munich in 1938 to discuss his demand for
_______.
A) the Rhineland
B) Austria
C) the Polish Corridor
D) the Sudetenland
E) Alsace and Lorraine
Answer: D
Rationale:
British and French leaders met with Hitler in Munich in 1938 to discuss his demand for the
Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia with a significant ethnic German population. The
Munich Agreement, signed during this meeting, allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland
in exchange for a promise of no further territorial expansion, which Hitler later violated.
8. Hitler started World War II by invading ________ on September 1, 1939.
A) Austria
B) Poland
C) France
D) Czechoslovakia
E) Switzerland
Answer: B
Rationale:
Hitler initiated World War II by invading Poland on September 1, 1939, marking the
beginning of the conflict in Europe. This aggressive action prompted Britain and France to
declare war on Germany, leading to the outbreak of the war in Europe.
9. Roosevelt’s Lend-Lease policy _______.
A) ensured British access to American war supplies
B) placed restrictions on materials that were shipped to Britain
C) encountered no opposition from the Senate
D) was strongly supported by American isolationists
E) was approved by Congress but never implemented
Answer: A
Rationale:
Roosevelt's Lend-Lease policy, enacted in 1941, aimed to provide military aid to Allied
nations, particularly Britain, without requiring immediate payment. This policy ensured
British access to American war supplies and played a crucial role in supporting Allied efforts
against Axis powers during World War II.
10. In October 1941, German U-boats sank the _______.
A) Liberty
B) Mayaguez
C) Reuben James
D) Lusitania
E) Jefferson
Answer: C
Rationale:
In October 1941, German U-boats sank the USS Reuben James, an American destroyer
escort, marking one of the earliest casualties for the United States in World War II. This
incident contributed to growing tensions between the United States and Germany before the
formal entry of the U.S. into the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
11. When the United States and the Dutch East Indies banned trade with Japan, the Japanese
lost their source of _______, which eventually led them to attack the United States.
A) oil
B) flour
C) steel
D) rubber
E) ammunition
Answer: A
Rationale:
The United States and the Dutch East Indies implemented an oil embargo against Japan in
response to its aggression in Southeast Asia. This deprived Japan of crucial oil imports, which
ultimately contributed to their decision to attack the United States at Pearl Harbor in an
attempt to secure alternative oil sources in the Pacific.
12. What event brought the United States into World War II?
A) the Italian attack on Austria
B) the German occupation of France
C) the first mass executions of Jews
D) the Japanese invasion of China
E) the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
Answer: E
Rationale:
On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This attack prompted the United States to declare war on Japan and
enter World War II.
13. What was the greatest single advantage that the United States and its allies had during
World War II?
A) The Allies began military confrontations with the Axis powers immediately, before they
could gain much ground in Europe or Asia.
B) The Allies were genuinely willing to work together to defeat their enemies, whereas the
Axis powers fought separate wars.
C) The Germans and the Japanese made slow progress in conquering more lands in Europe
and the Pacific.
D) All of the Axis powers suffered from ineffective leadership and poor strategizing, which
was a stark contrast to the Allies.
E) The Allies had such an overwhelming number of ground troops that Axis resistance was
highly ineffective.
Answer: B
Rationale:
Collaboration among the Allies, including strategic coordination and sharing of resources,
provided a significant advantage over the Axis powers, which often pursued conflicting
agendas and strategies.
14. During World War II, the closest ally of the United States was _______.
A) the Soviet Union
B) Canada
C) France
D) Great Britain
E) China
Answer: D
Rationale:
Throughout World War II, the United States and Great Britain formed a close alliance,
exemplified by leaders like Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt. This alliance was
crucial in coordinating military efforts and sharing resources to defeat the Axis powers.
15. United States troops first went into combat against German troops in _______.
A) Italy
B) France
C) Greece
D) Poland
E) Africa
Answer: E
Rationale:
The first significant combat involving United States troops against German forces during
World War II occurred in North Africa, particularly during Operation Torch in November
1942, where American and British forces engaged German and Italian troops.
16. The turning point of the Pacific war was the American victory at the battle of _______,
which gave the United States control of the Central Pacific.
A) Coral Sea
B) Guadalcanal
C) Midway
D) Iwo Jima
E) Leyte Gulf
Answer: C
Rationale:
The Battle of Midway, fought in June 1942, marked a significant turning point in the Pacific
War. The decisive American victory over the Japanese navy at Midway halted Japanese
expansion in the Pacific and shifted the balance of power in favor of the Allies.
17. Which of the following statements best describes the migration of the American
population during World War II?
A) Rural areas lost many residents while coastal areas grew in population.
B) People moved from urban to rural areas to help grow food to support the troops.
C) Coastal areas lost population as millions moved into America’s heartland.
D) The South and West lost population as millions moved to states in the Northeast.
E) The United States lost a number of citizens as millions fled to Canada.
Answer: A
Rationale:
During World War II, there was a significant migration of people from rural areas to urban
centers and coastal regions, driven by the demand for labor in wartime industries and military
bases.
18. What was the role of the Office of Economic Stabilization?
A) It provided lucrative contracts for urgently needed goods.
B) It rationed scarce goods, such as sugar and canned foods.
C) It settled disputes between different federal agencies.
D) It withheld income tax from workers’ wages.
E) It provided federal incentives to the manufacturing industry.
Answer: C
Rationale:
The Office of Economic Stabilization, established during World War II, was tasked with
coordinating economic policies and resolving conflicts between various government agencies
involved in wartime production and distribution.
19. The Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC) was a federal agency designed to
protect _______.
A) children from abusive working conditions
B) workers in wartime industries from harsh conditions
C) women from discrimination in the workplace
D) minorities from prejudice in war industries
E) the elderly from discrimination in the workplace
Answer: D
Rationale:
The Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC) was established to combat racial
discrimination in industries contributing to the war effort. It aimed to ensure equal
opportunity and fair treatment for minorities, particularly African Americans, in employment.
20. During World War II, which group was placed in relocation camps in the United States?
A) Italian Americans
B) German Americans
C) Japanese Americans
D) Russian Americans
E) Jewish Americans
Answer: C
Rationale:
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States government forcibly relocated and
interned over 100,000 Japanese Americans, the majority of whom were American citizens, in
internment camps as a security measure based on fears of Japanese espionage and sabotage.
21. The term “D-Day” refers to which of the following dates?
A) the day President Roosevelt died
B) the day Hitler committed suicide
C) the day the Allies invaded Nazi-occupied Europe
D) the day the Germans invaded France
E) the day the Germans surrendered to the Allies
Answer: C
Rationale:
"D-Day" refers specifically to June 6, 1944, when Allied forces, primarily American, British,
and Canadian troops, launched a massive amphibious invasion of Normandy, France, during
World War II, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control.
22. When American troops entered Germany, they were shocked to discover _______.
A) the lack of damage to German infrastructure
B) the presence of American expatriate communities
C) the destruction committed by Russian troops
D) the establishment of a third front
E) the conditions inside concentration camps
Answer: E
Rationale:
American troops entering Germany during World War II encountered the horrifying reality of
Nazi concentration camps, where millions of people, primarily Jews, had been imprisoned,
tortured, and killed. The discovery of these camps shocked the world and underscored the
atrocities committed by the Nazis.
23. The Soviet Union experienced a diplomatic triumph when Roosevelt, Churchill, and
Stalin met in 1945 at the _______.
A) Munich Convention
B) Yalta Conference
C) Casablanca Meeting
D) Paris Talk
E) London Symposium
Answer: B
Rationale:
The Yalta Conference, held in February 1945, brought together the leaders of the United
States (Roosevelt), the United Kingdom (Churchill), and the Soviet Union (Stalin) to discuss
post-war Europe and make decisions regarding the organization of the post-war world. It
marked a diplomatic triumph for the Soviet Union as Stalin secured significant concessions,
particularly regarding Eastern Europe.
24. What was the Manhattan Project?
A) a plan for ground troops to take Tokyo and end the war
B) a government program to deal with criminals of war
C) an elite team of secret agents that nearly assassinated Hitler
D) a diplomatic project to negotiate a Japanese surrender
E) a top-secret program that developed the atom bomb
Answer: E
Rationale:
The Manhattan Project was a massive research and development undertaking during World
War II that aimed to produce the first atomic bombs. It involved scientists, engineers, and
military personnel working in secrecy to harness nuclear energy for military use.
25. The United States dropped its first atom bomb on the city of _______ on August 6, 1945.
A) Osaka
B) Nagasaki
C) Tokyo
D) Hiroshima
E) Fukushima
Answer: D
Rationale:
On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb named "Little Boy" on the
Japanese city of Hiroshima. This event marked the first use of a nuclear weapon in warfare
and had devastating consequences, resulting in significant loss of life and destruction.
26. Why did the U.S. back off from its interventionist policy in Latin America in the 1920s
and after?
A) A pan-American alliance made intervention unnecessary.
B) The threat of European involvement in the region disappeared.
C) The depression shifted attention away from foreign affairs.
D) The Roosevelt Corollary made intervention unnecessary.
E) A coalition of Latin American countries used the threat of force to keep the U.S. out.
Answer: B
Rationale:
After World War I, the United States became less interventionist in Latin America as the
threat of European colonial powers involving themselves in the region diminished. The U.S.
no longer perceived a need to assert its dominance to counter potential European influence.
27. What did the League of Nations do after the Italian invasion of Ethiopia?
A) It protected the southern half of the country from Mussolini’s army.
B) It halted Mussolini’s forces just before they crossed the Ethiopian border.
C) It authorized billions of dollars in aid for the Ethiopians.
D) It made halfhearted and unsuccessful efforts to stop Mussolini.
E) It recognized Italy’s authority and new government in Ethiopia.
Answer: D
Rationale:
Following the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935, the League of Nations failed to take
effective action to halt Mussolini's aggression. Despite condemning Italy's actions and
imposing economic sanctions, the League's efforts were insufficient to prevent the conquest
of Ethiopia.
28. Which of the following was a consequence of the Nye Committee’s findings?
A) Congress passed the neutrality acts of 1935, 1936, and 1937.
B) Secretary of State Kellogg signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact.
C) The R.O.T.C. was temporarily disbanded on college campuses.
D) The pacifist movement in America dwindled significantly.
E) Congress banned the sale of guns inside the United States.
Answer: A
Rationale:
The Nye Committee, led by Senator Gerald Nye, investigated the role of arms manufacturers
in influencing U.S. entry into World War I. Its findings, which highlighted the influence of
war profiteering, contributed to a desire among policymakers and the public to avoid
entanglement in future conflicts, leading to the passage of neutrality legislation in the mid1930s.
29. How did Great Britain and France respond to initial German aggression in 1938?
A) by immediately threatening war
B) by allying with the Soviet Union
C) by seizing German territory
D) by attempting to appease Hitler
E) by blockading German ports
Answer: D
Rationale:
Faced with Adolf Hitler's territorial expansionism, particularly the annexation of
Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland in 1938, Britain and France pursued a policy of appeasement.
They hoped to avoid war by accommodating some of Hitler's demands, believing it would
satisfy his ambitions and maintain peace in Europe.
30. With the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939, President Roosevelt _______.
A) immediately declared war on Germany
B) immediately loaned war supplies to Britain and France
C) declared American neutrality
D) warned Germany not to invade France
E) made a secret pact with the Russians
Answer: C
Rationale:
President Roosevelt, following the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939, initially declared
American neutrality, reflecting a desire to avoid involvement in the conflict between
European powers.
31. Why were Americans worried about Hitler’s attacks against Great Britain in particular?
A) The United States had an alliance with Great Britain that could force the nation into war.
B) Many Americans had British ancestors or ties to businesses in Great Britain.
C) Many Americans still had family members living in Great Britain.
D) If Hitler took Great Britain, he would have access to an atomic bomb.
E) If Hitler invaded Great Britain, he could use the British navy to attack the Americas.
Answer: E
Rationale:
Americans were concerned about Hitler's attacks against Great Britain because if Britain fell
to Nazi Germany, Hitler would gain control of the British navy, potentially posing a
significant threat to American interests and security in the Atlantic.
32. How did FDR help Great Britain after France fell to the Nazis?
A) He placed a total embargo on all trade to Nazi Germany and any countries allied with
Hitler.
B) He traded destroyers in exchange for the rights to build bases on British possessions in the
Western Hemisphere.
C) He negotiated an agreement with Hitler in exchange for American neutrality in the war.
D) He supplied Great Britain with two hundred fighter planes and fifty military advisors.
E) He brought the United States into World War II on the side of the Allied nations.
Answer: B
Rationale:
After France fell to the Nazis, President Roosevelt initiated the "Destroyers for Bases
Agreement" with Great Britain. Under this arrangement, the United States provided Britain
with 50 obsolete destroyers in exchange for the rights to establish military bases on British
territories in the Western Hemisphere, bolstering British defense capabilities.
33. Which statement best describes Hitler’s orders to his submarine commanders in the
Atlantic?
A) Hitler ordered them not to fire on American vessels to avoid drawing the United States
into the war.
B) Hitler ordered them not to fire on American vessels because German U-boats were inferior
to U.S. submarines.
C) Hitler ordered them to fire on American vessels because he wanted to draw the United
States into the war.
D) Hitler ordered them not to fire on American vessels because he knew the Americans were
considering an alliance with Germany.
E) Hitler ordered them to fire on American vessels because they were supplying the navy of
Great Britain.
Answer: A
Rationale:
Hitler issued orders to his submarine commanders in the Atlantic to refrain from attacking
American vessels to avoid provoking the United States into entering the war against
Germany.
34. How did President Roosevelt attempt to halt Japanese aggression between 1940 and
1941?
A) by applying economic pressure on Japan through a trade embargo
B) by waging an undeclared war against Japanese naval forces in the Pacific
C) by signing mutual defense pacts with other Asian nations
D) by securing legislation allowing the United States to send troops to China
E) by using an executive order to send troops to fight on Japanese soil
Answer: A
Rationale:
In response to Japanese aggression in Asia, particularly the invasion of China and
expansionist policies in Southeast Asia, President Roosevelt implemented economic
measures, including trade embargoes on critical resources such as oil and scrap metal, to
pressure Japan to halt its expansionist activities.
35. Why were the Chinese displeased with the Allies’ initial strategy?
A) The Allies refused to include Chinese troops in the European theater of war.
B) The Allies refused to provide any war supplies to China.
C) The Allies took over the fight against Japan, leaving no place for China.
D) The Allies wanted to focus on defeating Germany first, rather than Japan.
E) The Allies refused to declare war against Japan immediately.
Answer: D
Rationale:
The Chinese were displeased with the Allies' initial strategy because they perceived that the
Allies prioritized defeating Germany over addressing Japanese aggression in Asia. This
strategy left China, which was already engaged in a brutal war with Japan, feeling neglected
and without adequate support from the Allies in its struggle against Japanese forces.
36. Which of the following best characterizes U.S.-Soviet relations during the war?
A) especially close and trusting
B) especially hostile, almost to the point of warfare
C) strained by significant ideological differences
D) hurt by the United States’ refusal to recognize the Soviet Union
E) significantly influenced by Roosevelt’s personal dislike of Stalin
Answer: C
Rationale:
U.S.-Soviet relations during World War II were characterized by significant ideological
differences between the capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union. While they
were allies in the fight against Nazi Germany, tensions arose due to differing political systems
and post-war ambitions.
37. What did the Soviet Union look forward to after its victory in World War II?
A) creating communist regimes in eastern Europe
B) establishing trade routes with Britain and the United States
C) improving its relationship with the United States
D) establishing a communist government in Russia
E) receiving monetary compensation from the United Nations
Answer: A
Rationale:
After its victory in World War II, the Soviet Union sought to establish communist
governments in Eastern European countries liberated from Nazi occupation, effectively
extending its sphere of influence and creating a buffer zone against potential Western
aggression.
38. What did the United States look forward to after its victory in World War II?
A) controlling post-war governments in Germany and Italy
B) breaking up the Soviet Union
C) seizing German resources
D) controlling western Europe
E) dominance in the Pacific
Answer: E
Rationale:
After its victory in World War II, the United States looked forward to establishing dominance
in the Pacific region, particularly to secure its strategic interests and contain the spread of
communism. This included strengthening its influence in Asia and the Pacific Islands.
39. Which of the following statements describes a social problem during World War II?
A) Couples had fewer children, which meant a surplus of teachers and daycare centers.
B) There was insufficient housing for workers in cities with wartime industries.
C) Fewer couples were getting married due to the uncertainties of wartime.
D) Middle-aged, married women were edged out of the workforce by single women.
E) California’s economy almost collapsed because it lacked wartime industries.
Answer: B
Rationale:
During World War II, the rapid influx of workers into urban areas with wartime industries led
to a housing shortage, as construction resources were diverted to the war effort. This resulted
in overcrowded and inadequate living conditions for many workers and their families.
40. Why did A. Philip Randolph threaten a massive march on Washington in 1941?
A) to end racial discrimination in the defense industry
B) to bring the United States into World War II
C) to support U.S. neutrality
D) to end discrimination in federal aid programs
E) to allow women to work in wartime industries
Answer: A
Rationale:
A. Philip Randolph, a prominent civil rights leader, threatened a massive march on
Washington in 1941 to demand an end to racial discrimination in the defense industry and the
implementation of fair employment practices. This pressure eventually led to President
Roosevelt issuing Executive Order 8802, which prohibited racial discrimination in the
defense industry and established the Fair Employment Practices Committee.
41. What led to riots in both Los Angeles and Detroit in 1943?
A) food shortages
B) abusive labor conditions
C) racial tensions
D) strong antiwar sentiments
E) layoffs in wartime industries
Answer: C
Rationale:
The correct answer is C) racial tensions. Riots erupted in both Los Angeles and Detroit in
1943 primarily due to simmering racial tensions, exacerbated by factors such as competition
for jobs and housing between white and African American communities, as well as incidents
of police brutality against African Americans.
42. Why was the Battle of the Bulge an important battle during World War II?
A) It was the battle that drew the United States into the war.
B) It was Hitler’s first loss in the war, showing the world that he could be beaten.
C) It was the first time the Allies gained significant ground in Europe.
D) The Allies won the battle and immediately ended the war.
E) The engagement exhausted Hitler’s reserves and fatally weakened his army.
Answer: E
Rationale:
The correct answer is E) The engagement exhausted Hitler’s reserves and fatally weakened
his army. The Battle of the Bulge, fought from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945, was
a significant turning point in World War II. While initially caught off guard by the German
offensive, the Allies ultimately repelled the attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the German
forces and depleting their resources, contributing to the eventual Allied victory in Europe.
43. How did the contribution of the Soviet Union in Europe during the war compare to the
American contribution?
A) It was significantly smaller.
B) It was somewhat smaller.
C) It was about the same.
D) It was significantly larger.
E) It was impossible to determine.
Answer: D
Rationale:
The correct answer is D) It was significantly larger. The Soviet Union made a massive
contribution to the Allied effort in Europe during World War II, bearing the brunt of the
fighting against Nazi Germany on the Eastern Front. The scale of Soviet casualties and the
resources devoted to the conflict far exceeded those of the United States, making their
contribution significantly larger.
44. How did Americans feel about collective security toward the end of World War II?
A) They were eager to make new attempts at collective security.
B) They acknowledged that collective security was useful, but remained reluctant.
C) They still thought that isolationism was preferable to collective security.
D) They realized that collective security was ineffective, but it kept their alliances in place.
E) They vowed never to make another attempt at collective security.
Answer: A
Rationale:
The correct answer is A) They were eager to make new attempts at collective security.
Towards the end of World War II, many Americans were optimistic about the prospects of
collective security initiatives as a means to prevent future conflicts and promote global
stability. The devastation of the war and the emergence of the United Nations fostered a
desire among Americans to pursue new efforts at international cooperation.
45. Which approach did the U.S. military favor when Japan’s defeat was deemed inevitable?
A) negotiating a peace treaty to avoid further loss of life
B) modifying the unconditional surrender formula
C) an all-out, full-scale invasion of Japan
D) destroying Japan with a series of atom bombs
E) creating a second front in the Philippines
Answer: C
Rationale:
The correct answer is C) an all-out, full-scale invasion of Japan. As Japan's defeat became
increasingly inevitable, the U.S. military favored planning for an all-out invasion of Japan,
known as Operation Downfall. This operation would have involved massive amphibious
assaults on Japanese-held territories, anticipating fierce resistance and high casualties.
46. What was President Truman’s primary motive for using atomic weapons against Japan?
A) to impress the Soviet Union
B) to kill as many Japanese as possible
C) to justify a secret government project
D) to completely destroy Japan
E) to end the war as quickly as possible
Answer: E
Rationale:
The correct answer is E) to end the war as quickly as possible. President Truman's primary
motive for authorizing the use of atomic weapons against Japan was to bring a swift and
decisive end to the war in the Pacific, thereby avoiding the need for a costly and prolonged
invasion of the Japanese home islands.
47. Which factors most contributed to American isolationism in the 1930s?
A) the Great Depression and fear of the costs of war
B) the Great Depression and the Catholic Church
C) the Kellogg-Briand Pact and anti-Semitism
D) the Kellogg-Briand Pact and a lack of resources
E) a lack of resources and a religious revival
Answer: A
Rationale:
The correct answer is A) the Great Depression and fear of the costs of war. In the 1930s,
American isolationism was largely influenced by the Great Depression, which prioritized
domestic concerns over international involvement, and the memory of the costs of World War
I, which led to a desire to avoid entanglement in another costly conflict.
48. Which of these slowly pushed popular sentiment in the U.S. to favor entering the war?
A) assaults on Poland
B) the battle of Britain
C) the invasion of Ethiopia
D) the Soviet entry into the war
E) the fall of France
Answer: B
Rationale:
The correct answer is B) the battle of Britain. The Battle of Britain, fought in the skies over
Britain between the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the German Luftwaffe in 1940, gradually
shifted popular sentiment in the United States towards favoring entry into the war. The heroic
resistance of the British against German air attacks bolstered support for Allied efforts and
highlighted the threat posed by Nazi aggression.
49. America’s use of the atomic bomb to defeat Japan resulted in all of the following
EXCEPT _______.
A) a tightening of the U.S.-Soviet alliance
B) a decisive end to the war
C) the death of thousands
D) the postwar arms race
E) an unconditional surrender
Answer: A
Rationale:
The correct answer is A) a tightening of the U.S.-Soviet alliance. America's use of atomic
bombs against Japan did not result in a tightening of the U.S.-Soviet alliance; instead, it
contributed to the onset of tensions and the beginning of the Cold War between the United
States and the Soviet Union.
50. Which of the following best describes the state of the nation in the wake of World War II?
A) The United States was drastically weaker than it had been before the war.
B) The United States was slightly weaker than it had been before the war.
C) The United States had about the same amount of power as it had before the war.
D) The United States was slightly more powerful than it had been before the war.
E) The United States had become the most powerful country in the world.
Answer: E
Rationale:
In the aftermath of World War II, the United States emerged as the dominant global
superpower, wielding unprecedented economic, military, and political influence. The war had
propelled the U.S. economy into a position of unparalleled strength, and the country played a
pivotal role in shaping the post-war international order through initiatives such as the
Marshall Plan and the establishment of the United Nations. This newfound power solidified
the United States' status as the preeminent global leader.
Essay
1. What factors account for the rise of American isolationism between the wars? How did
neutrality legislation work to the advantage of aggressive dictators?
Answer: The rise of American isolationism between the wars can be attributed to several
factors, including the lingering trauma of World War I, the desire to focus on domestic issues
such as the economy, and a disillusionment with international involvement due to perceived
failures of diplomacy. Neutrality legislation, such as the Neutrality Acts of the 1930s, worked
to the advantage of aggressive dictators by prohibiting the United States from providing aid
or support to nations involved in conflicts, effectively limiting American intervention and
allowing aggressors to act with less fear of opposition.
2. How did events in the early years of the war affect American public opinion? What were
the most important factors in changing opinion?
Answer: Events in the early years of the war, such as the fall of France, the Battle of Britain,
and the attack on Pearl Harbor, profoundly influenced American public opinion. Initially,
there was a sentiment of isolationism and reluctance to become involved in another European
conflict. However, the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in December 1941
dramatically shifted public opinion, rallying Americans behind the war effort and leading to
widespread support for military action. The most important factors in changing opinion were
direct attacks on American interests, such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the realization
of the threat posed by Axis aggression to global stability and American security.
3. Describe the Allies’ overall strategy in World War II, in either the European theater or the
Pacific theater, and include one or two key battles.
Answer: In the European theater, the Allies' overall strategy in World War II focused on
defeating Nazi Germany while simultaneously weakening Fascist Italy and preventing Soviet
expansion. This strategy involved launching a series of coordinated offensives, including the
invasion of Normandy (D-Day) in June 1944 and the subsequent liberation of Western
Europe, culminating in the Battle of Berlin in April-May 1945, which led to the fall of the
Third Reich. Another key battle was the Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943), where Soviet
forces decisively defeated the German army, turning the tide of the war on the Eastern Front.
4. In terms of the economy, labor force, and internal migrations, how did World War II
transform America?
Answer: World War II transformed America in significant ways across its economy, labor
force, and internal migrations. Economically, the war led to a massive industrial mobilization
as factories shifted production to support the war effort, resulting in unprecedented economic
growth and technological advancements. The war also transformed the labor force, with
millions of women entering the workforce to replace men serving in the military, leading to
lasting changes in gender roles and employment patterns. Additionally, the war prompted
internal migrations as Americans moved to urban centers for employment opportunities in
defense industries, leading to demographic shifts and the growth of cities. Overall, World War
II profoundly reshaped American society and its economy, laying the groundwork for the
post-war era of prosperity and global leadership.
Test Bank for The American Story
Robert A. Divine, T. H. Breen, R. Hal Williams, Ariela J. Gross, H. W. Brands
9780205900688
