2. Versailles to Pearl Harbor

5.  Dictators taking advantage of widespread fear, uncertainty and despair emerge in the post-WWI Era.

6.  Aggressive dictators use war to promote their tyrannical goals.

7.  Isolationism gives way to the call for war when the U.S. comes under attack.

8.  The U.S. musters its tremendous industrial and human might to fight the war.

9.  Totalitarianism  Government controls all aspects of society  State planning of the economy  State-owned collective farms ▪ Forced private farmers to work on collective farms ▪ Placed people who resisted in labor camps ▪ Secret police rounded up and killed opponents

10.  Fascism  Extreme nationalism: state comes first; individual liberty is secondary  Strongly opposes communism and democracy  Favors military values, use of violence, and strong leader ▪ Blackshirt squads terrorized rival political groups ▪ Outlawed labor unions and opposing political parties ▪ Censored the press

11.  Nazism  A form of fascism  Extreme racism, particularly aimed at Jews  Territorial expansion to create Lebensraum, or “living space” ▪ Blamed Jews for Germany’s problems ▪ Sent Jews and other “undesirables” to concentration camps ▪ Centralized the government

12.  Militarism  Military as increased power  Military plays a strong role in government  Emperor remained as figure head ▪ Called for aggressive military action abroad ▪ Political assassinations ▪ Military took control of civilian government

13.  The U.S. and other countries could have provided more financial aid to these countries but they were dealing with effects of the Great Depression.  The League of Nations lacked any real power to control the actions of these nations.

14. AXIS ACTION Germany forced to sign Treaty of Versailles and ordered to pay war reparations to Allies. Economic unrest swept through Germany ad widespread unemployment and inflation took hold. Germans lose faith in their government and look for someone to blame for their defeat in WWI. ALLIED REACTION U.S. did not ratify treaty and did not join League of Nations and retreated to a policy of isolationism. U.S. Dawes Plan – U.S. loans $ to Germany so it could pay war reparations to Allies so they could repay loans to U.S.

16. AXIS ACTION  Adolph Hitler rose to power in Germany a head of the fascist Nazi Party by blaming Germany’s problems on Jews, rejuvenation nationalism, and rebuilding the military in direction violation of Treaty of Versailles. ALLIED REACTION  FDR focused U.S. attention on Great Depression.  62 nation sign Kellog- Briand Pact that outlawed war.

18. AXIS ACTION  Benito Mussolini rose to power as the head of the Fascist Party in Italy and seized Albania and invaded Ethiopia ALLIED REACTION  U.S. continued its policy of isolationism by passing Neutrality Acts.  League of Nations temporarily cut off arms sales to Italy but took no other action.

20. AXIS ACTION  Spanish Civil War resulted in Fascist Francisco Franco came to power with the help of Hitler and Mussolini.  Franco decided to remain neutral in WWII. ALLIED REACTION  U.S. maintained neutrality.  League of Nations no real action

22. AXIS ACTION Military took control in Japan, formed alliance with Germany and Italy (Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis), and invaded China. ALLIED REACTION FDR “Quarantine Speech” – argued in favor of containing Fascist aggression through the use of economic embargoes but was prohibited from acting by American isolationist feelings. League of Nations – no action

24. AXIS ACTION  Hitler reoccupied Rhineland ALLIED REACTION  No actions

26. AXIS ACTION  Hitler took over Austria by announcement  Sound of Music ALLIED REACTION  Britain and France condemned action but tried to appease Hitler.

28. AXIS ACTION Hitler demanded Sudentenland in Czechoslvakia ALLIED REACTION Munich Agreement – Hitler and British Prime Minster Chamberlain decide to give Sedetenland to Germany (with Czechoslavakia having no say) in an attempt to appease Hitler who agreed to make no more demands. U.S. remained neutral

30. AXIS ACTION  Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia and demanded Poland ALLIED REACTION  Britain and France promised to aid Poland  U.S. urged compromise but maintained neutrality  U.S., Britain, and France all shocked and deeply concerned

32. AXIS ACTION Hitler and Germans invaded Poland ALLIED REACTION Great Britain and France declared war on Germany and World War II began. U.S. passed “cash and carry’ legislation – Britain and France could purchase arms in cash and transport them on their own ships. American public worried about getting involved in another European war but wanted Hitler defeated.

34. AXIS ACTION Hitler controlled much of Eastern Europe, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. Battle of Britain raged in the air over Britain and Hitler bombarded the island nation prior to his invasion. ALLIED REACTION FDR and new British Prime Minister Winston Churchill meet and sign an agreement of war aims (Atlantic Charter) – promised not to seek new territory and to support the rights of all peoples to choose their own form of government American public grew less isolationist after the Nazi defeat of France. Lend-Lease Act passed by U.S. Congress – U.S. to lend war material to Britain followed by orders to convoy the materials.

37. AXIS ACTION  German submarines sink two U.S. destroyers, the Kearny and the Rueben James, with 40 U.S. sailors killed ALLIED REACTION  Congress barely passed legislation to allow the arming of American ships sailing into British harbors.

39. AXIS ACTION  Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo sent representatives to Washington and offered to withdraw their troops from Indochina if U.S. would resume economic relations with Japan. ALLIED REACTION  Fearing that appeasement would only encourage Japanese aggression, U.S. rejected the proposal.

41. AXIS ACTION  Japan bombed U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and killed 2,300 Americans. ALLIED REACTION  FDR asked Congress for a declaration of war against Japan  Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.  U.S. declared war on Germany and Italy