The Coming of War 1931-1942 Chapter 14. Section 1: Dictators and War

The Coming of War1931-1942Chapter 14

Section 1: Dictators and War

Why it Matters• WWI and the Great

Depression impacted almost every corner of the globe.• Dictatorship and

totalitarianism were able to grasp many states (nations)

Focus Question: Why did totalitarian states rise after World War I, and what did they do?

A Bitter Peace Unravels• With the end of WWI

and the Treaty of Versailles nations again were divided over the terms of peace.

• During the 1920’s many nations moved toward democracy and others in the opposite direction of totalitarianism

• Totalitarianism – a theory of government in which a single party or leader controls the economic, social, and cultural lives of its people

Checkpoint: What legacy did World War I leave behind?

Characteristics of a Totalitarian State• Single-Party

dictatorship • Strong, charismatic

leader often at head of government• State control of the

economy• Use of police, spies,

and terror to enforce the will of the state

• Government control of the media and use of propaganda to indoctrinate citizens• Use of schools and

youth organizations to spread ideology• Strict censorship of

artists, intellectuals, and political rivals

Repression in the Soviet Union and Italy• The 1917 Russian

Revolution was the first totalitarian state (Lenin)• His programs

resulted in civil war, starvation ,famine, and death of millions of Russians

Stalin’s Grip on the Soviet Union• Joseph Stalin (man of

steal) - took Lenin’s place as the head of the Communist Party• His attempts to

transform the Soviet Union into an industrial power caused millions of deaths (purges)

Mussolini’s Fascist Party Controls Italy• Italian totalitarianism

was in many ways a result of the war, peace treaties, and economic depression.• Benito Mussolini –

Fascist Party, trumpeted nationalism and promised to make Italy great again.

Checkpoint: How did Stalin and Mussolini maintain their power?

Aggressive Leaders in Germany and Japan• After WWI Germany

became a democracy (Weimar Republic)• Economic woes and

runaway inflation plagued the young government

The Nazis Rise• The National Socialist

German Workers’ Party, or Nazi began to threaten the republic• They were not

socialists or communist or any ism that promoted class interests or workers’ rights above German ethnic solidarity

Adolf Hitler• Adolf Hitler – led the

Nazi Party, failed artist, wounded and decorated WWI soldier• Wrote Mein Kampf

(“My Struggle”) stated the problems facing Germany• His most piercing

criticisms were of the communists and Jews

Anti-Semitic• Anti-Semitic –

prejudice against Jewish people• Anti-Semitism had

troubled Europe for centuries, motivated by religious intolerance and economic resentment

Hitler Seizes Power• Recognizing the power of

Hitler’s party president of the Weimar Republic appointed Hitler chancellor of Germany in 1933

• Over two years he became chancellor and president then consolidated his power

• This was a totalitarian regime (secret police) pgs. 438, 440

Militarists Gain Power in Japan• Reasserting power,

military leaders argued that expansion through out Asia would solve Japan’s economic troubles• Japan did not become

a totalitarian state, but remained a constitutional monarchy

The Japanese Expand Their Empire• In 1931 Japan

attacked Manchuria• 1937 Japan moved

against China, gaining control over major Chinese railroad links and coastal areas• The “Rape of

Nanjing” 200,000

Checkpoint: How did the Great Depression affect political life in Germany and Japan?

Dictators Turn to Aggression• Germany and Italy

resorted to acts of aggression similar to those of Japan in Asia• The League of

Nations was powerless to do anything

Hitler and Mussolini Threaten the Peace• Hitler focused on

restoring Germany’s economy, army, navy, and air force in direct defiance of the Treaty of Versailles

• Hitler spoke of the need to gain Lebensraum, living space

• Mussolini invaded Ethiopia with many pleas and little response for the League of Nations

Fighting Breaks out in Spain• Spanish Civil War –

bloody conflict that raged from 1936 until 1939.• Fascist rebels fought

against Spain's democratic Republic aided by Hitler and Mussolini

Checkpoint: Why did the League of Nations fail to halt German and Italian aggressions?

Aggression Goes Unchecked• Appeasement –

policy of granting concessions to a potential enemy in the hope that it will maintain peace• French and British

policy in the 1930s’

Cont.• Anschluss (AHN shloos)

– in the spring of 1938 Austria’s entrance into the Reich• Munich Pact – the

agreement Chamberlain reached at conference with Germany declaring “peace for our time,” this only delayed WWII for 11 months

Checkpoint: Why did Britain, France, and the U.S. not stop fascist aggression in the 1930’s?

From Isolation to InvolvementSection 2

Why it Matters• Roosevelt

condemned aggression in Asia but did little to stop it, while Britain and France continued appeasement in Germany

Focus Question: How did Americans react to events in Europe and Asia in the early years of WWII?

Roosevelt Opposes Aggression• Roosevelt criticized

Japan’s aggression by calling it “reign of terror and international lawlessness”• Roosevelt suggested

that no part of the world was truly isolated (pg. 444)

War Erupts in Europe• Hitler Launches a Blitzkrieg

Against Poland• Blitzkrieg – sudden attack

(lighting war)• France Falls to the Axis Powers• Axis Powers – Germany, Italy,

Japan• Allied Powers – Britain,

France, Soviet Union, U.S., China

• Winston Churchill – British Prime Minister

• The Battle of Britain is fought in the air. (pg. 446)

Checkpoint: Which side seemed to be winning the war at the end of 1940?

Americans Debate Involvement• America Favors

Isolation • Theories behind why

the U.S. became involved in WWI• Interventionists Urge

Support for the Allies• Neutrality Act of

1939 – cash and carry provisions

Cont.• Isolationists Argue for

Neutrality• Trade would

automatically involve the U.S., argued The America First Committee• Roosevelt inches toward

involvement with the Tripartite Pact – making allies of Germany, Italy, and Japan

Should the U.S. Enter World War IIIsolationist Viewpoint-------

Interventionist Viewpoint-------

Make a list of both viewpoints using your text.

Checkpoint: According to interventionists, how would aiding the Allies actually keep the United States out of war?

America Takes Steps Toward War• Lend-Lease Act –

authorized Roosevelt to “sell transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of, to any such government any defense article”

Cont.• Atlantic Charter –

document that endorsed national self-determination and an international system of “general security”• U.S. Navy Battles

German U-Boats

Checkpoint: How did the United States support the Allies after Roosevelt’s reelection?