1. U4C13 World War II Erupts: 1939-1941
U.S. History

2. Main Idea
The Treaty of Versailles ending World War I created an uneasy peace. Amid postwar instability, Great Britain and France avoided conflict, and the United States sought to isolate itself from Europe’s troubles. Meanwhile, however, Germany, Italy, and Japan fell under the sway of leaders promising order and glory. By the end of the 1930s, their aggression would plunge the world once more into war.

3. Essential Question
What were the causes and effects of World War II?

4. Europe after World War I
Problems with peace: the Treaty of Versailles (ver-SY), ending WWI dissatisfied many; France wanted harsher punishment for Germany, Italy received no territory although on winning side
German outrage: Germany suffered most from Treaty of Versailles; economy crushed, people and military humiliated, ushering in a period of political upheaval

5. Totalitarian Leaders Arise
Benito Mussolini: Italian- A.K.A. “Il Duce” (il DOO-chay)-”The Leader”; came to power by way of dynamic public speaking; founded National Fascist Party stressing the glory of the state
Adolf Hitler: German- led to politics over Treaty of Versailles; served Germany in WWI; joined National Socialist or Nazi party; 1933, became Chancellor and began to build military
Francisco Franco: Spain-led 1936 Spanish Civil War, fascists supported by Hitler and Mussolini
Joseph Stalin: Soviet-in Soviet Union, created a myth of his own greatness as had Hitler and Mussolini

8. Totalitarian Governments and Military Force
Japan: lack of land and resources caused military takeover of government; invasion of Manchuria, China; League of Nations critical-Japan withdrew
Italy: 1935-invaded Ethiopia, weak League of Nations did nothing
Spanish Civil War: Communists on left supported by Soviet Union, Fascists and Nationalists on right supported by Italy and Germany; In 1939 ruled by Fascist dictator Franco

14. Hitler Takes Action
Militarizing the Rhineland: moved troops to the Rhineland against order of Treaty of Versailles; France & Britain did not want to stop him
The Anschluss: 1938 forced Austrian government into reuniting Austria with Germany which was another violation of Treaty of Versailles-no one stopped him
The Sudetenland: allowed to annex Sudetenland (German speakers in Czechoslovakia) by British prime minister Neville Chamberlain
WORLD WAS ON THE VERGE OF WAR

16. Hitler’s Early Moves March 1939: Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia
Established a pact with Italy
August 1939: announce nonaggression pact with Soviet Union
Hitler attacks Poland-September 1, 1939: “blitzkrieg”; conquered by end of month

17. German Forces Turn to the West
Sept. 3, 1939: Great Britain & France declare war on Germany (Allies)
winter of Germany did not attack, known as sitzkrieg
Germany planning attack through Ardennes Forest in northern France and Belgium
April 1940 Hitler invaded Denmark and Norway to access Atlantic
May 1940 Hitler turned toward France, conquering first Netherlands and Belgium
End of June France surrendered to Germany

19. The Battle of Britain
German Luftwaffe bombed London to terrorize the public
Churchill rallied people to stay strong
1940: Battle over, Hitler called off invasion

20. Tensions in East Asia
Japanese nationalists began expanding its naval forces in 1934, violating the promise at the Washington Naval Conference
1936: Japan signed an anticommunism pact with Germany
1937: Began war with China-Nanjing massacre- killed 200, ,000 Chinese
1940: Japan joined Axis Powers with Germany & Italy
General Hideki Tojo, a strong nationalist, took over government in 1941

22. Sequence of Events Early 1930s -Roosevelt appeals to isolationists
-Focus is on Great Depression
Mid 1930s
-Aggression by Japan, Italy, and Germany
-German aggression escalates
-U.S. aids Great Britain
1941
-Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

24. American Isolationism
1930s: most Americans were isolationists; they wanted to avoid involvement in any foreign war; view shared by both liberals and conservatives; but they were not pacifists, or people who do not believe in the use of military force
Franklin D. Roosevelt, was elected in president in 1932 and he was not an isolationist, but in first term focused mainly on New Deal

26. Balancing Isolationism and Intervention
It was tough for Roosevelt to be neutral during the Spanish Civil War, to do so allowed the fascists an advantage
Roosevelt was disturbed by the increasingly aggressive actions of the world’s new totalitarian dictators
Roosevelt decided it was time to speak out after Japan invaded China in , it was known as the Quarantine Speech

29. Preparing for War
Congress approved Roosevelt’s request to build new naval vessels
cash-and carry policy allowed countries at war to purchase American goods if they paid cash and pick up goods themselves
German victories continued so Roosevelt knew he needed to do more
Election of 1940: Roosevelt decided to break with tradition and third term
Lend-Lease Act sent weapons to Britain regardless of their ability to pay
Atlantic Charter: August 1941-agreement between U.S. and Britain

33. Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor
Dec. 7, 1941: at sunrise on a Sunday morning, Japan executed a surprise attack on the American Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the home of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet
It was a complete surprise
2400 Americans dead
200 aircraft destroyed
all 8 battleships in harbor were sunk or damaged
3 aircraft carriers were out at sea and unharmed
Dec 8, U.S. declared war on Japan, 3 days later, Germany and Italy declared war on U.S.; U.S. joined Allies against Axis Powers

34. Mobilizing the Armed Forces
MOBILIZE: to bring forces into readiness
1940: U.S. increased military spending-this was what was mainly responsible for ending the Great Depression
Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall led mobilization effort
draft was reinstated in 1940, expanded after Pearl Harbor, many volunteered
16 million Americans entered armed forces

35. Women in Armed Forces women played a vital role
10,000 women joined WAVES-Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service
1,000 joined WASPs-Women Airforce Service Pilots-nearly 40 died
150,000 joined WAC- Women’s Army Corps
led by Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby

36. Mobilizing Industry and Science
factories converted to produce war supplies
government set large production goals and met them
60,000 new planes in 1942
125,000 new planes in 1943
120,000 new tanks from
Henry Ford important war industry figure
Henry Kaiser built a liberty ship in 4 ½ days

37. Rosie the Riveter Women filled jobs traditionally held by men
6.5 million took factory jobs never before open to women
working women represented by symbolic figure of Rosie the Riveter

41. Labor in World War II
government spending during World War II helped end the Great Depression and create new jobs
many workers joined unions
1943: Congress passed Smith-Connally Act, giving the president power to take over industry in the event of strikes to ensure war effort was not hampered

45. Mobilizing Science
Manhattan Project, the building of an atomic bomb, was most significant science program of World War II
began in 1939 due to concern that Germany was working on it
Physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer was American scientist leading the project

48. Fighting for Freedom at Home
World War II brought African Americans into the U.S. Marines for the first time, Navy commissioned first African American officers
forced to serve in segregated units
bravery was not recognized
African Americans discriminated against in workplace
Roosevelt issued an order outlawing discrimination in government or defense jobs

49. Challenges for Hispanic Americans
1942: Bracero Program allowed Mexican workers a chance to temporarily work in U.S.
June 1943: zoot suit riots in California over ethnic tensions
Hispanic Americans remained deeply loyal to the United States and sought opportunities to serve