Download The Road to World War II

The Road to World War II
Neutrality, Isolationism,
Nationalism, Dictators &
Broken Promises
Neutrality
It is possible to remain neutral in ones direct &
deliberate actions- but is it possible in
THOUGHT?
Why be neutral? What is the motivating force
behind neutrality?
Does geographic influence neutrality?
Is it possible to be involved but stay true to your
policy of “neutrality”
Have you ever made the choice
to remaining neutral in a
conflict?
 Did your choice prevent you from being
affected by the conflict? Why or Why Not?
 Do you think by choosing Neutrality The
United States or other nations will be
protected from the effects of the conflicts in
Europe & Asia?
What did World War I leave behind?
Economic Depression
Deep Feelings of Nationalism
A Strong Desire to Expand & Gain
Territory
Rise of Dictators
Germany & the Soviet Union
NOT “so in love with “ the Treaty of
Versailles
Blamed Germany for the war & punished
them harshly
Germany lost their colonies & territories
Soviets lost parts of Russia
Germany & the Soviet Union
NOT “so in love with “ the Treaty of
Versailles
Anger & Resentment are NOT in short supply –
on ALL SIDES!
Add those feelings to all that World War I left
behind (economic & social problems) =
TROUBLE BREWING!
Democratic Gov’t fails & people turn to
AUTHORITARIANS to fix the problems
Stalin & The Soviet Union
1922 Russia becomes the USSR (Soviet Union)
Communist– Lenin dies in 1924 & Stalin takes
over
Stalin wants Soviet Union to be “The Model
Communist State”
Totalitarian Gov’t- TOTAL CONTROL OVER CITIZENS- No
Rights & No Opposition
#1 Economic Goal- Industrial & Agricultural Growth –
wanted an Industrial Nation
No Private Ownership of Property- Total Gov’t Control Worldwide spread of Communism
Stalin & The Soviet Union
1928 Stalin introduces his “Five Year Plan”
ALL Economic Activity was under State control
1937 – Soviet Union is the 2nd largest
industrial power (U.S. is the 1st)
“THE GREAT PURGE” – Stalin
responsible for 8 – 13 million people
being executed or banished to Siberia
Mussolini & Italy
Italy has problems- unemployment & inflationproblems that lead to major STRIKES
The Middle & Upper class freaks out & gets
scared- they want a really strong leader
Mussolini = Totalitarian leader of Fascist Party
He appealed to the strong National Pride & played on the
fears of economic collapse & communism
“Il Duce” aka The LEADER
He was an Extreme Patriot & broke with Socialist Party over
WWI
Mussolini & Italy
Fascist Party
Strong Sense of Nationalism
Power in the hands of a single leader & a small
group
Interest of State is more important than
individuals
CRUSH ALL OPPOSITION
Hitler & Germany
POST- WWI Germany
Hitler joins the National Socialist German Workers’
Party aka NAZI PARTY
Problems in Germany- War debt, unemployment
& Hitler was a last hope for desperate people
Great Speaker, Promised to pull Germany out of
chaos – fix the problems
January 1933 Hitler was appointed Chancellor
– Got rid of the Weimar Republic
– Established the 3rd Reich
Hitler & Germany
Hitler - “Der Fuhrer” aka The Leader
NO ties to the Socialist Party
Wrote Mein Kampf – his plan for the Nazi Party
German version of Fascism
Extreme Nationalism
Hitler & Germany
What did he WANT?
Unite all of the German Speaking countries into
one “German Empire”
Racial Purification- “The Master Race” “The Aryan
Race” – No inferior Races
National Expansion
– Hitler wanted more space- thought it was Germany’s
RIGHT!
– Wanted expansion even if it meant going to war
Militaristic Leaders & Japan
The Military Leaders
Nationalistic & Imperialistic – they want to expand &
get more land
Launch a surprise Attack on Manchuria,
CHINA 1931
League of Nations sent into Manchuria to
investigate & they condemn Japan
– BUT- Japan just decides to just QUIT the League
of Nations
Militaristic Leaders & Japan
League of Nations FAILED & the
Dictators of Europe NOTICED & followed
Japan’s lead
Mussolini goes after Ethiopia- League tries a
boycott but doesn’t do any good
1936- Ethiopia fell to Italy
Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland & rebuilt the
German Army – violations of TREATY
Francisco Franco & Spain
1936 Franco led a revolt against the elected
Spanish Republic
Civil war broke out
1939 Franco becomes Spain’s Fascist Dictator
Western Democracies remained Neutral- only
sent food & clothing- BUT NOT THE OTHER
DICTATORS!!!
Hitler & Mussolini backed Franco- sent money,
men & supplies
Formal Alliance between Hitler & Mussolini“Rome/Berlin” Axis
Look at the statement and use what
you know so far to try to prove or
disprove it.
“Despite the obvious negative
attributes, the Totalitarian Dictators of
Europe and Asia did make positive
contributions to their countries
success & Post- WWI recovery”
NEUTRALITY
America’s position on all of
this!
Attitude of England & France
also – ignore the problem &
maybe it’ll go away!
Kellogg Briand Pact
Signed by 62 countries post WWI – 1928
War is NOT to be used as an instrument of National Policy
THE PROBLEM- There was NO action plan if someone broke
the pact
Americans & many others want to avoid war –
ISOLATIONIST– most people thought getting
into WWI was a mistake
Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy
Thought Neutrality was IMPOSSIBLE!
Found a way around Neutrality Act in
1937 when Japan attacked Manchuria
There was no formal declaration of war by Japan
on China
So…. Roosevelt did not need to enforce the
Neutrality Act
He supplied China
What might have happened if the
United States & others had NOT
chosen a policy of Isolationism &
Neutrality at the beginning &
instead involved themselves in by
trying to stop the spread of
Totalitarianism in Europe & Asia at
the start…?