Virginia and US History SOL map study: 20th century wars

Preparation for the state of Virginian SOL ("Standards of Learning") History test: 20th century wars

Content: WWI, WWII, Cold War, Korean War & Vietnam War

Purpose: to associate time, place and events via maps

World maps

Five Continents: in the 20th century, the United States was actively involved in diplomatic and military interventions on all five major continents.	BIG IDEAS starting with the 1898 Spanish-American War, the US engaged in wars outside of the continental United States (the "lower 48" states) World War I marks first US troops sent to Europe in World War II , the US sent troops to every continent except South America the US military controlled the Panama Canal in Central America the US government worked diplomatically to support South American countries and keep them from joining the War on the side of the Germans or Japanese
	BIG IDEAS globalism = the idea that the world is interconnected economically, politically and militarily first attempt at international "league" or governing body was the "League of Nations," whic was formed after WWI the United States did not join the League of Nations globalism truly starts following WWII especially with formation of the United Nations in 1945 for its global economic, military and political domination, the 20th Century is known as "the American Century"

World War I

	WWI Timeline Maps
Alliances in Europe at onset of WWI Alliances in Europe 1914: "Triple Alliance" (Austria-Hungary, Germany & Italy) and "Triple Entente" (Britain/UK, France & Russia). The United States would join the Triple Entente in 1917.	BIG IDEAS: "alliances" between European nations starting with Austria's war with Russia Austria + Germany Russia + France + Britain

World War II

Origins of WWII

European Theatre

Timeline Maps & Notes

European theatre WWII timeline maps
"Spheres" (areas) of influence	BIG IDEAS this map shows the "areas of influence" of the Germans and Japanese during WWII while Japan and German did not fight in common, they shared the common goal of conquering and dominating their regions across Eurasia
European theatre of World War II animation map, 1939–1945 – Red: Western Allies and the Soviet Union after 1941; Green: Soviet Union before 1941; Blue: Axis powers	World War II in Europe this map shows the German (Nazi) invasions and occupations of Europe and North Africa German invasions: 1939: invades Poland 1940: invades Belgium & France 1941: areal attack on Britain 1942: invades Russia (Soviet Union) 1942: invades North Africa
German invasions 1941-1942, marking their greatest extents
European Theatre key concept images

Asian Theatre

Timeline Maps & Notes

Map showing the greatest extent of Japanese territorial control (solid line), with the dotted line indicating areas contested between the US and Japan.
Midway "atoll" (small island) which was an important U.S. airbase in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The failed Japanese attack on Midway in June 1942 is considered a "turning point" in the War. The USS Enterprise aircraft carrier preparing to launch American dive-bombers to attack Japanese war vessels. Aircraft carriers were an essential weapon for both Japan and the United States.
Two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. The first was dropped on Hirioshima. This photo is of the second bomb dropped on Nagasaki, after which the Japanese surrendered to the Americans.

Cold War

• 1945-1991, between Communist Russia / Soviet Union and its allies and the U.S. and its allies
• called a "cold" war because the USSR and the US never fought each other directly
  • "hot" wars erupted between either side and another ally, but never directly against one another
• however, the threat of war was always present
  • especially nuclear war
  • see
    • "arms race'"
    • MAD theory