1. WWII

3. Overview Failure of the War to End All Wars Rise of Nationalism
Worldwide Depression
Totalitarian Dictatorships
The policy of appeasement
American Isolationism

4. Totalitarianism
A political system in which a government exercises complete control over all aspects of its citizens’ lives.
Fascism-system of government with a strong leader who puts the needs of the state above individuals
Adolph Hitler-Germany
Benito Mussolini-Italy
Joseph Stalin-USSR
Francisco Franco-Spain
Hideki Tojo and Emperor Hirohito-Japan

5. Hitler and Nazi Germany
Rise to power result of weakness of previous government (1933- became Chancellor)
Charismatic speaker, preached German nationalism, denounced Versailles Treaty
Blamed Jews, communists for Germany’s problems
Promised return of German pride

6. Benito Mussolini in Italy
Fascist leader who took control of Italy in 1922
Wanted to create another Roman Empire
Invaded Ethiopia in 1935
Along with Hitler supported Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War 1936

7. Joseph Stalin-USSR
Transform and modernize rural USSR through industrialization, 5 year plans, collectivization
Purged real and perceived threats to power

8. Japanese Expansion Sought total control of Pacific (resources)
1931- military occupation of Manchuria
1936- Japan signs Pact with Germany, Italy
Nanking Massacre- December 1937

9. American Neutrality
Domestic: U.S. in midst of Great Depression, public intent on remaining neutral
1935: First Neutrality Act (no sale of arms to belligerent nations)
1937: Arm sales only on “cash and carry” basis
FDR warns of impending problems
President Roosevelt

10. “War is a racket. It always has been
“War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small "inside" group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes”. -General Smedley D. Butler

11.
“We are in the presence not of local or regional wars, but of an organized and determined movement for steadily expanding, conquest. Against this drive for power no nation and no region is secure save as its inhabitants create for themselves means of defense so formidable that even the would-be conquerors will not dare to raise against them the hand of attack. The first need for all nations still masters of their own destiny is to create for themselves, as speedily and as completely as possible, impregnable means of defense. This is the staggering lesson of mankind's recent experience.” Cordell Hull

12. Isolationism in the United States
Economic, military reasons for neutrality
Tried to prevent mistakes that led to WWI involvement
FDR’s Quarantine Speech: “Let no one imagine that we will escape…that this western hemisphere will not be attacked”—outraged many isolationists
Hitler and Mussolini

14. Just Short of War
By 1940, US supported Britain “with all aid short of war”
Peacetime military draft, increase in defense spending
Lend-Lease Act 1941-US ship arms and supplies to nations fighting the axis without immediate payment
Atlantic Charter US and UK declare principles and goals in opposing Axis powers, US does not declare war