Answer 1
Answer: The ideal answer should include:
1. The amount of supplies the United States produced was a significant factor in helping the war effort.
2. The second front that the United States offered first in Africa and Italy, then in France eventually pulled German forces away from the USSR.
3. However, the USSR played the largest role in defeating Germany.
4. The U.S. forces played the most significant role in defeating Japan and greatly helped to drive Italy out of the war.
5. The United States provided significant forces, although the USSR lost the most by far.
Answer 2
A good answer will include:
1. Women greatly improved their situation as many more entered the work force. Some served in the military, but more served on the home front.
2. African Americans greatly improved their wages. Most men served in the military in segregated positions and moved toward post-war civil rights. Many men and most women in this area improved their economic position.
3. Mexican Americans worked on farms and the railroads, but had better conditions than before as the United States worked to improve positions. Some served in the military and were quite decorated.
4. Japanese Americans civilians were interned. Some served in the military; one all-Japanese American unit was the most decorated in the war.
5. Native Americans saw their situation improve and some moved off the reservation. The code-talkers in the Pacific played a vital role in making sure that the Japanese did not break the U.S. code.
Answer 3
A good answer will include:
1. Americans had very negative views of the Japanese and the Japanese had the same Americans; it was a war without mercy.
2. The Japanese caused the death of thousands in the Bataan death march.
3. The United States used firebombing regularly in the Pacific War.
4. Truman was influenced by several factors including a desire to desire to end the war quickly, with the least American casualties, and a desire to impress the USSR with the weapons at the United States' disposal.
5. Of these, the desire to end the war quickly most influenced his decision.