United States History

1. United States History Chapter 26: The Road to War

2. Legacy of World War I • Officially, World War II began on September 1, 1939 • However, you can also say that the beginning of WWII dates back to November 11, 1918 • The United States, fearing another conflict, refused to join the League of Nations, isolating the nation from world affairs • Reparations were forced upon Germany, devastating the European economy • Other nations struggled to pay their debt payments • The US lowered interest rates, but did not cancel debts • Sanctions were placed on Germany, preventing development of a military • Problems in Germany led to the rise of Adolf Hitler

3. Adolf Hitler • Served in German military during WWI, surviving a gas attack • Formed National Socialist Workers’ Party (Nazi) • Imprisoned for trying to overthrow German gov’t in 1923 • Wrote autobiography, MeinKampf in prison • Book outlined his political aspirations and blamed Germany’s problems on Jews

4. Latin America • The worldwide economic depression also had a negative effect on the nations of Latin America • Dictators came to power in Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Honduras • FDR proposed the Good Neighbor Policy, promising to respect the nation’s neighbors in regards to their economy and land • The policy was tested in 1938 with Mexico • Many American oil companies drilled in Mexico • Mexico’s gov’t nationalized the oil industry • In regards to the policy, the US would respect Mexico’s decision, but at the expense of the companies • Luckily, the US and Mexico made a deal to compensate companies for lost property

5. Italy • Led by Benito Mussolini • Founded the Fascist Party in 1921 • Fascists believe in a strict military control of all aspects of society • Suppressed basic rights and invaded several areas of Africa in a quest for an Italian empire • Used an army of followers known as Blackshirts to enforce his power • Principle ally of Germany before and during World War II

6. Soviet Union • Already a Communist nation • Josef Stalin came to power in 1924 after Lenin’s death • Took away basic rights and took property under gov’t control, causing decreased production and famine • All opposition was crushed by the Red Army • Estimated 30 million Soviets killed as a result of Stalin’s policies

7. Germany • Hitler’s Nazi Party gained popularity, especially during the early days of the Depression • In 1932, the Nazis won 40% of the vote in German elections • Hitler became Chancellor, or der Fuhrer, in 1933 • Using his SS stormtroopers, or Brownshirts, Hitler suppressed all opposition • Jews and non-Nazis were denied gov’t jobs • Military services was made mandatory • Breaking the Treaty of Versailles, Hitler set out to rebuild the nation’s military • As a result, unemployment decreased and Germany’s economy improved

8. Germany • Hitler wanted to expand Germany’s Lebensraum (“living space”) • Rhineland invaded in 1936 • Austria annexed in 1938 • Sudetenland in 1938 • The problems of Germany, according to Hitler, were caused by the Jews • Passed the Nuremburg Laws in 1935, making Anti-Semitism official government policy • Stripped Jews of citizenship • Destroyed Jewish property • Kristalnacht (night of broken glass) on November 9, 1938 • Many Jews tried to escape, but had no place to go because of strict immigration laws

9. Spain • Just as in Italy and Germany, a fascist dictator came to power in Spain • A civil war broke out between fascists and loyalists • Eventually, after a 3 year war, in 1936, General Francisco Franco came to power with the help of German and Italian military aid • The Soviets supported the Loyalists • The United States did not send direct aid, fearing getting involved in another international conflict • However, 3,000 Americans did fight in the conflict with the loyalist cause • Ernest Hemingway glorified the war in his novel For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940) • Much of Europe now fell under fascist control

10. Japan • In a need and desire to rely less on foreign resources, Japan sought to expand their empire throughout Asia and the Pacific • Japan rapidly expanded their army and navy • In 1931, Japan invaded and conquered Chinese controlled Manchuria • By 1937, a full scale war between Japan and China broke out • The United States and the League of Nations condemned Japan’s actions, but were not successful in stopping them

11. Fascist Reaction • Scared of Japanese action against them, the Soviet Union mended relations with the US in 1933 • France and Great Britain also joined the United States and USSR in opposing fascist aggression • Germany, Italy and Japan signed a formal agreement of friendship • These nations are known as the Axis Powers • To avoid conflict, Britain, France, Germany and Italy met in Munich in September 1938 • A policy of appeasement was adopted • Germany gained the Sudetenland, promising not to invade other lands • The United States adopted neutrality laws • Prevented shipments of weapons • Required any goods bought from the US to be shipped by their own ships

12. Europe 1939

13. The War Begins… • Britain and France, knowing the inevitable, threatened war if Germany attacked Poland, an area Hitler expressed desire for • Asked USSR to join, but the Soviets signed a nonaggression pact with Germany • Also agreed to split Poland with Germany • September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland • USSR followed suit, also occupying Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and part of Finland • France and Britain declared war on Germany two days later • The US continued to stay neutral • However, sold weapons to warring nations if they were carried on foreign ships • Established the Lend-Lease Act with the Allies to provide military equipment

14. The War Begins… • Hitler employed a tactic called Blitzkrieg (“lightning war”) against Poland • It took less than a month to conquer Poland • His next move was to eliminate France • Moved around the Maginot Line defenses into Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway • In the process, trapped thousands of French, British, and Belgian troops at the French town of Dunkirk • Only a bold evacuation across the English Channel saved the troops from surrender or annihilation in 1940 • Germany established a puppet gov’t in Vichy, France • The French Resistance, led by Charles de Gaulle, continued to oppose the Germans for the remainder of the war • In June 1940, Italy declared war on Britain and France • Germany sent bombers over Britain, but the British were able to hold off the German Luftwaffe

15. The US’ Secret Meetings • FDR met with British PM Winston Churchill secretly in August 1941 • They discussed how the United States was practically already at war • They also drafted the Atlantic Charter • Agreed not to pursue territorial gains • Right of nations to choose their government • Disarming of aggressor nations • All nations needed to work to eliminate war and poverty • Situation became worse when Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941 • Broke the nonaggression agreement with USSR • Were knocking on Moscow’s door by Fall 1941

16. Japan and America’s Entry into World War II • Meanwhile, Japan continued to expand in Asia and the Pacific • The United States cut diplomatic ties with Japan and froze all assets • Japan and the US met several times over the summer of 1941 to reach a peace • Secretly, PM Hideki Tojo was planning an attack on the United States at Pearl Harbor • The US broke codes and knew an attack was coming, but did not know where • On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor • Over 2400 dead • Much of the Pacific fleet damaged or sunk • FDR asked for a war declaration the next day, bringing the US into World War II

17. Hideki Tojo Winston Churchill

20. Flags of World War II