1. Aggressors on the March
Chapter 15, section 4

2. World Drifts Towards War
Democracy Struggles in Japan
1920s Japan is more democratic
1922 sign a treaty respecting China’s boarders
1928 sign the Kellogg-Briand Pact

3. Japan The Parliamentary system had problems
Constitution put strict limits on the prime minister and cabinet
Civilian leaders had little to no control over the military
The military reports to the emperor

4. Militarists Take Control of Japan
When the Global Depression hit Japan in 1930 the government was to blame
The military gains support and soon takes over
The militarists did not want a new government they just went to the traditional system of the emperor as leader

5. Japan Invades Manchuria
Lots of Japanese business investments in Manchuria
In 1931 Japan invades
This was the first direct challenge to the League of Nations
The League (which Japan was a member of) vigorously protested, but they could do nothing
Japan withdraws from the League in 1933

6. Japan Invades China
Four years later, a boarder incident set into motion Japan’s invasion of China
July 1937 Japan and China exchange shots at a railroad bridge
Japan took this as war and invaded
Jiang Jieshi (Kai Shek) had 1 million soldiers but they were no match for the Japanese
They took over many northern Chinese cities including Nanjing
They killed tens of thousands of troops and civilians this event is later called “the rape of Nanjing”

7. Mussolini Attacks Ethiopia
With the League of Nations failing to stop Japan, this emboldened Mussolini to expand
He wanted a colonial empire in Africa (like Britain and France)
Ethiopia was the last independent nation in Africa and had stopped an Italian take over in the 1890s
May 1935 Italy attacks, and wins, quickly
The leader of Ethiopia Haile Selassie pleaded to the League for help but nothing happened
Appeasement was Britain and Frances goal

8. Hitler Defies Versailles Treaty
Hitler said he would
It limited the size of the German army
Hitler rebuilds it and the League is upset
No troops in the Rhineland
Hitler moves troops in
France and Britain appeased Hitler
Hitler stated that if France and Britain challenged him in the Rhineland he would have stepped down
Hitler is emboldened by the weak response
In 1936 Japan, Germany, and Italy become the Axis Powers

9. Civil War in Spain In 1931 Spain went from an monarchy to a republic
Francisco Franco became the leader of the fascist movement
Hitler and Mussolini sent troops and tanks to support Franco
The Nationalist (fascist) vs. Republicans (democratic)
Franco wins after a 3 year civil war

10. Western Democracies Fail to Halt Aggression
Why did no one stop the 1930s fascist rise?
WWI created fear of war
Many countries are reeling from Depression
U.S.A. becomes an isolationist state
German Reich Expands into Austria and Czechoslovakia (Third Reich = German Empire)
Combining Germany and Austria was against the Treaty of Versailles
The Czechs asked for help

11. Britain and France Choose Appeasement
Britain and France were about to go to war
Mussolini calls for a meeting in Munich
The Munich Conference
Germany received the Sudetenland region of Czech but would respect the new boards
Explain
What happened to the League?
Less than six months later Germany takes all of Czech

12. Nazis and Soviets Sign Nonaggression Pact
Britain and France turn to the U.S.S.R. for help in stopping Hitler
They talked and then Stalin went to Hitler
U.S.S.R. and Germany come to an agreement not to attack each other
This allows the Axis powers uncheck power in Europe and Asia