1. Neutrality, Isolationism, Nationalism, Dictators & Broken Promises
The Road to World War II
Neutrality, Isolationism, Nationalism, Dictators & Broken Promises

2. Neutrality
It is possible to remain neutral in ones direct & deliberate actions- but is it possible in THOUGHT?
Why be neutral? What is the motivating force behind neutrality?
Does geographic influence neutrality?
Is it possible to be involved but stay true to your policy of “neutrality”

3. Have you ever made the choice to remaining neutral in a conflict?
Did your choice prevent you from being affected by the conflict? Why or Why Not?
Do you think by choosing Neutrality The United States or other nations will be protected from the effects of the conflicts in Europe & Asia?

4. What did World War I leave behind?
Economic Depression
Deep Feelings of Nationalism
A Strong Desire to Expand & Gain Territory
Rise of Dictators

5. Germany & the Soviet Union NOT “so in love with “ the Treaty of Versailles
Blamed Germany for the war & punished them harshly
Germany lost their colonies & territories
Soviets lost parts of Russia

6. Germany & the Soviet Union NOT “so in love with “ the Treaty of Versailles
Anger & Resentment are NOT in short supply – on ALL SIDES!
Add those feelings to all that World War I left behind (economic & social problems) = TROUBLE BREWING!
Democratic Gov’t fails & people turn to AUTHORITARIANS to fix the problems

7. Stalin & The Soviet Union
1922 Russia becomes the USSR (Soviet Union) Communist– Lenin dies in 1924 & Stalin takes over
Stalin wants Soviet Union to be “The Model Communist State”
Totalitarian Gov’t- TOTAL CONTROL OVER CITIZENS- No Rights & No Opposition
#1 Economic Goal- Industrial & Agricultural Growth – wanted an Industrial Nation
No Private Ownership of Property- Total Gov’t Control - Worldwide spread of Communism

8. Stalin & The Soviet Union
1928 Stalin introduces his “Five Year Plan”
ALL Economic Activity was under State control
1937 – Soviet Union is the 2nd largest industrial power (U.S. is the 1st)
“THE GREAT PURGE” – Stalin responsible for 8 – 13 million people being executed or banished to Siberia

9. Mussolini & Italy
Italy has problems- unemployment & inflation- problems that lead to major STRIKES
The Middle & Upper class freaks out & gets scared- they want a really strong leader
Mussolini = Totalitarian leader of Fascist Party
He appealed to the strong National Pride & played on the fears of economic collapse & communism
“Il Duce” aka The LEADER
He was an Extreme Patriot & broke with Socialist Party over WWI

10. Mussolini & Italy Fascist Party Strong Sense of Nationalism
Power in the hands of a single leader & a small group
Interest of State is more important than individuals
CRUSH ALL OPPOSITION

11. Hitler & Germany POST- WWI Germany
Hitler joins the National Socialist German Workers’ Party aka NAZI PARTY
Problems in Germany- War debt, unemployment & Hitler was a last hope for desperate people
Great Speaker, Promised to pull Germany out of chaos – fix the problems
January 1933 Hitler was appointed Chancellor
Got rid of the Weimar Republic
Established the 3rd Reich

12. Hitler & Germany Hitler - “Der Fuhrer” aka The Leader
NO ties to the Socialist Party
Wrote Mein Kampf – his plan for the Nazi Party
German version of Fascism
Extreme Nationalism

13. Hitler & Germany What did he WANT?
Unite all of the German Speaking countries into one “German Empire”
Racial Purification- “The Master Race” “The Aryan Race” – No inferior Races
National Expansion
Hitler wanted more space- thought it was Germany’s RIGHT!
Wanted expansion even if it meant going to war

14. Militaristic Leaders & Japan
The Military Leaders
Nationalistic & Imperialistic – they want to expand & get more land
Launch a surprise Attack on Manchuria, CHINA 1931
League of Nations sent into Manchuria to investigate & they condemn Japan
BUT- Japan just decides to just QUIT the League of Nations

15. Militaristic Leaders & Japan
League of Nations FAILED & the Dictators of Europe NOTICED & followed Japan’s lead
Mussolini goes after Ethiopia- League tries a boycott but doesn’t do any good
1936- Ethiopia fell to Italy
Hitler sent troops into the Rhineland & rebuilt the German Army – violations of TREATY

16. Francisco Franco & Spain
1936 Franco led a revolt against the elected Spanish Republic
Civil war broke out
1939 Franco becomes Spain’s Fascist Dictator
Western Democracies remained Neutral- only sent food & clothing- BUT NOT THE OTHER DICTATORS!!!
Hitler & Mussolini backed Franco- sent money, men & supplies
Formal Alliance between Hitler & Mussolini- “Rome/Berlin” Axis

17. Look at the statement and use what you know so far to try to prove or disprove it.
“Despite the obvious negative attributes, the Totalitarian Dictators of Europe and Asia did make positive contributions to their countries success & Post- WWI recovery”

18. America’s position on all of this!
NEUTRALITY
America’s position on all of this!
Attitude of England & France also – ignore the problem & maybe it’ll go away!

19. Kellogg Briand Pact Signed by 62 countries post WWI – 1928
War is NOT to be used as an instrument of National Policy
THE PROBLEM- There was NO action plan if someone broke the pact
Americans & many others want to avoid war – ISOLATIONIST– most people thought getting into WWI was a mistake

20. Roosevelt’s Foreign Policy
Thought Neutrality was IMPOSSIBLE!
Found a way around Neutrality Act in when Japan attacked Manchuria
There was no formal declaration of war by Japan on China
So…. Roosevelt did not need to enforce the Neutrality Act
He supplied China

21. What might have happened if the United States & others had NOT chosen a policy of Isolationism & Neutrality at the beginning & instead involved themselves in by trying to stop the spread of Totalitarianism in Europe & Asia at the start…?