7th Grade Social Studies – Harold E. Winkler Middle School The causes of World War II 7th Grade Social Studies – Harold E. Winkler Middle School

Review of World War I The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany: Sign the War Guilt Clause Pay $33 billion in reparations Give land back to France Reduce military Leads to anger for the German people… And to the rise of Adolf Hitler!

World Wide Depression Economic Depression – sustained/long-term downturn in economic activity. Some countries turned to radical leaders that made promises of greatness! These leaders used propaganda to inspire nationalism. Nationalism – extreme pride in one’s country.

The Great Depression

Nationalism

A Weak League of Nations The League of Nations was an organization created to prevent future conflicts, but… did not include the United States. did not have a military force.

Chinese/Japanese Conflict

Failure of The League of Nations 1931: Japan quits the League of Nations and invades Manchuria (China) 1935: Italy invades Ethiopia 1936: Germany invades the Rhineland The League of Nations does nothing…

Analyze this political cartoon with your group.

Spineless Leaders of Democracy If you give a dictator an inch, he will take a MILE!

Appeasement: The Munich Agreement, 1938 Appeasement – a policy of giving into the demands of an enemy in order to avoid conflict. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain Now we have “peace in our time!” Herr Hitler is a man we can do business with.

Munich Agreement 1938 The Munich Agreement was an agreement permitting Nazi Germany's annexation (take over) of parts of Czechoslovakia along the country's borders mainly inhabited by German speakers. This territory was known as the "Sudetenland”.

Munich Agreement 1938

How is the Munich Agreement considered an act of appeasement? Turn and Talk How is the Munich Agreement considered an act of appeasement?

Rise of Dictators Stalin Fascism Germany & Italy Communism Soviet Union Totalitarianism Militarism Japan Mussolini & Hitler Hideki Tojo

Rome-Berlin Axis, 1936 The “Pact of Steel”

The “Pact of Steel” Was the agreement with which Germany and Italy publicly entered into an alliance, pledging mutual support in war and war production.

Sept. 1, 1939 Invasion of Poland 1939: Germany signs Non-Aggression Pact with Soviet Union (Hitler-Stalin) They promised not to attack one another (Hitler breaks promise!) Germany invades Poland … Great Britain & France declare war on Germany!

Axis Powers Italy Japan Germany

Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis, 1940 The Tripartite Pact

The Tripartite Pact or the “Berlin Pact” Axis powers are officially formed as Germany, Italy, and Japan become allies. The Pact provided for mutual assistance should any of these nations suffer attack by any Allied nation not already involved in the war.

Allied Powers Great Britain France Soviet Union

U. S. Neutrality