1. World War II

2. Essential Questions 1) When should the United States go to war?
2) What is required to achieve victory in war?
3) How did America become a superpower?
4) What impact do challenges abroad have on America at home?
5) Did America’s involvement in the World War II and the Cold War move it closer or further away from its founding ideals?

3. Background
Less than two decades after the of end of WWI-“The War to end all Wars”- fighting erupted again in Europe and in Asia. As Americans read about the distant battles, they hoped the conflicts would remain on the other side of the world.

4. Do Now:Discussion
With the person sitting next to you, take about two minutes to discuss the things that you think you know about WWII and the things that you want to know.

5. Dictators Threaten World Peace
For many nations, the peace of WWI did not bring prosperity, instead it brought revolution fueled by economic depression and struggle.
Instead of securing peace the Treaty of Versailles caused anger and resentment, especially in Germany.
Germany blamed for starting WWI, had to pay reparations, and were stripped of their overseas colonies/border territories.
The peace settlement had not fulfilled President Wilson’s hope of a world “safe for democracy”
The postwar years brought the rise of dictators driven by the belief in nationalism-loyalty to one’s country above all else- and dreams of territorial expansion.
Dictator – A ruler with absolute power

6. WWII Political Systems: Activity
We will now be examining the political leaders that rose to power.
In the first empty row of boxes, write the name of the political system of movement (fascism, militarism, Nazism, or totalitarianism) that corresponds to each leader. List 2-3 characteristics of each political system.
In the second empty row, list tactics that each leader/group used to gain and keep power.
In the last row, describe one or more decisions or actions by the United States (or other countries) that might have prevented the rise to power of one or more of these leaders. In a few sentences, explain why you think the U.S. (or other countries) did not act at the time.

7. Those who refused were shot or forced to do hard labor in prison-like concentration camps.
Stalin used brutal methods to strengthen his control of the communist party. The Soviet secret police rounded up and killed enormous numbers of party leaders and military officials. He took millions of lives to ensure that the remaining officials would be loyal to him.
Communist party has the only authority

8. Fascism often arises during a time of crisis, promising to revive an earlier era of glory
Inflation and labor strikes hurt the Italian economy, and they felt insulted over the Treaty of Versailles that granted them limited territory.
He used his public speaking skills to promote fascism. He ignited crowds with emotional outbursts and dramatic gestures.

9. While spending a year in prison for trying to overthrow the gov’t he wrote the book Mein Kampf, or “My Struggle” It laid out the Nazi philosophy.
Nazis believed that Germans and other Nordic peoples-Hitler called them Aryans -were morally and physically superior to other races. Nazis wanted to purify Germany by removing other races, especially Jews.
Germany’s economic depression gave Hitler the opportunity to spread his ideas. The current gov’t couldn’t cope with the crisis and Germans began for a leader who could save the nation from ruins.

10. Many politicians feared for their lives.
Just like Hitler, he wanted to expand Japan’s “living space”

11. Could the rise of Dictators/Militarists have been prevented?
The United States and other countries like Great Britain and France could have provided more financial aid to the countries where these dictators rose.
However, the United States was dealing with the effects of a serious economic depression in the early to mid-1930s and had no resources to help these other countries.