Comprehension Test for Lesson Plan on Mass Casualties

Lesson Plan on Mass Casualties and Making Decisions About War

Comprehension Test for Lesson Plan on Mass Casualties

1. Name the three countries most responsible for starting WWII.

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2. Circle the figure that is closest to the total number of U.S. soldiers killed in action in WWII.

10,000
50,000
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000

3. Circle the figure that is closest to the total number of U.S. soldiers who died from non-battle related causes in WWII.

10,000
50,000
75,000
100,000
200,000
300,000

4. Name the one other war in American history in which more U.S. soldiers died than in WWII.

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5. What was the approximate death toll for civilian and military, killed from combat or other causes, in World War II?

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6. Why did the U.S. rush to build an atomic bomb?

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7. What is a firestorm?

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8. What was the single most destructive air raid in history?

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9. Why is an atomic bomb called a weapon of mass destruction?

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10. Describe two strategies that the U.S. could have used to end WWII without the use of the atomic bomb.

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11. Describe two ways that the U.S. considered using the atomic bomb to help end WWII rather than by surprise attacks on Japanese cities. (Describe all four and get extra credit.)

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12. What was the Japanese reaction to the Potsdam Proclamation?

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13. Why was it important for the ruling elite in Japan to have the Emperor remain the head of the Japanese government after the war?

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14. What illegitimate political tactics did the military fanatics use to intimidate the Japanese politicians who wanted to end the war?

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15. By mid-1945 the Japanese had only two important types of military assets. What were they?

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16. What was the significance of the Okinawa campaign to the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan?

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17. Why did the U.S. want Russia to enter the war against Japan?

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18. What effect did U.S. leaders believe the atomic bombings of Japan would have on the disputes that the U.S. and Great Britain were having with Russia in Europe?

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19. What did the diehard Japanese militarists do after the Emperor and the Japanese government decided to surrender?

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20. What did the U.S. do about the war crimes charges against Emperor Hirohito and why did it take that action?

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