World War 2 Timeline Activity
Using your textbook or an IPAD fill in the dates for each of the events below and then create a timeline on a blank sheet
of paper. Your time line should begin in 1920 and end in 1941. This timeline will cover events that led to the outbreak
of WWII as well as the United States’ eventual decision to enter the war.
Your timeline should include all of the events listed below as well as at least 4 pictures or symbols.
Event
Date
Event
Treaty of Versailles written
Japanese Militarists attach Manchuria
Joseph Stalin takes control of Russia
Hitler Pulls Germany out of League of Nations
Stalin Outlines his first “5 Year Plan”
Franco leads fascist rebellion in Spain
Mussolini appointed leader of Italy
Congress passes first Neutrality Acts
Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany
Hitler’s troops seize Austria
Germany invades Czechoslovakia
Munich Agreement Signed
Britain and France Declare War on
Germany
Staling and Hitler Sign Non-Aggression Pact
France falls to Germany
Hitler invades Denmark and Norway
Cash and Carry Policy goes into effect
Battle of Britain
U.S. Congress passes first peacetime
draft
Germany, Italy and Japan sign Tripartite Pact
Lend Lease Act Passed
Roosevelt re-elected for 3rd term
FDR grants Navy permission to attack
German U-boats in self defense
Hitler attacks the Soviet Union
German U-Boat sinks U.S. Destroyer
Reuben James killing 100 Americans
Roosevelt and Churchill sign Atlantic Charter
Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
Hideki Tojo launches invasion of China
Germany and Italy declare war on U.S.
U.S. Declares war on Japan
Date
Once your timeline is complete, turn it over and on the back of the timeline write a paragraph which begins with the
words,
“America’s involvement in World War II . . .”
Use information from the timeline in your paragraph and try to explain how the events led to the eventual participation
of the United States in the war.