The World at War: Part I

Rise of Facism WWI & the global depression that followed led to political changes in many parts of the world – the American New Deal & Fascism in Europe & Japan. Germany – Adolf Hitler (Nazism) Soviet Union – Joseph Stalin (Communism) Italy – Benito Mussolini (Fascism) Japan – Prime Minister Hideki Tojo / Emperor Hirohito (Militarism)

Rise of Fascism Fascism is a political system w/ one strong dictator who uses the military as a tool for power in order to expand on territory to create an empire. Fascist Leaders rise as a result of depression & resentment: – Adolf Hitler (Germany) – Hideki Tojo (Japan)

Appeasement These leaders began a campaign of empire- building during the 1930’s, while the rest of Europe & America did nothing to stop them because they feared another war-neutrality & appeasement.

The War Officially Begins Britain & France were forced to abandon appeasement w/ the invasion of Poland in September – Germany invaded Poland from the west. – The USSR invades Poland & Baltic countries from the east.

America’s Response to War America wanted no part of the war in Europe & declared itself neutral through a series of acts. America sits on the sideline while Germany overran France & most of Europe, even while Britain was pounded from the air (The Battle of Britain). US

Arsenal of Democracy By 1940, Britain was the only nation left in Europe & Roosevelt decided to the US must help & began preparing for war. Despite strong isolationist sentiment at home, the US increasingly helped Britain.

Britain was provided $$ & arms through: It allowed the US to trade war supplies & old naval ships to Britain for bases in the Caribbean & Bermuda. Lend-Lease (1940): Gave the president the authority to sell or lend war supplies to countries to defend themselves against Axis Power aggression-“lending a garden hose to a next- door neighbor whose house is on fire.” ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY

Hitler Turns on the East In June 1941, Hitler turned on his former ally & invaded the USSR reaching Moscow by November.

Militaristic Japan & United States Involvement During the 1930’s, Japan sought military & economic domination of Asia. – Invades & brutalizes Manchuria & China. – US refused to recognize Japanese conquests in Asia & imposed an embargo on exports of oil & steel to Japan. – Tensions rose, but both countries negotiated to avoid war.

Militaristic Japan & US Involvement While negotiating w/ the US, Japan launched a surprise attack at Pearl Harbor (naval base) in Hawaii on December 7, Attack killed more than 2,400 Americans, sunk or damaged much of the Pacific fleet. – President Roosevelt called this “a day that will live in infamy.” He asked Congress to declare war on Japan & they did.

Militaristic Japan & United States Involvement Hitler honored his alliance w/ Japan & declared war on the US. The debates over isolationism were over & The US was fully involved. Now in the war, the Allied Powers followed a “Defeat Hitler First” strategy-American resources centered on Europe (still fighting Japan at the same time).

The American Home front The American government & industry forged a close working relationship to allocate resources. – Rationing was used to maintain supply of essential products to the war effort. The government told people how much they could buy of certain items (meat, shoes, sugar, coffee, gas). – War bonds & the income tax were used to finance the war.

The American Home front – Industry shifted from peacetime to wartime production (cars to tanks). W/ the passage of the Selective Service Act (draft), which increased the size military, which took men from industrial jobs. Someone had to replace them. Citizens volunteered in support of the war effort.

The American Home front Women & minorities entered the workforce in large numbers: – African-Americans: Moved to cities in search of jobs in war plants Campaigned for victory in war & equality at home

The American Home front – Women: 200,000 served in the military in noncombat roles (nurses, ambulance drivers, radio operators) Increasingly participated in the workforce to replace men serving in the military - Rosie the Riveter.

American Media during the War The US government maintained strict censorship of reporting of the war. – Public morale & ad campaigns kept Americans focused on the war effort. – The entertainment industry produced movies, plays, & shows that boosted morale & patriotic support of the war effort as well as portrayed the enemy in stereotypical ways (propaganda).

Internment of Japanese Americans Strong anti-Japanese prejudice on the West Coast False belief that Japanese Americans were aiding Japan. In 1942, 110,000 Japanese Americans were relocated to internment camps.

Internment of Japanese Americans – Internment affected Japanese American populations along the west coast. – In 1944, the Supreme Court upheld the government’s right to act against these citizens living on West Coast – In 1985, The US government eventually issued a public apology, & financial payment was made to survivors.