1. Causes of WWII
Learning Goal : Students will be able to explain the reasons why WWII started.
- Japan’s aggressive search for resources
- Fascism, Nazism, rise of totalitarianism following WWI (Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Tojo, Hirohito)
Treaty of Versailles
Great Depression
- Appeasement of Hitler at Munich/Invasion of Poland
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Scale: 4 3 2 1
In addition to a 3 student was able to explain and analyze how WWII started.
Student was able to explain the reasons why WWII started.
Student was able to identify the reasons why WWII started.
Student was able to partially identify the reasons why WWII started.

2. Causes of WWII 1. Treaty of Versailles (treaty that ended WWI)
Germany had to take a greater share of blame and punishment for WWI.
- Pay 33 Billion dollars in reparations to the winners of WWI.
Lost territory and all of their over seas colonies
Couldn’t have a military
Had to accept full blame for the war
Map of Germany after WWI
German money became worthless after WWI and during the Great Depression. This woman is burning money.

3. Causes of WWII 2. Great Depression
The German economy is ruined and is in heavy debt. Germans are humiliated and very resentful about how they were treated at Versailles. This was all happening while the Great Depression was happening in Europe, and unemployment was very high and the Germany currency was all but worthless.
People in German become desperate and start to look for a way to solve their problems. This makes them very susceptible to giving up their democratic form of government, and turning towards a charismatic leader (dictator)to solve their problems.
Hitler promises to return German to greatness.

4. 3. Rise of Dictators and Totalitarian Governments
Causes of WWII
3. Rise of Dictators and Totalitarian Governments
Benito Mussolini came to power in Italy in He was
one of the leaders in the Italian Fascist party. Fascism is characterized by having a single dictator (autocracy) in control. By 1925, he became the dictator of Italy.
Benito Mussolini
“Il Duce”- The Boss/ Chief

5. 3. Rise of Dictators and Totalitarian Governments
Causes of WWII
3. Rise of Dictators and Totalitarian Governments
Adolf Hitler led the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi
Party). It was a fascist type of political party that stressed extreme
nationalism (pride in one’s country), military strength, territorial
expansion, and the racial superiority of German people (Aryans). In
1932, Hitler was elected as the chancellor (prime minister or
president) of Germany. He overthrows the government and declares
himself the supreme leader.
Adolf Hitler
“Fuhrer” or leader

6. 3. Rise of Dictators and Totalitarian Governments
Causes of WWII
3. Rise of Dictators and Totalitarian Governments
Stalin rose through the communist party to become its leader in
After taking leadership of the party he tighten his control of all
aspects of life in the Soviet Union. In effect, He set himself up as a
dictator in the Soviet Union. Even though he fights on the same side
as the Allies, his government is more similar to those of Germany and
Italy.
Josef Stalin

7. 3. Rise of Dictators and Totalitarian Governments
Causes of WWII
3. Rise of Dictators and Totalitarian Governments
Rome- Berlin Axis
1936, Hitler and Mussolini enter into a military alliance. In 1939, Japan will join this alliance.

8. Causes of WWII 4. Appeasement of Hitler. Munich Agreement
When Germany threaten to use military force to take the Sudetenland (a
part of Czechoslovakian German border).
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met with Hitler in Munich,
Germany and worked out a compromise where Hitler promised to stop
Future aggression if he was given the Sudetenland. Prime Minister
Chamberlain gave in to Hitler’s threat of violence by giving him what he
wanted (appeasement).
Adolf Hitler
Prime Minister Chamberlain
Called the Munich Agreement “Peace in Our Time”
Benito Mussolini
Munich Agreement

9. Cause of WWI
4. Appeasement of Hitler.
Munich Agreement

10. Causes of WWII 5. Invasion of Poland and the start of WWII in Europe
On September 1,1939, Germany invaded Poland. Hitler breaks his promise made during the Munich Agreement to stop aggression. France and Great Britain declare war on Germany. Hitler and Stalin had made a secret treaty with each other to take over Poland. The Soviet Union invades the eastern half of Poland while Germany takes the western half.

11. Causes of WWII 6. Japan needed raw materials Page 6
By the start of the 1930s Japan’s government was being run by a small group of military leaders (Oligarchy- dictatorship by a small group). The Japanese Emperor Hirohito was almost powerless. The person really making the decisions was Prime Minister, General Hideki Tojo. Japan starts to invade other countries in Asia and Pacific in search of raw materials (oil, iron ore, coal…). Japan was trying to build up its military and industrial power, and they needed these resources to do that.
Prime Minister, General Hideki Tojo

12. Cause of WWII 6. Japan needed raw materials Page 6
Attack Pearl Harbor, HI. Causes
Japan needed raw materials from other Asian countries. The United States decided to stop trading with Japan which angered the Japanese leadership. The United States Navy in the Pacific was the only obstacle in their way to continue taking territory in Asia and the Pacific. The Japanese leadership decided to attack the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
USS West Virginia

13. Causes of WWII
6. Attack on Pearl Harbor, HI.

14. Cause of WWII 6. Attack Pearl Harbor, HI. Effects
After the attack, President Roosevelt asks Congress to declare war on Japan. Germany and Italy then declare war on the U.S.
Over half of the Pacific fleet was destroyed. America suffered more than 3,500 dead and wounded. The U.S. starts to mobilize for war.
Pearl Harbor Memorial
USS Arizona