7.1 Analyze the decision of the United States to enter World War II, including the nation’s movement from a policy of isolationism to international involvement and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Origins of World War II ***World War I, the Treaty of Versailles, and economic depressions laid the groundwork for totalitarian regimes in Italy and Germany. ***Totalitarian Regime- imposing a form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life, the individual is subordinated to the state, and opposing political and cultural expression is suppressed 19th century imperialism by western powers and rapid industrialization in Japan led to that nation’s government coming under the control of the military.

The Rise of Dictators Totalitarian Rule- the interest of the state supersedes all interests of the individual Fascism- not a communist form of government, but rather was a manifestation of capitalism’s fear of communism. ROOTED in Nationalism, headed by a dictator! Propaganda – was used by these governments to effectively control their populations. Examples?

Adolf Hitler- Germany

Benito Mussolini (Il Duce) ITALY

***He wanted to restore the glories of ancient Rome in Italy

Hitler vs. FDR ***Adolph Hitler and FDR both came into power in 1933 amidst the social and economic upheaval of the Great Depression. FDR, told the American people they had “nothing to fear but fear itself” ***Hitler raised the longstanding fear of and prejudice against the Jews as the source of all of Germany’s political and economic troubles The Treaty of Versailles and the world-wide depression was especially hard on Germany. ***The German people blamed their economic woes on the Versailles Treaty. ($33 billion in reparations) Hitler took advantage of this resentment by taking aggressive military action and breaking the Versailles Treaty

The Policy of Appeasement Despite his aggressive actions, many leaders of Europe were not willing to confront Germany. The leader of France Premier Edouard Daladier and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain decided to follow a policy of ***appeasement, or give in to Hitler’s aggressive demands in the hope this would satisfy him and their would be no further conflict. ***The Munich Pact- France and Great Britain agreed to Hitler’s capture of the Sudetenland in exchange for Hitler’s promise not to invade anymore territory.

Hirohito & Tojo Meanwhile in Japan ***The Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 initiated the aggressive Japanese policy against China and Indochina that was designed to create a Japanese sphere of economic domination. Hirohito & Tojo

Path to War When Hitler broke the Munich Pact by invading Czechoslovakia, the European policy of appeasement ended. ***The German invasion of Poland in 1939 led to war in Europe ***In 1940 Japan signed an alliance agreement with Germany and Italy. They became the Axis Powers.

AXIS POWERS GERMANY ITALY JAPAN

The Axis Powers

The United States Remains Neutral ***While the Axis Powers grew more aggressive the United States continued to practice isolationism (keeping to ourselves). ***People were more concerned about fixing the depression at home than they were about fighting another war in Europe. In 1935 Congress passed the ***Neutrality Act. It prohibited the sale of arms or the lending of money to countries involved in conflicts We needed $ from selling weapons to Great Britain, France, etc. so this hurt economy

President Roosevelt Responds to the World Situation Roosevelt was aware of the danger aggressive nations posed to the United States In October of 1937 Roosevelt gave his Quarantine Speech. In the speech he called for a ‘quarantine’ (diplomatic and economic sanctions) against any aggressor nations. The speech angered devout isolationists who saw it as a veiled attempt to side with nations that would oppose Germany and Japan. FDR sought ways to provide aid within the confines of the neutrality acts and to change American policy from isolationism to international involvement

From Isolationism to International Involvement Policies of “Cash and Carry”, the destroyers-for-bases deal, and the Lend Lease Act. Lend weapons to Allies and they can repay whenever . . . The US was involved in protecting Lend Lease Act shipments. By 1941, the US was in an undeclared naval war with Germany The Atlantic Charter is signed ***The Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor forced the US to officially abandon its policy of isolationism. (Dec. 7, 1941) **The subsequent US declaration of war against Japan led Germany to declare war against the US US NOW AT WAR WITH AXIS POWERS!

***Pearl Harbor was the Headquarters of our Pacific Naval fleet

Pearl Harbor

View of Japanese Pilots

Civilian casualties at Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor Memorial