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CHAPTER 29 The U. S. and the World 1920-1940 1920-1940 Conference Hitler took over Gennan government Gennany invaded Czechoslovakia and Poland World War II began 1921 1933 1939 Washington Naval Gennan army entered Japan invaded Manchuria Rhineland Civil war in Spain Congress passed draft law Gennany attacked Britain 1. Relations with Other Nations Learn these important terms: In the years following World War I, most Americans did not pay much attention to what was going on in t he rest of the world. In the 1920s , many Americans were inter ested in business opportunities. Most of the money to be m a de was at home, rather than abroad. And during the Gr eat Depression of t h e 1930s, most Americans worried about keeping or getting a job. Problems of nations in Europe or Asia seemed far away indeed. When American soldier s r eturned home from the "war to end a ll wars" in 1919, they probably thought the job had been done . The world had been, in Woodrow Wilson's words, "made safe for democracy." It seems democracy is never truly safe, however. In the 1930s, Italy, Germany, and Japan became dictatorships. They built up their armies and navies and began to carve out empires. Their method was invading and taking over weaker countries. Gradually, the actions of the dictators began to threaten American inter ests. And the sympathy of Americans was drawn to countries that fought to keep their freedom . In this chapter, you will learn how the United States attempted to deal with an increasingly dangerous world. Despite efforts to keep the peace, by the end of the 1930s the world was again at war. America was about to be drawn into the fight. Washington Naval Conference Kellogg- Briand Pact Dawes Plan Young Plan Good Neighbor Policy reciprocal trade agreements Remember the main idea: The United States wanted to make agreements to help nations avoid future wars . It tried to help the nations of Europe pay their war debts. It also adopted a new "good neighbor" policy toward Latin America and prepared to give the Philippines independence. Look for answers to these questions: 1. How did the United States try to keep peace in the world? 2. How did relations between the United States and Latin American nations change in the late 1920s? 3. How did the United States help improve world trade? Since the beginning of the century, nations that wanted to be world powers had competed to build more and bigger battleships. The battleship, with its heavy armor and big guns, was the single most powerful and expensive weapon ever created. The nation with the most powerful fleet could control the seas . Chapter 29 593 Think: Henry Reuterdahl showed the United States fleet as it passed through the Straits of Magellan on February 8, 1908. Battleships like these were important at the time-important enough to merit an artist's attention. Respond : Would this same scene be appropriate in the late 192057 Explain. There seemed to be no end to this expensive arms race. After World War I, the United States, Great Britain, Japan, and six other nations met in Washington, D.C ., to reduce naval warfare. At this Washington Naval Conference in 1921, the nine nations agreed to limits on the size and number of large warships. The Washington Naval Conference was not as successful at arms control as it seemed, however. Although many people did not realize it yet, the day of the great battleship was almost over. In 1921, a test was arranged off the coast of Virginia, where a former German battleship was anchored. Airplanes flew overhead and dropped large bombs. Within half an hour, ' the battleship had been sunle The airplane and the submarine, not the battleship, would be the most important naval weapons in a future war. But 594 UNIT 9 the Washington Naval Conference did not regulate airplanes or submarines. Nor were the nations able to agree on a way to reduce their armies. Meanwhile, more powerful guns and tanks were being developed all the time . When it became clear that arms control" did not work, the United States tried to prevent another war. It worked for an international agreement. In 1928, the American secretary of state, Frank Kellogg (KELL-aug). and the French leader Aristide Briand (bree-AHN) invited other nations to sign an agreement called the Kellogg-Briand Pact. Sixty other nations signed the agreement, promising to settle all their · problems peacefully. But such agz:eements were only as good as the intentions of the leaders invol;ved. There was no way to stop a nation from breaking the agreement . War Debts Cause Problems During World War I, the United States had loaned almost $10 billion to its allies, particularly Britain and France. The countries had used most of this money to buy weapons and supplies in the United States. Because they had used the money for the allied war effort, they did not feel they should have to pay it back. The United States did not agree . However, the American government agreed to cut the interest on the loans and allow more time for payment. These compromises did not solve the problem, however. In order to pay their war debts, the Europeans had to be able to sell their products in the United States. During the 1920s, however, the United States kept raising the tariff to protect its businesses. High tariffs made foreign goods more expensive in the United States. This meant it was hard for the Europeans to sell their goods in the American market. Germany, in turn, owed payments, or reparations, to the European nations it had fought. Under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany owed large amounts of money for the damage that its armies had Think: After World War I. living conditions in Gennany were harsh . Prices kept going up. and jobs w ere hard to find. Respond: What reaction might the Gennans have had to these conditions? done. The European allies wanted to use this money to pay their debts to the United States. However, Germany suffered from hard times in the early 1920s and was not able to pay reparations . The United States tried to help the European nations pay their war debts by helping Germany pay its debts to them. It developed two plans to help Germany pay its reparations. Under the Dawes Plan of 1924, the United States agreed to loan money to Germany. It also adjusted the reparations payments to make them easier for Germany. Later, the Young Plan reduced the payments further. These plans made it possible for Germany to pay its reparations and for the European nations to pay their war debts during the 1920s. During the 1930s, however, the depression struck Europe as well as the United States. Debt payments stopped. Think: Before World War I. one German mark would have bought a loaf of bread. After the war, it took thousands of marks to buy bread . Respond: What caused the mark to lose its value? Think: After lending money to Nicaragua in 1911. American banks were given financial control of the country. American marines set up camps in Nicaragua to put down anti-American forces. Respond: How did the people of Nicaragua feel about the Americans' presence? Better Relations with Some Countries In the e arly 1900s, the United States had not had good relations with Latin American countries . Under President Wilson, the United States had tried to overthrow the Mexican dictator Victoriano Hue rta (WER-tah) . The Americans succeeded only in angering Mexicans on both sides of their civil war. And during the 1920s, United States Marines were sent at various times to Nicaragua, Honduras, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic to prote ct American interests. Most Latin Americans resented such interference in their national affairs. In the late 1920s, American policy toward Latin America began to change, however. In 1925, the Mexican government said that American oil companies could no longer own land in Mexico, but would have to rent it. Four large oil companies asked the United States government to send troops to protect their rights. The Senate, however, passed a resolution demanding a peaceful settlement of the problem. President Coolidge supported this peaceful approach. And in 596 UNIT 9 1930, under President Hoover, the United StatE!s agreed to stop sending troops into the Latin American countries. When President Roosevelt took office, he promised that the United States would be a "good neighbor" to Latin American nations. It would work with them to settle problems peacefully and would respect their rights. Although problems remained, this Good Neighbor Policy was very popular with Latin Americans. The United States also faced demands from people living in American territories . The people of the Philippines, for example, demanded complete independence from the United States. While not granting immediate independence, the United States did agree to make the Philippines independent in 1946. However, a demand by the people of Puerto Rico for more self-government was refused. Relations with the Soviet Union In February 1917, a revolution broke out in Russia. Russia was taken over by Communists, and it became known as the Soviet Union . During the 1920s, the United States refused to deal with the m.LS FOCUS: In 1925, the United States' relations with Mexico were strained. The Mexican government told American oil companies that they would have to rent land in Mexico that they had formerly owned. When this happened, many Americans probably took a closer look at their nearest southern neighbor. To find out about Mexico, they may have used an atlas, which is a book of maps. Today's atlases offer other information besides maps. You could consult an atlas to find out a country's population, size, language, and other facts. Here is an atlas article about Mexico. MEXICO AREA: 76 1,601 sq. mi . POPULATION: 59,ZOO ,OOO. LANGUAGE: Spanish . Many Indian dialects also spoken. RELIGION: Predomimmtly Ro man Catholic. ECONOMY: Grows 50% of world's sisal. Crops of colton , colfee, beans. corn, rice , sugar, and wheat also important. Livestock. Rich in natural resources, including silver, coal , Answer the following questions by referring to the atlas article. D What is the main language of Mexico? iii What crops are grown in Mexico? What else, besides agriculture, does Mexico's economy rely on? II What is the main port city of Mexico? D What parts of Mexico are warmest? III What is the population of Mexico's capital? mWhat religion do most Mexicans follow? lEi Do you have to write to Mexico to find out more information? Use an atlas to answer the following questions about America's other neighbor, Canada. (Your school or public library will have an atlas.) D What is the population of Canada? iii What is the climate of Canada like? 1m What languages are spoken in Canada? petroleum, sulli'r, COpper. lead, and iron . Tourism important. MAJOR CITIES: Mexico City (pop. 7,768,(33), capital; Veracruz, port ; Monterrey, heavy industry. CLIMATE: Tropical along coasts m How many square miles does Canada cover? and in south; temperate in cen tral plateau. lEI FOR INFORMATION: Mexican Govt. Tourist Bureau, 630 Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10020. What is the capital of Canada? What is its popUlation? III Name three other major Canadian cities. Chapter 29 597 Soviet Union . Many Americans hoped the Communists would eventually fall from power. By the 1930s, how ever, it was becoming clear that th e Soviet Union was t h ere to stay. In 1933, th e United States agreed to recognize, or have dip lomatic relations w ith, the Soviet Union. This agreement w as n ot as frie ndly as t h e United Stat es ha d hop ed . The Soviet Union refu sed to p ay the m oney th at th e forme r Russian gove rnment ow e d to t h e United States. N so, trade between t he United States and the Soviet Union did not increase very much. World Trade Begins To Improve The United States p assed a very high tariff in 1930. This tariff proved to be damaging to trade. In the early 1930s, the United States tried t o increase its trade with other nation s. The American government agreed to low er t he tariff on goods from nations that would lower their tariffs on American goods . These reciprocal trade agreements improve d t ra de among th e United States, Great Britain , Canada, and many other n ations . In general. American foreign policy during the 1920s and 1930s was most successful in dealing 'Yith Latin America and w ith world trade issues. Neither the United States nor other nations were very successful in reducing t h e chances of war, however. 2. Moving Toward World War II Learn these important terms: dictatorship Nazi Rhineland Axis Powers isolation movement Neutrality Act of 1935 Abraham Lincoln Brigade Remember the main idea: Japan, Italy, and Germany became dictatorships in the 1930s. They began to attack weaker nations . Nthough Americans were reluctant to get involved in these conflicts, the United States began to take steps to help defend freedom in Europe and Asia. Look for answers to these questions: 1 . What countries were invaded by countries ruled by dictators? 2 . Was the League of Nations able to stop the invasions? 3 . What did most Americans think the United States should do about European conflicts? Section Review 1. How successful were efforts to control the arms race? 2. Why did European nations have trouble paying their war debts? 3. How did the United States change the way it dealt with Latin American countries? 598 UNIT 9 In the 1930s, Jap an , Italy, and Germany became dictatorships: A dictatorship is a n ation in which all pow er is in t h e hands of one person or a small group of people. The dictators lived for the sake of pow er. They soon t urned their natio'n s into military machines bent on extending their power to the nations around them. JAPANESE INVASION OF MANCHURIA, 1931 ~In KAmUIO PACIFIC OCEAN Japan Attacks China In the 1930s, the government of Japan fell under the control of a small group of military men. These leadE!rs decided to conquer China in order to gain raw materials needed by Japanese industry. They hoped eventually to set up a great Japanese empire in Asia and the Pacific. In 1931, the Japanese army attacked and took over Manchuria (man-CHOORee-uh) in the northeastern part of China. China asked the League of Nations for help against Japan. But the League only warned Japan that it must get out of China. The Japanese ignored this warning and soon quit the League of Nations. By 1938, Japan had taken control of a vast portion of eastern China. Italy Attacks Ethiopia During the 1920s, Benito Mussolini (bun-NEET-oh MOO-soh-LEE-nee) became the dictator of Italy. In 1935, Mussolini attacked Ethiopia, an ancient nation in northern Africa. The people of Ethiopia fought bravely against the Italian armies, but they lacked modern military weapons. By 1936, Ethiopia was conquered . Haile Selassie (HY-Iee suh-LASS-eel. the emperor of Ethiopia, asked the League of Nations for help against Italy. The League ordered its n:tembers to stop selling war supplies to Italy, but this action was not very effective. Oil , the only thing Italy really needed to carry on the war, was not included. Think:: In 1935, Italian troops attacked Ethiopia . Italian officers were photographed entering Aduwa. Respond : What did Mussolini hope to gain by conquering the Ethiopians? Think: During the 1930s. Japan seized various parts of China . Many of the Chinese people were forced to do labor. Respond: What did the Japanese hope to gain by conquering China? Chapter 29 599 Think: Paul Goebbels worked to persuade German citizens to support the Nazis. He is shown here passing out Christmas presents to the poor. Nazis promised jobs and glory for Germans and their country. Nazi propaganda did not always tell the truth. Respond : Why did many German people choose to support the Nazis? Hitler Becomes Dictator of Germany The most serious threat to peace developed in Germany. Many Germans felt that they had been unjustly treated by the Allied nations follOwing World War I. In the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was stripped of part of its territory. Its army was reduced to 100,000 men. Germany also had to pay huge amounts of money in reparations. When the Armistice was signed at the end of World War 1, Allied military leader Marshall Foch warned, "This is not peace. It is an armistice for twenty years." But Britain and France did not seem to be concerned that their defeated enemy could rise again . In the early 1920s, and agam in the early 1930s, severe economic hardships struck Germany. The Germans grew des600 UNIT 9 perate and angry. The democratic government that was elected in Germany in the early 1920s was weak. It could not govern effectively. Communists and other parties sent followers into the streets to fight one another. One of the parties that battled for power was taken over by Adolf Hitler (AYdawlf'I-UT-lur). His party was the National Socialist, or Nazi party. Hitler effectively played upon the frustrations of the Germall people. He told Germans that they were the "master race" and would eventually take over the world. He blamed the Jews for Germany's troubles and encouraged people to hate and persecute, or treat badly, the Jews. By 1933, Hitler became powerful enough to become the dictator of Germany. Think: A gifted speaker, Hitler found it easy to convince people, especially the young, to follow him. In his book Mew Kampf, Hitler told of his plans for Germany to conquer Europe . It seemed as if most European leaders weren't paying attention. Respond: Why did so many world leaders ignore the warnings of Hitler's war plans? Once he took power, Hitler began to rebuild Germany's army and navy. Secretly, he also built a powerful air force. Although these actions violated the Treaty of Versailles, France and Britain did nothing to stop Hitler. French leadership was weak, and France relied on its wall of fortifications along the German border. Many British leaders thought they could stay out of European problems. In 1936, Hitler sent his army into the Rhineland, the territory along the Rhine River in western Germany. Although this was another treaty violation, and France and Britain still had much more powerful armies than Germany, they again did nothing to stop him. Hitler then signed an agreement with Mussolini. They called themselves the Axis Powers, saying that power in Europe would soon revolve around an axis, or line between Berlin and Rome. Most Americans Favor Isolation While many Americans were uneasy about the actions of the new dictatorships, they did not want America to become involved. They were unhappy that American sacrifices during World War I had not led to a peaceful and free world. And they were suspicious about calls for war. Between 1934 and 1936, hearings held by Senator Gerald P. Nye of North Dakota seemed to suggest that the war had bee n started by bankers or weapons makers seeking profits.. Seventy-one percent of the people interviewed in a 1937 Gallup poll said they thought it had Chapter 29 601 'M NO WAR• Think: Most people wanted to believe that World War I was the war to end aU wars. So when it looked as if the world was heading for another major war. many people were against it. The United States chose to isolate itself; European countries did not have that choice. Respond: Do you think the Americans were right? Explain . been a mistake for the United States to enter World War 1. Most of these Americans wanted the United States to isolate itself from the world. This isolation movement had considerable political power in America during the 1930s. In 1937, another Neutrality Act was passed. This law allowed nations at war to buy nonmilitary goods if they carried them away in their own ships. This helped trade, but it also meant that a nation with many ships , like Japan, would be helped more than one like China, which was poor and had few ships. Neutrality Laws Are Passed Responding to the isolationists, Congress passed the Neutrality Act of 1935. This law said that American factories could not sell weapons to any nation at war. American ships were not allowed to carry weapons to any nation at war. And American citizens were forbidden to travel on ships belonging to a nation at war. It was hoped that these laws would prevent incidents like the sinking of the Lusitania that had led the United States toward World War 1. 602 UNIT 9 Some Americans Fight the Dictators Although Americans who favored isolation were in the majority, some Americans wanted to do something about the threat of Hitler and Mussolini. In 1936, a civil war broke out in Spain. Spain was ruled by a king, but he was not a dictator. A general, Francisco Franco, wanted to take over the government and become dictator. Hitler and Mussolini supported Franco in his actions. The Soviet Union HISTORY MAKERS - - - Albert Einstein- -One of the Wor ld's Great est Thinkers ( "," , ,;.. J R'::' , "Honestl y," com, plained the teacher, \ "it's clear the boy's a very slow thinker, I I, i: don't know why his parents sent him to school! He can't answer most questions without taking a long time to think, It must be quite difficult for I him. His parents might as well face it-Albert Einstein will never amount to much!" The teacher was wrong, Albert Einstein became a brilliant scientist, one of the greatest the world has ever known, He won the Nobel Prize for his research in physics , Einstein seemed slow in school because he would not answer a question until he had worked out the answer, He took his time, thinking through each question carefully, Albert Einstein was born in Germany. He spent time in Switzerland, going to school, working, and teaching, Then he returned to Germany to teach and do research, When Hitler and the Nazi party gained power, Einstein decided to leave Germany. Hitler' s anti-Jewish attitudes and his use of violence against Jews made Germany a dangerous place for Einstein and other "I'' ' D Jews . In 1933, Einstein came to the United 4' " . J States to teach . In 1934, the Nazi govern. ' I ment took away his German citizenship. Germany's loss was the United States' gain. Einstein's scientific genius and his personal inIIuence helped the United States and its allies win World War II. In 1939 Einstein wrote to President Roosevelt, warning him th at German scientists were working on a new and powerful bomb , He urged researching and developing weapons using atomic power to end World War II. Einstein's Theory of Relativity helped scientists in the United States learn how to split the atom and ultimately develop the atomic bomb. Albert Einstein'S scientific theories changed the ways scientists think. His theories helped begin the Atomic Age, But Einstein was deeply concerned about the effect of nuclear weapons on world peace and human survival. He opposed the arms race and the development of more powerful nuclear weapons . " You cannot simultaneously prevent an d prepare for war," Einstein believed , " J , -= ' Chapter 29 603 J ~ I 3. The Beginning of World War IT Learn these important terms: Sudetenland appeasement racism draft law blitzkrieg Lend-Lease Act Remember the main idea: Think: Americans in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade fought against Franco in Spain. Respond: Why did these Americans choose to fight when their government did not? supported the Spanish government, or loyalists, against Franco's rebels. While the United States government remained neutral, a group of American volunteers calling themselves the Abraham Lincoln Brigade went to Spain to fight on the loyalist side. The Spanish civil war showed a shift in military tactics, or ways of fighting. Many Spanish cities were savagely bombed from the air, showing the power of the airplane. Supported by massive aid from Germany and Italy, Franco won. Section Review 1. What kinds of actions were taken by the dictators who took power in the 1930s? What kinds of things did they do? 2. How did Germany increase its power after Hitler took over? How did Britain and France respond? 3. How did the neutrality acts passed by Congress try to keep America out of future wars? 604 UNIT 9 Hitler continued to take over territory. Germany invaded Poland, and World War II began. By June of 1941 , Hitler ruled nearly all of western Europe. Look for answers to these questions: 1. What countries did Germany invade and conquer? 2. What happened when Hitler attacked Great Britain? 3. How did the United States prepare for war? Encouraged by the lack of opposition to his actions, Hitler started to build a German empire. In March 1938, he annexed, or joined, Austria to Germany. Next, in September 1938, he turned his attention to Czechoslovakia (CHEK-ohsloh-VAK-ya). Hitler demanded that Germany receive the Sudetenland (sooDAYT -un-land), a rich industrial part of Czechoslovakia where many Germans lived. Czechoslovakia wanted to fight to protect its territory. It could not resist Hitler effectively without help from Britain and France, however. These countries had promised to defend Czechoslovakia. Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, and French Premier Daladier (dah-lah-dee-AY) met with Hitler in Munich. Hitler promised them that if he were given the Sudetenland, he would not demand any more territory . The British and French leaders were anxious to avoid war. They adopted a certain policy called appeasement. They gave in to demands in exchange for peace. This meant they gave Hitler what he wanted. Returning from the meeting, Chamberlain told the British people that he had gained "peace in our time." Unfortunately, he could not have been more wrong. Think: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain told Hitler that England did not want war. Respond Why was this an open invitation for Hitler to carry out his plans? The United States Begins To Respond Many Americans began to be alarmed at what was happening in Europe and Asia . Americans doubted that Hitler was going to be satisfied with what he had gained so far. Pictures of fanatic crowds and columns of Nazi soldiers became a common part of the weekly newsreels shown in movie theaters. Especially alarming was the Nazis' racism, or the false belief that one race, or group of people, is better than all others. Jews, the " inferior race," were harassed, beaten, and driven from their homes and businesses. Worse was to come. When another poll was taken in February 1938, the majority of Americans now thought that the United States should help defend France and Britain if they were attacked. Most Americans still vyanted to keep out of the fighting, but they were willing to give "all aid short of actual war." President Roosevelt believed in giving such support. But America was not prepared even to defend itself. In the early 1930s, the United States had a very small army for a country its size. Roosevelt asked Congress for money to build up America's military forces, including the navy and air force. World War II Begins Ignoring the promises he made at Munich, Hitler continued to gobble up territory. In March of 1939, he took over the rest of Czechoslovakia. In August of 1939, Hitler signed a treaty with Joseph Stalin, the Soviet dictator. They agreed not to fight each other and secretly agreed to divide Poland between them. Now free of the danger of attack from the east, Hitler was ready to take over Poland. On September 1, 1939, German Chapter 29 605 dive bombers screamed out of the sky and smashed Polish military bases. Fast-moving tanks led columns of German troops across tbe Polish border. Hitler Attacks France In April 1940. Germany attacked Denmark and Norway. The British and French sent forces to try to defend Norway. but they were unsuccessful. In May 1940. German panzer (tank) divisions smashed into the Netherlands. Belgium. and Luxembourg. Soon they had moved deep into France. Although France had a strong army. the French were not able to react quickly enough to the German blitzkrieg (BLITS-kreeg). or "lightning war." The British sent an army to help. but they were soon pushed back to the town of Dunkirk on the English Channel. There. brave sailors and fishermen used a vast fleet of ships and tiny boats to rescue about 340.000 British and French troops and bring them back to Britain. The United States Aids Great Britain Think: Britain and France told Germany to withdraw from Poland or they would declare war. When Hitler refused. war was declared. Respond : Why was EW'Ope unprepared for war? Great Britain and France finally realed that they had to fight . On September 3. 1939. Britain and France declared war against Germany. and World War II began. It was too late to help Poland. which surrendered within a few weeks. The American government now had to face the possibility that the United States would be attacked or forced to enter the war eventually. In 1940. Congress passed the first peacetime draft law in history. This law required all men between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-five to serve in the army. The draft would provide a pool of trained men to meet wartime needs . 606 UNIT 9 By the end of June 1940. Germany had conquered all of western Europe except Britain. Americans realized that if Britain fell. the routes across the Atlantic. and eventually the United States itself. would be in danger. More American assistance to the British seemed essential. In 1939. Roosevelt had gotten Congress to change the Neutrality Act so that countries could buy weapons if they paid cash for them and took them away in their own ships. This plan was designed to help Great Britain. which had many ships. In addition. in 1940. Roosevelt arranged a deal in which fifty American warships were traded to Britain in exchange for leases on British naval bases. The British needed these ships to fight the German submarines. In August 1940. Hitler began to prepare to invade Britain. First. though. the Germans had to destroy the British air force and navy. Waves of German bombers attacked coastal ports. airfields. and finally London itself. Americans heard ~ .... Think: When France fell, the British sent a thousand boats to Dunkirk to bring the French and British soldiers to safety in England. The Withdrawal from Dunkirk, June 1940 shows a part of the historic rescue. Respond: Why had France fallen so quickJy? American Edward R. MWTOW (1908-1965) began his dramatic radio broadcasts during the Battle of Britain with the words "This .. . is London." Chapter 29 607 AXIS AGGRESSION BEFORE WORLD WAR II This map will add to your knowledge of the events that led to World War II. You already know from your text about Germany's invasion of Austria, Czechoslovakia, and the Rhineland. From this map and its inset, you will learn about Italy' s invasions. These were by the dictator Benito Mussolini. Like other European nations, nations in Africa . These were Libya , Eritrea , and Italian Nearby Ethiopia was an old independent African kingdom . In 8 show Mussolini invaded Ethiopia. The Ethiopians' primitive weapons were no match for Italy's tanks and planes. Look at the map and its inset. 1 . To launch the invasion, the Italian forces had to sail over what bodies of water? On which body of water is Eritrea? 2 . Mussolini had hopes of sharing in Hitler's conquests in Europe . He supported the Fascist forces in the Spanish Civil War. He also moved his troops toward the Austrian border. He gave Hitler little help, however. What European country did Mussolini invade? When? Was a navy needed? Was he successful? From what you know of him and of Albania's position on the map, what was his purpose? Use your text to answer this question. 3 . Explain the two arrows indicating invasions of Poland. .. .............. SOVIIT UNION ATLANTIC OCEAN -. o BLACK SEA .- SPAIN TURKBY MEDITERRANEAN SEA Axis Powen. 193 7 AxJa Controlled len1tory, s.pt. t, 1939 LIBYA EGYPT radio broadcaster Edward R. Murrow's reports from London, complete with the sound of air raid sirens and bombs. The bravery of the British people and the words of Winston Churchill, the new British Prime Minister, appealed to Americans. The British air force, though outnumbered by the Germans, fought off the attacks . Hitler decided that it would be too costly to invade Britain. Think.: The Illingworth cartoon "The Way of the Stork" shows American aid in the form of the Lend-Lease Act of 1941. Respond: What types of aid does the cartoon show? Think: For nearly a year, German planes bombed London and other English cities nightly. Coventry Cathedral was one of many churches hit. Respond: How did the British respond? Britain faced great hardships, however. By 1941, the British had run out of money to pay for American war supplies. Congress passed the Lend-Lease Act. This law allowed the United States to lend, rather than sell, war supplies to Britain, and later, to other countries fighting against Germany. By the end of 1941, the United States was all but in the war. The American navy had begun to protect merchant ships delivering supplies to Britain, and American destroyers and German submarines began to shoot at each other. In twenty years, American attitudes had gone from isolation to neutrality to active involvement in the defense of allies. Efforts to guarantee peace had failed, and the United States had to respond to the challenge. It now seemed only a matter of time before America would enter World War II. Section Review 1. When and how did World War II begin? 2. How did the United States increase its strength and prepare for possible war? 3. How did the United States help Great Britain? Chapter 29 609 Chapter CHAPTER SUMMARY During the 1920s and most of the 1930s, most Americans did not pay much attention to what was going on in Europe and Asia. American foreign policy dealt mostly with Latin America and the improvement of world trade. However, American leaders did join with other world leaders in trying to find a way to prevent future wars. Attempts to reduce the size of armies were unsuccessful. And although peace treaties were signed, there was no way to enforce them. In the 1930s, Japan, Italy, and Germany became dictatorships. Japan began to take over parts of China. Italy tried to create an empire in Africa. Hitler took over the German government and then began to take over the countries near Germany. European leaders did not try to stop Hitler. Instead, they tried to appease him. Many Americans wanted the United States to follow a policy of isolation, or separate itself from these conflicts. Congress passed neutrality laws that tried to prevent incidents that could lead the United States into war. By the end of the 1930s, however, Europe was again at war. President Roosevelt and Congress began strengthening the American military forces and helping Britain directly. Obviously, there was no way America could avoid becoming more deeply involved. 610 UNIT 9 Key Words Write a sentence to explain the meaning of each of these terms. reciprocal trade agreements Good Neighbor Policy Axis Powers Neutrality Act of 1935 Sudetenland Lend-Lease Act Major Events Choose the answer that best completes the statement. l. In 1921, the United States and other major nations limited a) the size of their armies . b) the number of warships . c) the development of airplanes. 2. When Hitler entered the Rhineland, Britain and France a) did little to stop him. b) stopped trade with Germany. c) declared war against Germany . 3. During the 1930s, most Americans a) supported Hitler and Mussolini. b) wanted to avoid war. c) wanted the United States to oppose the dictators. 4. World War II began when a) the German army marched into the Rhineland. b) the Japanese invaded China. c) Germany invaded Poland. 5. By the end of 1940, the Germans had conquered a) most of western Europe . b) Great Britain. c) the Soviet Union . • R e VIe w Important Facts Skill Review Answer each question with at least one complete sentence. Study this map, then answer the following questions. 1. Why were efforts to control arms mostly unsuccessful? 1 . When and why did Germany invade Poland? 2. Why did Britain and France have trouble paying their war debts to the United States? How did the United States try to help? 2 . When and why did the Soviet Union invade Poland? 3. How did the way the United States dealt with Latin America change in the late 1920s? 3 . Why didn't Germany and the Soviet Union go to war ove r • Poland? 4 . How did the United States deal with the Philippines and Puerto Rico? 5 . Was the League of Nations successful in protecting weak nations from attack? Why , or why not? 6. Why did Japan attack China? 7 . How did Hitler gain the support of the German people? 8 . What were the goals of the isolation movement? 9. What policy did the British and French use at Munich? Did it work? Invasions of Poland, 1939 Critical Thinking 10. How did the United States begin to prepare for war? Write a paragraph to answer each question. 11. How did Roosevelt help Britain after France was conque red by Germany? 1. Do you think World War II would have started if Germany had been treated differently after World War I? Why , or why not? 12 . What happened when Hitler got ready to invade Britain? 13 . As 1941 drew toward an end , how close was the United States to war? 2. How did American attitudes toward involvement in World War II change between 1937 and 1941? Why do you think they changed? Chapter 29 611