Diplomacy & World War II, CAUSES of WWII

I. Treaty of Versailles (1919) Main Terms of the Treaty (as directed against Germany and the other Central Powers): 1)War-guilt clause – take the blame for starting the war 2)Reparations – pay for damages caused by the war (owed over $6 billion) 3)Rhineland was permanently de-militarized (no troops in German region on border with France) 4)Agree to territorial cessions - give-up colonies/lands they had controlled

II. Rise of Facism and Militarism (1920s)  Definition of facism: a military dictatorship built on racist and nationalistic principles. Examples of: A.Benito Mussolini in Italy -Came to power in Invaded Ethiopia (1935) -Entered into alliance with Nazi Germany (1936)

Benito Mussolini

Rise of Facism & Militarism (cont) B. Japan -Militarists (army generals) increased their power in 1920s and 1930s -Annexed Manchukuo (Manchuria) in Invaded China in 1937 (Panay Incident with U.S.) -Invaded Indochina in 1940 C. Adolf Hitler in Germany -Head of National Socialist Party or Nazi Party; Became Chancellor in Re-entered Rhineland (1936) -Formed Axis alliance with Italy and Japan (1938) -Marched into Austria; given Sudetenland (1938) Invaded Czechoslovakia and Poland (1939) See map on page 524

Adolf Hitler

III. Failure of Appeasement  Definition of appeasement: allowing a country to get away with small acts of aggression and expansion. Examples of with Germany: 1) Militarization of Rhineland (1936) 2) Negotiation of Sudetenland (1938) -Munich Agreement -Great Britain’s Neville Chamberlain: “Peace in our time!” 3) Invasion of Czechoslovakia (1939)

Neville Chamberlain’s speech

IV. Failure of League of Nations (1919)  Set-up as an international organization to keep world peace/settle disputes. Main reasons for failure: 1) Not all countries joined, including the U.S. 2) It had no economic power---League members could trade with non-member countries. 3) It had no army to enforce world peace if negotiation or economic sanctions failed. 4) It was unable to act quickly (League met only 4x/ year and policies had to be agreed upon by all members).

V. U.S. Foreign Policy (1930s) A. Under Herbert Hoover -supported attitude of isolationism: enter no treaties to preserve the security of other nations -Congress passed the Stimson Doctrine (1932) in response to Japanese aggression in Manchuria B. Under FDR, ) Good-Neighbor Policy (non-interventionist) -Pan-American Conferences (1933 & 1936) -Platt Amendment nullified (Cuba) -Mexico: settle oil disputes through negotiation

V. U.S. Foreign Policy (1930s) (Cont.) 2) Economic Diplomacy---Purpose? Help the American economy -London Economic Conference (1933) -Soviet Union recognized (1933) -Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934) regarding the Philippines -Reciprocal trade agreements with other nations--- mutually lowering trade tariffs (1934) 3) Congressional Response to Fascism/ Militarism? Increased isolationism -Nye committee (1934): WW1 served greed of bankers/industry -Neutrality Acts (1935, 1936 & 1937): no trading w/belligerents even if there was sympathy for them (ex. of loyalists vs. fascists in Spain) -America First Committee (1940): Lindbergh travels U.S. to mobilize public opinion against the war in Europe

How did American foreign policy begin to change under FDR (away from isolationism/strict neutrality)? U.S. response to Japan’s 1937 invasion of China – FDR: “quarantine” the aggressor (public response?) Congress agrees to arms-build-up in 1938 – why allowed? 1940: Great Britain was alone in war against Germany – Congress adopts “cash and carry” which favors Britain Congress enacts Selective Service Act (1940) – peacetime draft of males ages Destroyers-for-bases deal: FDR barters rather than sells FDR wins the Presidential Election of 1940

America Becomes the “Arsenal of Democracy” in 1941 FDR lends money to Britain under policy of Four Freedoms (Jan. 1941) Lend-Lease Act (March 1941) – AFC protests Atlantic Charter – document between FDR/Churchill that spells-out peace objectives Shoot-on-sight: U.S ships escorting British ships are allowed to attack German ships

U.S. Quarrels with Japan Japan allied with Axis Powers; Hitler’s success in Europe allows Japan to expand into Southeast Asia (1940) U.S. places trade restrictions on Japan; demands Japan’s withdrawal from China---Japan refuses Negotiations continue: U.S./FDR delayed action until stronger; Japan wanted immediate action due to its limited resources Japan attacks Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 U.S. declares war on Japan; Germany declares war on U.S.; WW2 begins for America