World War II Part 1: Crash Course US History #35

In which John Green teaches you about World War II, a subject so big, it takes up two episodes. This week, John will teach you how the United States got into the war, and just how involved America was before Congress actually declared war. John will actually talk a little about the military tactics involved, and he'll get into some of the weaponry involved, specifically the huge amount of aerial bombing that characterized the war, and the atomic bombs that ended the war in the Pacific.

---
Learn more about WWII in these other Crash Course videos:
Crash Course World History:

Crash Course European History:

Crash Course Black American History:
---

Chapters:
Introduction: WWII 00:00
American Isolationism Pre-WWII 1:07
American Support for Allies in WWII 3:38
Pearl Harbor 5:03
WWII Fighting in the Pacific 5:43
WWII Fighting in Europe 6:35
Mystery Document 7:30
The End of WWII 8:38
Hiroshima, Nagasaki, & the Atomic Bomb 9:25
Credits 12:54

Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?

[mythics]

"The opportunity of studying history is the opportunity to experience empathy." (12:33)
This history nerd's new favorite quote.

[BARTMAN]

My Great-grandfather told me storys about the war in russia. He was serving in the winter of 1941 in a heavy MG-squad. They were a few kilometers away from moscau when the russian winter-offensive started. So the built up their MG-38 in a church tower and kept shooting for houres. The killed dozends of young russians and the man, shooting the MG, started crying and was beggin them to stop storming forward. My great-grandfather told me this story and said: "This war did not only kill humans, it killed humanity itself."

[_somerandomguyontheinternet_]

“Studying history and making genuine attempts at empathy helps us to grapple with the complexity of the world not as we wish it were but as we find it.”
This is why I love John Green.

[jacobcooley]

ah, i remember when the history channel was about history 1987-2004 R.I.P.

[DerpAndPro]

never thought i would be taught history by the dude who wrote the fault in our stars -_-

[pvktqqd]

Imagine how much time we would save if John Green was our history teacher. He teaches in 13 minutes what our teachers teaches us in like 2 weeks. 😔🤦‍♀️

[kennedypeterson]

I think its hilarious that the U.S. created The League of Nations and didn't even join lol

[goddessofpraiel]

My grandfather was a US soldier on Okinawa when the bombs were dropped. He said that he and his men were shocked and felt it was unnecessary. I never got the chance to ask him in comparison about what they felt about the bombings of Tokyo and other cities that had already happened.

[zdena]

Your message about the empathy to all people involved in conflict (and bomb dropping on Hiroshima and Nagasaki) is something that I take from this video. We have it in our every day's life - judging and forgetting what everything is included in the decision making. And eventually the easiest solution is to hate each other.

[joshhewson]

As a history student, I was prepared to be angry at how these complex ethical issues were dealt with in such a short video. I do, however, readily tip my hat off to you Mr. Green and the Crash Course team. This was brilliant. :)

[fiddlerontheroof]

5:19 Fun fact: the one member of Congress to vote against war with Japan was Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana, who said of her decision, "As a woman I can't go to war, and I refuse to send anyone else".

[Lisa-olih]

I have watched countless documentaries and read articles about WWII, but this is the first I've heard of the US firebombing Tokyo. Thanks for teaching me something new, even if it is incredibly horrifying.

[mrmybentnickelworks]

Brilliant ending monologue, John! I enjoy a "love/hate" fascination with the subject of history. Thanks to you and your team for presenting a brilliant as well as entertaining series!

[nabidhassan]

"THE OPPORTUNITY OF STUDYING HISTORY IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE EMPATHY"

[almor]

We Brits do celebrate the end of WWII and to get over your dating issue, we celebrate VE (Victory in Europe) and VJ (Victory in Japan) day respectively. Love your work BTW.

[blueberryboi]

Instead of going over notes, I watch these videos to study for midterms.

[aprillara]

Wow! The way you ended this course, John Green, was a beautiful message so eloquently stated. Thank you.

[Bubbles]

My grandpa was in WW2. Thank u for ur service....whether it was voluntary or Grandpa Jim🤗

[momi]

I am Japanese, and I grow up in Japan for a long time, but currently I am in US. I had never learned ww2 in Japan because it is too sensitive and we did not have time to finish up so it needs to rush up. I found out my great grandfather was killed by atomic bomb in Hiroshima. He needed to be in Military because he got a letter from the government to be a solider even through he was 40. That's why he was in Hiroshima. Everywhere in my grandfather's city (it's a capital of rural province) was burned by firebombing. My grandfather took care his family without his parents since 12 yrs old. I am proud of him, and I finally understand why he disagree with the idea that sending me to us. I am so glad to hear the comment about atomic bomb, it actually makes sense. By the way, in Japan, we have learned about atomic bomb and peace since we are young. I really hope that the world can stay in peaceful. no more atomic bomb.

[QUARTERMASTEREMI]

_"That was me being a warrior... I can't even make finger guns. That's how much of a not warrior I am. I'm a worrier."_