Download PPT - World War II

World War II
Causes of the War
What you will learn
• In Europe
– Shortcoming of Treaty of Versailles
– Rise of Dictators in Europe
– Fascists in Italy and Nazis in Germany
• In Japan
– Rise of militarism
Failure of Treaty of Versailles
• The Treaty of Versailles ended World War I
• Instead of helping bring peace, it just planted
the seeds of future war
• Caused anger and resent
– Treaty blamed Germans for starting the war
– Stripped countries of overseas colonies and
border territories
– Carved up Russia
– Caused economic hard times
Most obvious example: Germany
• Weimar Republic was a democracy, but
• Economic problems so bad that money
became worthless…
What is going on here?
What do people do when they’re scared and
times are bad?
…people turn to “strong” men who promise to make things right –
even if they are lying and governments are overthrown…
Revolution happened in 3 countries in
Europe…
• Russia
• Italy
• Germany
Russia
• Russia (Soviet Union) was briefly a democracy
• Became a Communist country in 1922 under
V.I. Lenin
• When Lenin died in 1924, Joseph Stalin took
control
– Last name means “man of steel”
– Tried to turn rural country into industrial power by
putting all agriculture and industry under state
control
Russia (cont)
• In order to make himself allpowerful, he had millions
killed, including many of his
followers
• Estimated 8 to 13 million
people killed
• By 1939, Russia was a
complete totalitarian state
– Individuals had no rights
– Government suppresses all
opposition
Italy
• Benito Mussolini founded
Fascist party before 1921
– Stressed nationalism
– Interest of the state placed
above those of individuals
– Power must rest with a
single party leader and a
small group of devoted
followers
– Promoted by middle and
upper classes
Italy (cont)
• In 1922 Mussolini marched on Rome with
thousands of followers dressed in black
uniforms
• Government officials sided with Mussolini
• Italian king appointed Mussolini head of the
government
• Also made Italy a totalitarian state
Germany
• Adolf Hitler created a private
army, gave powerful
speeches, and elected to
office
• Once elected, he dismantled
the Weimar Republic and
assumed power
• Wrote “Mein Kampf” in
which he developed his
theory of Nazism – which
also name of his political
party
• German fascism
What is Nazism?
• Extreme nationalism - Hitler dreamed of all
German-speaking peoples into an empire
• Racial purification – blue-eyed, blonde Aryans
formed a “master race” and all “inferior races”
such as Jews, Slavs, and non-whites were to
be exterminated
• National expansion – taking over the rest of
the world through military action
• Called his new state the Third Reich
Japan
While dictatorships in Europe, in Japan
militaristic leaders were taking over the imperial
government…
Japan (cont)
• Japan felt needed to conquer more land to
provide for its population
• In 1931 militarists had gained control and
attacked China – conquering Manchuria
Response of United States
• Cautious
• Many were pacifists
• To be covered next class