The Road to War

The U.S. After WW1 U.S. did not join league of nations. Isolationism – wanted to stay out of world affairs during 20’s and 30’s. Disarmament – (Washington Conference) U.S. and other world powers, (Britain, France, Japan, Russia) sunk multiple ships to show a want for world peace.

Relations with Latin America Good Neighbor Policy – Allowed countries in Latin America to begin developing their countries with less U.S. involvement. Our companies began investing heavily in the region. Nationalize – when a country’s government takes control over industries in their own country that may be ran by other countries. For example, a U.S. oil company in Mexico is taken over by the Mexican government and ran by them so they can make money from that oil. Caudillos – military leaders and their groups that used force to take over governments, or political parties. (Cuba)

The Rise of Hitler and the 3rd Reich Adolph Hitler – WW1 veteran, survived a poison gas attack. Was very angry with the reparations and the way German politicians handled the surrender. 1923 – he joined a radical political organization and tried to overthrow the German government. It failed and he went to jail. While in jail he wrote Mein Kampf (my struggle) which laid out his plans to restore Germany to a seat of power. He blamed Jews, Communists, and intellectuals for Germany’s decline. After being released from prison, He creates the Nazi party and begins the process of getting elected legally. Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany in 1933, only 1 year after the Nazis win national elections. He blamed Jews, Communists, and intellectuals for Germany’s decline after WW1. People in Germany were looking for someone to believe in.

The Rise of Hitler and the 3rd Reich Once Hitler was chancellor, he rewrote laws to make it so he had complete power over everything. Only Nazis could hold government positions, and military service was mandatory. Brownshirts – Nazi storm troopers who would crush any opposition to Hitler. Hitler then proceeded to bring Germany back to prominence. Here are the step he took to help Germany rise again: He took control of all industry, and rearmed Germany. (Militarism) Instituted the Nuremburg Laws – deprived Jews of citizenship and allowed destruction of Jewish property. In 1936, he took over the Rhineland. 11/9/1938 – Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) Nazi members destroyed synagogues, and Jewish businesses. In 1938, he took over Austria. Hitler then wanted the Sudetenland (area of German-speaking people in Czechoslovakia)

The Rise of Stalin in the Soviet Union 1924 – Joseph Stalin takes over the Soviet Union after Lenin’s Death. Made the Soviet Union a Totalitarian State – or a country where the government has complete control of everything. In 1927 – the government took over private lands and began making them large state run farms. System of control and fear: If you resisted his demands, you were sent to labor camps and worked until you died. If you did not resist, all of your work would benefit the country or Stalin, and never your family, until you died. Stalin owned everything. If he wanted what you had, you were forced to give it up. Used propaganda to manipulate people into following him. By 1933 – some 15 million people were sent to work camps. This government control of farms led to decreased food production, and widespread famine on the eve of WW2. Red Army – Stalin’s personal army and body guards. Stalin was very paranoid, and if he suspected you were against him, you would be killed or sent to work camps. 1930’s – Great Purge – Stalin’s plan to purge perceived enemies by killing them or by sending them to camps. Stalin may be responsible for the deaths of anywhere from 12-30 million people.

The Rise of Benito Mussolini in Italy 1921 – Benito Mussolini founded the Fascist Party to crush the Communist Party in Italy. Fascism – Military controls all aspects of society. Had an army called the Blackshirts. Marched on Rome in 1922. He then made the King of Rome give Mussolini dictatorial powers. Upon getting these powers Mussolini: Limited Free Speech Arrested political opponents Restricted voting rights 1935 – sent troops to Ethiopia, practicing imperialism. The U.S. didn’t help either side, fearing they would get pulled in. Germany helped Italy, and U.S. oil companies sold oil to them as well. Italy built up their power and the lack of support from the rest of the former allies led Germany and Italy to think that this behavior would go unpunished.

The Rise of Francisco Franco in Spain A new constitution went into effect that limited the power of the military, gave universal suffrage, nationalization of public utilities, and land for peasants. The idea of Fascism had spread to Spain, and the military felt threatened by this new constitution. In 1936, General Franco then led other military men in a revolt to overthrow the government. This started a civil war in Spain between the Fascists, and the Loyalists (those loyal to the Spanish government) Franco was supplied by Germany and Italy. He won control of the country in only 3 years. The loyalists were aided some by the Soviet Union, but not by the U.S. (Didn’t want to get involved) 3,000 Americans did join the side of the loyalists however. They did this voluntarily and not on behalf of the U.S. They were part of the Popular Front (international alliance of organizations united against Fascism.)

The Rise of Militarists in Japan During the 20’s, Japan practiced militarism and wanted to lessen it’s reliance on foreign nations and their products. They also aimed to reduce western influence in Asia and expand throughout East Asia and the Pacific. Creating a Japanese empire would give Japan: Iron Petroleum Rubber Timber 1931 – Japan invaded Manchuria. 1935-36 – Japan violated its Washington Conference agreement, and began building up its military. 1937 – Japan invaded China. This turned into a full scale war. December 1937 – Rape of Nanjing. Japanese troops attacked the city, but only a few men were there. Japanese troops raped and murdered thousands of innocent women and children. Still nothing was done to prevent these types of things from happening leading up to World War 2.