Download Causes of World War II - MrGleasonSocialStudies

World War II
Outcome: Causes of World War II
Causes of World War II
1. Underlying Causes of World War II
a.
Nationalism (Review from WWI): Extreme pride in one’s nationality
or country
b. Imperialism (Review from WWI): Taking of
land/property
c. Militarism (Review from WWI): Building weapons
or a strong military
Causes of World War II
1. Underlying Causes of World War II
d. Fascism: a political philosophy, movement, or
regime that exalts nation and often race
above the individual and that stands for a
centralized autocratic government headed by
a dictatorial leader, severe economic and
social regimentation, and forcible suppression
of opposition
Causes of World War II
e. Totalitarian Dictatorships: Leaders who control all
aspects of society
i. Each dictator took advantage of economic problems
by:
1. Promising simple solutions to their nation’s problems
2. Rebuilding national pride (often using propaganda)
3. Providing scapegoats (targets for anger & blame)
4. Absorbing power, taking away individual rights, and
crushing opposition
(1 party; 1 ruler)
Adolf Hitler in Germany
Causes of World War II
2. Fascist Germany
a. Dictator: Adolf Hitler (Der Fuhrer or The leader)
i. Nazism is German Fascism
b. Goals:
i. Nationalism:
1. Wanted to rebuild Germany
2. Preached Vengeance against (4 hates)
a. Democracies (a weak & undisciplined form of
gov’t)
b. Communism (a threat to Nazi growth)
c. November Criminals who signed the WWI
Armistice
d. Jews (the source of all evil & problems in
Germany)
Causes of World War II
2. Fascist Germany
ii. Imperialism:
1. A desire to unite all people of German ancestry
(Blood & language)
2. “Lebensraum” (a desire for more living space)
needed to build his empire he called The Third
Reich
iii. Militarism:
1. Defied the Treaty of Versailles &
rebuild the army
2. Created the “Nazi War Machine”
3. Built #1 military in the world
Benito Mussolini of Italy
Causes of World War II
3. Fascist Italy
a. Dictator: Benito Mussolini (Il Duce = The Leader)
b. Goals:
Nationalism:
1. Wished to rebuild the ancient Holy Roman Empire
ii. Imperialism:
1. Felt betrayed by the Allies at the Treaty of Versailles
Conference due to a promise of land for joining the
Allies that was not kept
2. Wanted to control lands around the Mediterranean
Sea;
3. “Mare Nostrum” = Our Sea
iii. Militarism:
1. Formed the Rome-Berlin Axis (alliance) with Germany in
1936
i.
Hideki Tojo & Emperor Hirohito
Causes of World War II
4. Japan
a. Dictators:
Hideki Tojo: Military Leader & Prime Minister
ii. Emperor Hirohito: Political & Spiritual figurehead
i.
b. Goals
i.
Nationalism:
1. Japan wanted to be #1 in Asia
2. Goal: Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere: name for power
in Asia
ii. Imperialism:
1. To be #1 in Asia, they needed oil and raw materials
2. Wanted China’s land (and others) to obtain oil and raw
materials
iii. Militarism:
1. Built up the strongest military regime in Asia
2. Soldier’s motto: “Death before Dishonor”
Causes of World War II
5. Others
a. Spain: Franco’s fascists won the Spanish Civil
War
b. Soviet Union: Joseph Stalin took control of the
communist nation
Germany, Italy, & Japan became known
as the Axis Powers once the war began.
AKA the Bad Guys!
Francisco Franco of Spain
Joseph Stalin in The Soviet Union
Causes of World War II
e. Poor Decisions were made by the powerful
democracies
i. France & Great Britain adopted a policy
of appeasement
ii. The League of Nations would prove
ineffective; lacked a military
iii. U.S.: Isolationism & Depression kept our focus on U.S.
concerns; once aggression began we claimed to be
neutral
Causes of World War II
Equation:
Nationalism + Imperialism + Militarism =
Aggression
Extreme
Aggression = War!
Take notes on the following
dictators
• Nov. 1918: Germany surrendered to
Allies (Britain, France, USA) ending
WWI.
• Germany AND some other nations
hated the Treaty of Versailles.
• Many European nations suffered
after WWI, during the Great
Depression.
• Some embraced dictators.
• Totalitarianism-single ruler that
controls nation and citizens’ lives.
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Italian WWI veteran.
Italy’s economy was hurting after WWI.
1919- Formed Italy's fascist party.
Fascism: Aggressive militant nationalism.
Believed military expansion makes nation
great.
Like many Italians, he was disappointed
with Allies and Treaty of Versailles.
1922- Mussolini and his followers, black
shirts, (unemployed WWI veterans) march on
Rome saying communist revolt was near and
he could restore order in Italy.
Soon he was named Premier by King Victor
Emmanuel to restore order.
1925: Named himself dictator.
Outlawed other political parties, controlled all
newspapers, and established a secret police.
Known as IL Duce, “the leader.”
• WWI veteran.
• Political & economic chaos in Germany
after WWI led to rise of the National
Socialist German Workers’ Party, or
NAZI.
• Not socialists & Not concerned with
workers rights.
• Believed in German ethnic purity and
nationalism
• Aryans should control Germany to restore
greatness.
• Hitler joined Nazi party after WWI &
eventually became the leader.
• Promoted German pride and antiSemitism.
• Nov. 8-9 1923: Munich Putsch: failed
NAZI rebellion to overthrow Weimar
Republic.
• Jailed for 9 months (treason.)
• In prison he wrote Mein Kampf (My
Struggle) describing problems facing
Germany and vision of 3rd German Reich.
• Wrote about Anti-Semitism
• Believed German Aryan master race
needed more lebensraum, living space,
and wanted Germany to expand.
• Horrible German economy helped Nazi
party gain power in the Reichstag: German
congress.
• 1933- President von Hindenburg of the
Weimar Republic appointed Hitler
Chancellor of Germany.
• President Von Hindenburg died in 1934.
• Hitler then known as Fuhrer, “the leader.”
• Created secret police (Gestapo) and
government controlled media and
education.
• By late 1930’s, Hitler’s economic policies
like rebuilding the military and public works
projects ended German economic
depression.
- Japan fought with Allies in WWI.
- During 1920’s Japan was a
WESTERN LIKE capitalist
democracy.
- Spent billions in building military.
- Small island: needs to import
resources to produce goods.
- Imports were more expensive than
export revenue, which hurt
businesses and led to
unemployment.
- And MAJOR Earthquake hit in 1923.
- Japanese began to doubt
capitalism.
• Most Americans supported
isolationism.
• Neutrality Act of 1935: Illegal for
Americans to sell weapons to any
nation at war.
• Neutrality Act of 1937: Required
any country at war who buys any
American goods to do so on a
cash and carry basis.
• 1937: Japan invaded China: FDR
authorized sale of weapons to
help the Chinese.
• 1933: Hitler
declared
unification
of all
German
speaking
people in
Europe.
• March,
1936: Nazi
military
occupies
Rhineland
• Feb. 1938: NAZI
troops annex Austria.
(Anchluss) “Unification”
• Sept., 1938:
Sudetenland:
• Hitler, Mussolini &
French & British
Prime Ministers go
to Munich,
Germany to meet.
• Sept. 1938: Neville
Chamberlain & Edward
Daladier agree to Hitler's
demands at Munich
Conference
• Appeasement
• Oct.1938: Hitler demanded
Danzig, Polish Baltic Sea port city
(90% German population)
• March, 1939: NAZI occupation of
Czechoslovakia.
• Aug.1939: Nazi-Soviet
Nonaggression Pact:
• Sept. 1, 1939: Hitler invades
Poland.
• Sept. 3, 1939 British and
French declare war on
Germany.
• German blitzkrieg: lightning
war: Tanks, artillery, aircraft,
soldiers ALL AT ONCE in
overwhelming force.
• Sept 1, 1939:
Germany invaded
Poland
• Sept. 27, 1939:
Poland
surrendered.
• April, 1940:
Germany invades
Denmark and
Norway.
• May, 1940: Nazis
invade
Netherlands,
Belgium,
Luxembourg and
France.
• June, 1940: France surrenders.
• Poland, Denmark, Norway,
Netherlands Belgium,
Luxembourg, all surrender by
Summer, 1940.
• May, 1940: Winston Churchill
elected British Prime Minister.
• Nazi invasion across English Channel
would be dangerous.
• German Luftwaffe vs. RAF (Royal Air
Force.)
• June, 1940-Oct. 1940: began with
Luftwaffe attacking British Navy,
RAF, and strategic military or
industrial targets.
• Aug 24, 1940: Luftwaffe accidentally
bombed center of London, killing 9
innocent people.
• RAF responds by bombing Berlin.
• Hitler wanted to terrorize the British
so they would lose their will to fight.
• British had radar, giving them an
advantage.
• British RAF successful vs. the
Luftwaffe.
• Oct.12, 1940: Hitler stops invasion
of Britain.
• The Blitz: September 1940-May
1941: more than 100 tons of
explosives were dropped on 16
British cities.
• London was bombed by
the Luftwaffe for 57 consecutive
nights.
• American neutrality was
declared 2 days after Britain &
France declare war on Germany
• Neutrality Act of 1939: Allied
nations could buy resources
from U.S. (cash and carry)
• Most Americans favored
helping the Allies:
Interventionists.
• Isolationists formed America
First Committee opposing
intervention.
• Dec.1940- Britain
running out of $$$.
• March, 1941:
Congress passed
Lend-Lease Act:
U.S. could lend or
lease any weapons
to Allies.
• Japan part of Axis Powers with Germany
and Italy since Sept., 1940.
• American responses to all of this:
1. Military aid to China.
2. Trade embargo on Japan (no more
American oil, iron, steel.)
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Pearl Harbor, Hawaii: Home of largest
U.S. Pacific Naval Base and Fleet.
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December 7, 1941.
21 US Navy ships damaged or sunk,
188 planes destroyed
2,403 Americans killed; 1,178 injured
Congress declares war on Japan;
Germany and Italy declare war on
U.S.
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