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| | The Constitution authorizes only Congress to declare war, which it did on the very next day (Dec. 8th). Only one congressman voted against the declaration of war. Three days later, on Dec. 11th, Congress declared war on Germany too. That was the last time in history that Congress has officially declared war. | | The Constitution authorizes only Congress to declare war, which it did on the very next day (Dec. 8th). Only one congressman voted against the declaration of war. Three days later, on Dec. 11th, Congress declared war on Germany too. That was the last time in history that Congress has officially declared war. |
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| − | The Japanese proved to be tenacious fighters and there was much fear in the United States of Japanese nationalism. FDR forcibly moved Japanese-Americans in California to internment camps to keep an eye on their suspected spy activity, despite their American citizenship. The Supreme Court upheld this violation of their constitutional rights in ''Korematsu v. United States''. This reflected how the Supreme Court has always deferred to the other branches of government on military matters ever since President Andrew Jackson defied a Supreme Court ruling about the treatment of Indians in ''Worcester v. Georgia''. | + | The Japanese proved to be tenacious fighters and there was much fear in the United States of Japanese nationalism. FDR forcibly moved Americans of Japanese descent in California to internment camps to keep an eye on their suspected spy activity, despite their American citizenship. The Supreme Court upheld this internment despite an apparent violation of constitutional rights in ''Korematsu v. United States'' (1944). This reflected how the Supreme Court has always deferred to the other branches of government on military matters ever since President Andrew Jackson defied a Supreme Court ruling about the treatment of Indians in ''Worcester v. Georgia''. |
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| | + | '''Debate: Do you think the internment of Americans of Japanese descent was proper and constitutional?''' |
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| | + | Intense fighting by the United States began in both the European and the Pacific "theaters". In Europe, the hard fighting was done by the Army, on the ground. In the Pacific, the Navy was more important. |
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| | D-Day "June 6, 1944 Allies finally invade mainland Europe at Normandy, France to recapture mainland" | | D-Day "June 6, 1944 Allies finally invade mainland Europe at Normandy, France to recapture mainland" |
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| | Harry S Truman "Dem. Pres. 1945-52, pushed civil rights, protected South Korea, fired Gen. MacArthur, seized steel mills" | | Harry S Truman "Dem. Pres. 1945-52, pushed civil rights, protected South Korea, fired Gen. MacArthur, seized steel mills" |
| | "Hiroshima, Nagasaki" "Aug. 6 & 9, 1945: first and second atom bombs dropped by US on these Japanese cities; Japan surrenders Aug. 15" | | "Hiroshima, Nagasaki" "Aug. 6 & 9, 1945: first and second atom bombs dropped by US on these Japanese cities; Japan surrenders Aug. 15" |
| − | Korematsu v. U.S. 1944: Sup. Ct. affirms military internment camps for Japanese-Americans
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| | Servicemen's Readjustment Act "1944: ""GI Bill"" pays for soldiers' higher education" | | Servicemen's Readjustment Act "1944: ""GI Bill"" pays for soldiers' higher education" |
| | Bretton Woods/World Bank July 1944: 44 nations set up International Monetary Fund | | Bretton Woods/World Bank July 1944: 44 nations set up International Monetary Fund |
| − | Dumbarton Oaks/United Nations "Aug-Oct. 1944: China, GB, USSR, US draft plans for UN, incl. Security Council"
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| | + | The worst fight was at the Battle of the Bulge, when the Germans launched a vicious counteroffensives against the Allies (which now included the Americans. |
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| | Some feared that Germany was developing an atomic bomb and so the United States government initiated the Manhattan Project to develop our own atomic bomb. As soon as it was tested and ready, President Truman ordered it to be dropped on Japanese cities in 1945. Japan then surrendered and our war with it was over. (Our war with Germany had already ended.) | | Some feared that Germany was developing an atomic bomb and so the United States government initiated the Manhattan Project to develop our own atomic bomb. As soon as it was tested and ready, President Truman ordered it to be dropped on Japanese cities in 1945. Japan then surrendered and our war with it was over. (Our war with Germany had already ended.) |