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1939-1945. World War II. Causes of World War II. Political instability and economic devastation in Europe resulting from World War I. 4 CAUSES : Worldwide depression High war debt owed by Germany. 3. High inflation . 4. Massive unemployment.
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1939-1945 World War II
Causes of World War II • Political instability and economic devastation • in Europe resulting from World War I
4 CAUSES : • Worldwide depression • High war debt owed by Germany
3. High inflation. • 4. Massive unemployment -German money became worthless. Children played with stacks of money while housewives burned it for fuel.
To help you remember the • 4 CAUSES That Led to WWII : • War • Has • Hurt Millions
Rise of Fascism: • Fascism is political philosophy in which totalpower is given to a dictator and individual freedoms are denied and nationalismand, often, racism are emphasized.
Fascist dictators included: • Adolf Hitler (Germany) • Benito Mussolini (Italy) • Hideki Tojo (Japan) • These dictators led the countries that became known as the Axis Powers. Tojo Hitler Mussolini
The Allies • Democratic Nations: The United States (at end of 1941, • Great Britain, Canada, Francewere known as the Allies. • The Soviet Union joined the Alliesafter being • invaded by Germany in June 1941. • Allied Leaders Included: • Franklin D. Roosevelt later Harry S. Truman (US) • Winston Churchill (Great Britain) • Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union)
Start of WW II • Germany invaded Poland, setting off war in Europe. • Great Britain and France then declared war on Germany. • The Soviet Union also invaded Poland & the Baltic nations.
Gradual change in American Policy… from neutrality to Direct Involvement: • At first, the United States was neutral and isolationists.
Isolationism Philosophy • was Due To: • Great Depression (problems in our own country). • Legacy of World War I (we became involved in a European war once before).
Change to Economic Involvement: • Economic Aid to Allies. • Great Britain needed help from the U.S. What is this cartoonist saying the U.S. trade policy with England will lead to?
Destroyers for Bases (1940) • The U.S. gave Britain war supplies & old naval warships in return for military bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean. • Lend - Lease (1941) • The U. S. gave Britain war supplies and old naval warships in return for military bases in Bermuda and the Caribbean.
United States Direct Involvement: • Rising tension developed between the U.S. & • Japan because of Japanese aggressionin East Asia. The “Rape of Nanking”
Analyzing Political Cartoons: 1. Discuss with your partner: What do see? 2. What is the cartoonist trying to say about the U.S.’s ability to “stay neutral” during WWII by halting trade with countries like Japan?
Although the U.S. tried to remain an “Isolationist” nation during the beginning of WWII, did our country truly remain neutral?
On December 7, 1941Japan attacked the U.S. at Pearl Harbor without warning. • “A date which will live in infamy.” ~ F.D.R.
War is Declared • The United States declared war on Japan. • Germany declared war on the United States.