1. Rise of the Dictators & WAR BEGINS WWII Unit Advanced US History

2. The Rise of the new dictators After WWI, Wilson hoped to see the US support democracy throughout the world. Instead, the treaty that ended the war, and the subsequent worldwide depression, contributed to the rise of undemocratic governments throughout Europe and Asia. US Stock Market crash ended American investment in Europe causing economic slowdowns there. European countries faced industrial decline, unemployment, and homelessness. ITALY & Mussolini:

3. New Dictators continued Stalin & the USSR: Communism set up by 1917 by Vladimir Lenin. In 1922, Russia was renamed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) Stalin took over in 1926 and killed 8 to 10 million of peasants who resisted Communism. In 1927, he launched an effort to industrialize his country. GERMANY & Hitler : Hitler was a Mussolini supporter and had fought in WWI for Germany. Germany’s surrender and the Treaty of Versailles left him with a hatred for all Allies and the current government who had accepted the peace terms. The crash had devastating effects on Germany, whose WWI reparation payments were largely financed by American lenders. German production fell by half between 1929 and 1933. The political and economic chaos led to the rise of new political parties, primarily the Nazi Party. (National Socialist German Workers’ Party) :

4. Dictators Page 3 Hitler: Taking Office: Militarists in Japan: Japan & Hirohito- wanted to bring Asia under Japanese control. Attempted to occupy Chinese territory of Manchuria. Violated a pledge from the League of Nations but no one responded. US did warn them against further aggression. Japan ignored and four years later in 1937 they launched a full-scale invasion of China…they wanted to smash the country they saw as their main competition in Asia. BY 1940, they were in a military stalemate.

5. America leans towards neutrality Causes for American Isolationism: (avoiding international commitments that might drag us into war) Rise of Dictators in Europe and Asia after WWI discouraged many Americans Neutrality Acts of 1935 and made it illegal for Americans to sell arms to any country at war. The Neutrality Act of 1937 could trade on a “cash and carry” basis only. (Roosevelt actually allowed the sale of weapons to China after Japan attacked them) FDR : French & British seemed reluctant to oppose those aggressive nations. Wanted to avoid bloodshed like that in WWI. They hoped to appease Hitler by giving him some of what he wanted so as to not enrage him.

6. Events Leading to War in Europe 1938 February 1938: The Sudetenland: Hitler also wanted the Sudetenland, an area of Czechoslovakia with many German speakers. (Czech was allied with France & USSR) France, the Soviet Union, and Britain threatened to fight Germany if they officially attacked Czechoslovakia. Munich Conference: September 1938:

7. Events Leading to War in Europe 1939 March 1939- Germany sent troops into Czechoslovakia blatantly going against Munich agreement. Hitler’s demands on Poland convinced Allies that appeasement had failed. They announced if Poland was invaded, they would come to their aid May 1939- Hitler ordered Germany to prepare to invade Poland August 1939- Germany and the USSR sign the Nonaggression Pact and secretly Germany and USSR decided to divide Poland between them September 1, 1939- September 3, 1939- October 1939- Poland defeated by Germans

8. War in Europe 1940 Lightening War: The belief that England and France could effectively fight Germany was negated in Spring of 1940 when Germany launched a series of blitzkriegs “lightening wars” that utilized surprise, speed, and unrelenting concentrated attacks to defeat its neighbors. In April and May 1940, Germans ripped through Denmark, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In June, German forces captured France after only 6 weeks. France was forced to sign a treaty creating a pro-German regime headquartered in Vichy and known as “Vichy France.” By 1940, Germany controlled most of Western Europe. Battle of Britain: