Download World History 9 Notes Chapter 31 Section 4 – “Aggressors Invade

World History 9
Notes Chapter 31 Section 4 – “Aggressors Invade Nations”
1. Japan Seeks an Empire
a. During 1920s, Japan more democratic
b. Weaknesses in Parliamentary system:
i. Strict limits on power of ___________________________________ and cabinet
ii. Civilian leaders had little control over military
1. Military leaders answer only to emperor
c. Militarists Take Control of Japan
i. When Great Depression hit, people blamed govt
1. Military leaders won control of country
ii. Wanted to restore traditional military control of govt
iii. Made emperor symbol of state power, but military ruled in his name
iv. Militarists were extreme nationalists
1. Wanted to solve economic problems through foreign expansion
2. Planned a Pacific empire that included conquering China
a. Would provide raw materials and markets for goods
b. Give Japan more room for growing population
d. Japan Invades Manchuria
i. Northeast province of China; rich in iron and coal
ii. Japan had invest heavily there
iii. 1931, Japan seized Manchuria and set up puppet govt
1. Built mines and factories
iv. Japan ignored protests of League of Nations and withdrew from it in 1933
e. Japan Invades China
i. 1937 – Japan invades China
1. Capital of Beijing and Nanjing both fell to Japan in 1937
a. Japanese troops killed tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians
b. Communist guerillas under Mao fought Japanese in conquered areas
2. European Aggressors on the March
a. League’s failure to stop Japan encouraged European Fascists to plan their own aggression
b. Mussolini Invades Ethiopia
i. Ethiopia had remained independent in 1890s by defeating Italy
1. To avenge the defeat, Mussolini orders invasion of Ethiopia in Oct. 1935
a. Ethiopians can’t compete with new technologies (poison gas tanks,
etc.)
2. Emperor of Ethiopia asks League for help
a. League does nothing, hoping to keep peace by giving in to Mussolini
c. Hitler Defies Versailles Treaty
i. March 1935, Hitler announces that Germany would ignore the restrictions placed on
their army
1. League didn’t stop him, so Hitler took greater risk
ii. German troops moved into the Rhineland (important industrial area which was a
buffer zone between Germany and France)
1. British urged appeasement – giving in to an aggressor to keep peace
2. France didn’t want to risk war
3. March in to Rhineland was a turning point
a. Strengthened Hitler’s power and prestige within Germany
b. Balance of power changed in Germany’s favor
i. France and Belgium now open to attack
c. Weak response of Britain and France encouraged Hitler to speed up
his expansion
4. Mussolini allys with Germany, called the Rome-Berlin Axis
5. Germany then makes agreement with Japan
6. Germany, Italy, and Japan become the Axis Powers
d. Civil War Erupts in Spain
i. Spain had been a monarchy until a republic formed in 1931
ii. Govt run by liberals and socialists
iii. Many crises led to a revolt in 1936 by army leaders who favored a Fascist-style govt
1. Led by General Francisco Franco
iv. Began a civil war that lasted three years
1. Hitler and Mussolini send troops and equipment to help Franco and the
Nationalists
2. Republican (supporters of Spain’s elected govt) got no help
3. Western democracies remained neutral
4. 1939 – Republicans lost and Franco became fascist dictator
3. Democratic Nations Try to Preserve Peace
a. Britain and France make repeated concessions, hoping to keep peace
i. Had serious economic problems due to Depression
ii. WWI led to deep desire to avoid war
b. United States Follows an Isolationist Policy
i. Many Americans supported isolationism, the belief that political ties to other
countries should be avoided
1. Passed Neutrality Acts banning loans and sale of arms to countries at war
c. The German Reich Expands
i. November 1937 – Hitler announces plan to add Austria and Czechoslovakia to the
Third Reich, or German Empire
1. Union of Austria and Germany (Anschluss) prohibited under Versailles
Treaty, but many Austrians supported it
a. March 1938 – Hitler sends army and annexes Austria
b. France and Britain ignored their pledge to protect Austria’s
independence
2. Hitler turns to Czechoslovakia
a. Demands the Sudetenland (area on western border of Czech where
many German speakers lived)
b. Czech refuse and turn to France for help
3. Britain and France Again Choose Appeasement
a. Sept 1938 - Germany, France, Britain, and Italy meet at the Munich
Conference; Czech not invited
i. Britain and France agree that Germany can keep the
Sudetenland in exchange for Hitler’s promise to respect
Czech’s new borders
ii. British PM Chamberlin believes he has achieved “peace for our
time”; Churchill disagrees and opposes appeasement
b. Six months later, Hitler take Czech.
c. Mussolini seizes Albania
d. Hitler demands Poland return former German port of Danzig
i. Poles refuse and turn to France and Britain, but Hitler knows
they won’t risk war
4. Nazis and Soviets Sign Nonaggression Pact
a. France and Britain ask Soviet Union to join them to stop Hitler
b. Stalin bargains with Hitler even though bitter enemies
i. Aug 1939 - Stalin and Hitler sign nonaggression pact,
promising not to attack one another