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WWII

Explore the factors that led to the outbreak of World War II, including failed peace agreements, the rise of authoritarian leaders, economic disparities, and American isolationism. Learn about key events such as the invasion of Czechoslovakia, the fall of France, and the escalating tensions between Japan and the United States.

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WWII

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  1. WWII

  2. Build Up to the War • Peace agreement of 1920s failed • Harding’s Washington Conference of 1921 – no way to enforce them • League of Nations was too weak to stop any aggressions • “Yankee Imperialism” had tied European markets to America • Depression was much worse in Europe than America • Bitterness over WWI and Treaty of Versailles led animosity • Authoritarian leaders emerged with expansion as a solution to European problems • Hitler = Germanic Regions Mussolini = N. Africa Japan = Manchuria

  3. Fascism - strong leader seizes control of a nation with intensely nationalistic message at the expense of minority groups. • The Weimar Republic lost its grip on Germany • replaced by National Socialist Party (Nazi) under Adolph Hitler. • pride in national identity • anti-Semitism • expansion - reclaim German territories. • Mussolini’s Fascist Party emerged in 1920s - militaristic by the 30s • attacked media and education • control information and install imperial agenda

  4. Japan and Manchuria • Turmoil in Asia - result of competition between China, Japan, and Russia • Chiang Kai-shek – Nationalist leader of China • Stalin – Communist leader of Soviet Union • Hirohito – Emperor of Japan (Extreme Bushido culture) • Chinese/Japanese dispute for control of Manchurian Plains • Brutal Japanese invasion of China in 1931 (Rape of Nanking) • Hoover refused to cooperate with League of Nations and place sanctions on Japan – weak U.S. response encouraged Japan.

  5. American Isolationism • Many Americans wished to avoid war. • disillusioned with the League of Nations • felt U.S. involvement in WWI was influenced by big businesses to make money. • Already spending money on New Deal programs • FDR favored U.S. involvement by late 1930s • Lost support from his New Deal coalition • War with the Supreme Court was unpopular

  6. Neutrality Acts of 1935,1936,1937Cash and Carry • Designed to avoid the same scenarios that drew America into WWI • Sinking of the Lusitania and Sussex • Cash and Carry Policy: U.S. would only sell non- military items to European countries • pay up front with cash • Carry their own goods across the ocean • Lend Lease Policy: FDR later convinced Congress to alter the policy after the fall of France

  7. Europe Moves Toward War • 1935: Italy invaded Ethiopia – left League of Nations after they protested • Mussolini and Hitler create the Axis Powers • 1936: Flangists seized control of Spain under Francisco Franco • Fascist group supported by Mussolini and Hitler • U.S., Great Britain, and France remained neutral • Hitler Invaded the Rhineland (controlled by France), then Austria • Goad was to re-unify Germany

  8. 1938 Munich Conferences(Appeasement) • Leaders of Germany, France, and England • Agreed to allow Hitler to take the Sudetenland • German speaking part of Czechoslovakia • Relax measures of Treaty of Versailles • In return – Hitler would stop aggressions • March 1939 – Hitler violated the pact, took all of Czechoslovakia • Threatened to take Poland next • Poland = last straw for France and England

  9. War Begins • September 1939 – Hitler staged incident along Polish border • Hitler and Stalin sign non- aggression pact • Stalin did not trust western nations • Russia took advantage of European chaos and invaded Baltic nations • Eventually claimed all of Finland • Americans outraged, but did little – a few economic sanctions

  10. Fall of France • Spring 1940: Germans invade Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, then France • June 22, 1940 – France falls to Germany • British barely escape beaches at Dunkirk • Without U.S. help Britain would have fallen next • Isolationists agree to change Cash and Carry policy • Build up British navy with old American ships • 1940: FDR wins unprecedented Third Term – gets more bold

  11. War Becomes Global • Fall 1941 – Hitler violated pact with Stalin, invaded Russia • Needed oil in Ukraine – mistake to invade Russia in winter… • U.S. extended Lend-Lease Policy to Soviets • German U-boats targeted American ships • Russian war with Germany = opportunity for Japan throughout Asia • Tripartite Pact – agreement between Japan and Axis Powers

  12. U.S. Isolationists • Avoided war at all cost throughout 1930s – too focused on Depression • Example: Japanese sank American ship Panay in China • isolationists believed it was an accident. • By 1939 – New Deal was failing, Europe was in danger • FDR looking to get more involved • 1940: FDR cut Japan off after they invaded Vietnam • Summer 1941: FDRs total embargo on Japan – cut off all steel and oil • November 1941: negotiations with Japan totally broke off

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