America Moves Towards
War
The Americans 16-4
Beginning of WWII
• Treaty of Versailles was a major issue
propelling the world towards WWI
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War Guilt Clause - Germany should accept the blame for starting World
War One
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Reparations - Germany had to pay $10,303,854,000 for the damage caused
by the war!
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Disarmament - Germany was only allowed to have a small army and six
naval ships. No tanks, no airforce and no submarines were allowed. The
Rhineland area was to be de-militarized.
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Territorial Clauses - Land was taken away from Germany and given to
other countries. Anschluss (union with Austria) was forbidden.
Beginning of WWII
• Authoritarian leaders arose as people
looked for new leaders to help them out of
the world wide Great Depression.
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Joseph Stalin in Russia
Adolf Hitler in Germany
Benito Mussolini in Italy
Hirohito/Tojo in Japan
Leaders of WWII
Beginning of WWII
• Fascism, an ideology that stresses
nationalism and placing the interests of the
state above the individual, became popular
in some countries (Italy, Germany).
• Fascism promoted a single strong leader
and a small group of devoted party
members to lead the country.
Beginning of WWII
• The Nazis took over Germany in a coup in
1933. Hitler was their leader.
• Officially they were:
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Anti-communist
Anti-Jew (anti-Semitic)
Promoted extreme nationalism with their pure
“Aryan” race
Wanted to create a “Third Reich”
Beginning of WWII
• Italy was also a fascist state supported by
extreme nationalism.
• Mussolini took over through fear tactics.
• Supported militaristic expansion
• Anti-communist
• Believed in private property with strong
government controls.
Beginning of WWII
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The Soviet Union was NOT a fascist state, it was
communist. Communists believe in a one party
government and state ownership of property.
Stalin took over the USSR in 1924.
Made Russia into an industrial might.
Had a totalitarian government which means Stalin
tried to completely control his citizens. Individuals
had no rights, and the government suppressed all
opposition.
Beginning of WWII
Japan was also not a fascist country. Their prime
minister, Tojo, led the country.
• Japan was trying to create a Pan-Asian empire. Their
motivations were the same as other imperial nations:
• Military growth
• Resources/markets
• Believed in cultural superiority
• Extreme nationalism
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How the War Started:
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The League of Nations did not take action against
Germany or Italy when they began invading areas to
create larger empires. This policy of allowing
concessions in order to avoid war was called
“appeasement”. This ultimately led to them
continually working to take over or annex other places.
• Germany invades Poland in 1939 and war is
officially declared.
How the War Started:
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Italy and Germany had an alliance to support one another.
The Soviet Union and Germany signed a “non-aggression pact” to
not attack one another.
Japan sides with these groups as well to promote their takeovers
of land in the Pacific.
Germany, Italy, and Japan are called the AXIS Powers during
WWII.
The Soviet Union takes over countries in the Baltic but is not a
part of the AXIS Powers.
How the War Started:
• France is also invaded by Germany; Britain
comes in to defend Poland and France
leading to war.
• France, Britain, (later the USA and Russia)
and other countries are known as the Allied
Powers.
The US Musters Its Forces
1.
Remember that the US was isolationist
after WWI due to our disillusionment with
the war and desire to stay out of Europe’s
problems.
2. The US had followed a system of
neutrality, supplying both sides with
weapons and materials as long as they paid
in “cash”.
3. We also began to boost defense spending
and enacted the Selective Service Act
despite the fact we weren’t at war.
Great Arsenal of Democracy
1. We showed whose side we
supported when we enacted a LendLease program to Britain, who had
run out of money. We also did the
same for the Soviets once they
joined Britain.
2. In retaliation, German U-boat
attacks on supply ships increased.
FDR Plans for War
1. Britain and the US joined defenses under
the Atlantic Charter, where we pledged to
help one another. This showed whose side
we were really supporting.
2. We also began shooting back at German Uboats since they were attacking our
merchant ships.
Japan Attacks the US
1. Japan had been on the move, taking over
islands and countries across the Pacific
region.
2. The US, in response to Japanese
aggression, cut off their oil shipments,
directly hurting Japanese military
maneuvers.
Pacific Theatre of War
Japan Attacks the US
1. The Japanese warned that war would occur
in retaliation for our actions.
2. Peace talks between the countries failed.
3. The Japanese attacked at Pearl Harbor on
Dec. 7, 1941.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e99lfmmDN0
Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor
Japan Attacks the US
1. The attack on Pearl Harbor killed over
2400 Americans within 2 hours, making it
the most devastating attack on the US until
9/11.
2. The US declared war on Japan the next
day, and joined in the war fighting against
Germany a few days later.
War Powers
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During war, presidential and government powers are often
expanded. One example of this is the War Powers Act of 1941
and the War Powers Act of 1942.
These acts were created to give the president emergency powers
to create agencies or acts needed for the war effort.
These acts sometimes step on the freedoms individuals are used
to in peace times and sometimes conflict with our values of the
rights to life, liberty, and property.
Allied Powers
1. Britain
2. Soviet Union
3. France (occupied)
4. USA
5. Many other
powers
Axis Powers
1. Germany
2. Italy
3. Japan