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Essential Question

Essential Question. What were the causes of WWII?. The Causes of World War II. Italy. Benito Mussolini founded Italy’s Fascist Party Took power in 1922 as Il Duce. Joseph Stalin. Took control after Lenin died Murdered 8 to 10 million peasants who did not support Communist policies.

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Essential Question

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  1. Essential Question • What were the causes of WWII?

  2. The Causes of World War II

  3. Italy • Benito Mussolini founded Italy’s Fascist Party • Took power in 1922 as Il Duce

  4. Joseph Stalin • Took control after Lenin died • Murdered 8 to 10 million peasants who did not support Communist policies

  5. Germany • Angry with the loss of World War I and the Versailles Treaty • Country in political and economic chaos

  6. Adolf Hitler • Wrote Mein Kampf while in prison

  7. Hitler’s Ideas • Germans belonged to the master race of Aryans • Germans needed more living space (land) • Slavic peoples were inferior and should be enslaved by the Germans • Jewish people were responsible for the world’s problems

  8. Hitler as Leader • Reichstag voted to give Hitler powers of a dictator • Took the title of Fuhrer or Leader

  9. Japan • Difficult economic times • Military took control of the government • Invaded Manchuria (northern China) for its resources

  10. World War II Begins

  11. Rising German Strength • Rebuilt army, navy, air force • Took military positions in the Rhineland (former demilitarized zone)

  12. Response of Europe • Gave in to Hitler’s demands in order to keep peace • Hoped to avoid another war

  13. The Austrian Anschluss • March 1938 – Hitler sent troops into Austria • Announced the unification (anschluss) of Germany and Austria

  14. Czechoslovakia • Germany claimed the Sudetenland (part of Czechoslovakia that had a large German-speaking population) • Czechs resisted

  15. Munich Conference • Representatives of Britain, France, Italy, and Germany met to decide Czechoslovakia’s fate • Sept. 29, 1938

  16. Munich Conference • Britain and France agreed to Hitler’s demands • Policy of appeasement = giving concessions in exchange for peace

  17. Czechoslovakia • March 1939 • Germany sent troops into Czechoslovakia and broke up the country

  18. Danzig, Poland • Oct. 1938 – Hitler demanded the return of the city of Danzig (part of Poland) to Germany • Important Baltic Sea port

  19. Response of Europe • Realized appeasement had failed • If Poland went to war to defend its territory, Britain and France would come to its aid

  20. Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact • August 23, 1939 • Treaty between Germany and the USSR • Secret deal to divide Poland between the two

  21. Beginning of World War II • Sept. 1, 1939 • Germany invaded Poland from the west • Soon after, the USSR invaded Poland from the east

  22. Beginning of World War II • Sept. 3, 1939 • France and Britain declared war on Germany

  23. U.S. Response • Population supported isolationism = belief that the U.S. should avoid international commitments that could drag them into war

  24. Neutrality Act of 1935 • Made it illegal for Americans to sell arms to any country at war

  25. America First Committee • Group of Americans who opposed any intervention or aid for the Allies • Isolationist

  26. Roosevelt’s Perspective • Favored internationalism = trade between nations creates prosperity and helps to prevent war

  27. Election of 1940 • Roosevelt ran for a third term (first president to do so) • Voters preferred staying with FDR in time of war

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