The Road to World War II

1. The Road to World War II

2. Transition: WWI-WWII 1) Many nations NOT happy with the end of WWI • Germany, Japan, ItalyAxis Powers in WWII • RussiaUS opponent in Cold War 2) England and France • Disagree with Wilson’s 14 Points • Want to punish Germany • War Guilt Clause—blame Germany • Reparations payments $33 billion • Deprives Germany of colonies • Takes away Germany lands • Czechoslovakia • Alsace-Lorraine

3. Transitions, cont’d… 3) Rise of Dictatorships in European nations • Seek revenge—Nationalism • Blame scapegoats • Minorities • Communists (USSR blames Fascists) • Democracies (US, England, France) • Act aggressively-build up military forces • Mussolini • Hitler • Franco • Tojo • Stalin

4. Fall of Democracy in Europe

5. Germany • Adolf Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany and established a totalitarian government where his power was limitless

6. Italy • Benito Mussolini established himself as dictator of fascist Italy • The Italian government valued nationalism, corporatism, militarism and anti-communism • Strict censorship and propaganda

7. Japan • Hideki Tojo was the Prime Minister of Japan and strong supporter of Italy and Germany

8. Spain • Generalissimo Francisco Franco was dictator of Spain • While Spain would maintain neutrality during WWII, Franco aided German troops fighting in the USSR

9. Transitions, Cont’d… 4) US return to Isolationism after WWI • Role of Henry Cabot Lodge • Argues against Wilson’s 14 idealism • Doesn’t want to commit US to action • Return to George Washington’s ideas • No permanent alliances • US does NOT sign Treaty of Versailles • US does NOT join League of Nations • US does NOT join the World Court • US passes “Neutrality Acts” 1930s

10. Transitions, cont’d… 5) Global Depression (1930s) • Economic hardships • People dissatisfied—looking for answers • Helps Nazis (Fascists) come into power againlooking for scapegoats to blame • Weimar Republic in Germany • Democracy has no chance

11. Transitions, cont’d… 6) WWI was so bad, let’s NEVER fight again • Kellogg-Briand Treaty of 1927 (outlaw, prevent war) • League of Nations will work (yeah, right) • Finally-Appeasement • Maybe if we give into the demands of the dictators, they will be satisfied and not cause any trouble (yeah, right) • German actions against Austria 1936 • Italian invasion of Ethiopia 1935 • Japanese invasion of Manchuria 1931 • Munich-1938 (Czechoslovakia) • Spanish Civil War 1936 • German invasion of Poland 1939 • England and France FINALLY realize appeasement doesn’t work

12. Transitions, cont’d… • Eventually, US will start to get involved, like WWI • BUT will be too little too late to prevent war • Cash and Carry Laws late 1930s • Lend Lease Program 1941 • US embargo on Japan late 1940 • Atlantic Charter 1941 with England • Selective Service Act 1940 • Destroyer deal with England • ALL BEFORE THE US OFFICIALLY ENTERS THE WAR!!

13. United States remained isolationist until… • December 7, 1941 • Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

14. War Declared • On Dec. 8, 1941, FDR went before Congress and asked for a declaration of war against Japan. He started his speech by saying, “Yesterday, December 7, 1941-a date which will live in infamy- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

15. THINK • How did the United States mobilize for World War I?

16. US mobilization: Transition from peacetime to wartime economy • Similar to WWI, but more “prep” time in WWII • 1)Production and workers • 2) Great economic boom (ends Depression) • 3) Cooperation: Gov’t/Industry/Workers • 4)Expansion of Gov’t power (no Laissez-Faire) • A. 1940 Selective Service Act • B. 1942 War Production Board • C. 1943 Office of War Mobilization • D. 1943 Office of Price Administration • E. Increase number of tax payers • Selling war bonds

17. US Home Front • Most Americans support war—why? • Compare/contrast to World War I • Propaganda to keep up morale/Office of War Information • Life in America during the war: • Total War: Many involved at home and overseas • Total Causes=Total fighting • Major sacrifices: Major disruptions • Rationing, Black outs • Yet, in some ways, life did not change too much • A more serious tone—the war was for some very serious things • “God Bless America”

18. Major changes for women • More women in work force (+6 million) • Same old discrimination issues

19. Rosie the Riveter

20. Other minorities on the homefront • African Americans Massive migration • Role of A. Philip Randolph and the Fair Employment Practices Commission • BUT racial tensions

21. Other minorities on the homefront, cont’d… • Mexican Americans • Many contributions to war effort at home and overseas • YET race riots on Los Angeles

22. Other minorities on the homefront, cont’d… • Japanese-Americans • Again-many contributions • YET Hawaii under martial law and the internment of many Japanese-American “citizens” who lived on the West Coast • Forced relocation and imprisonment of both Issei (born in Japan but later became US citizens) and Nisei (born in US) • Supreme Court upholds interments • Korematsu v. US 1944 • Official US apology in 1988

23. Key Military turning points • 1939-1942: Axis = Offensive/Allies = Defensive • 1942: Allies = Offensive/Axis = Defensive • Coral Sea (May 1942) and Midway (June 1942) • Stop Japanese advance in Pacific • British victories in North Africa (1942) • Stop German advance in North African and Mediterranean area • Stalingrad (Summer 1942-Winter 1943) • Russians defend Stalingrad and begin counter-attack against Germans = push Germans back into Germany

24. Key military turning points • The Battle of the Atlantic • Allies control Atlantic Ocean • Able to supply England with goods from America (Lend-Lease)

25. Key issues • 1942-overall tide of war shifts • When to open the “Second Front” • Who gets to go into Berlin first? • Important for US/Soviet Relations • Holocaust issues • Battle of the Bulge: Germany’s last chance (Winter 1944)

26. Post-War Plans • Yalta Conference (February 1945) • Roosevelt, Stalin, Churchill • 1) Russia into war against Japan • 2)Divide and occupy Germany • 3) New international organization • May 1945 Germany surrenders

27. Guess the term • Kellogg-Briand Treaty • Appeasement • Franklin D. Roosevelt • December 7th 1941 • Dictator

28. Guess the term • Rosie the Riveter • Fascism • Rationing • Joseph Stalin • Selective Service Act

29. Allied victory in asia • After Midway and Coral Sea • US on offensive after Battle of Guadacanal”Island Hopping” • Recapture of the Philippines and the Battle of Leyete Gulf (MacArthur) • Capture island = build air fields = launch air attacks directly against Japanese mainland • Iwo Jima (February 1945) 750 miles from Tokyo • Okinawa (April 1945) 350 miles from Tokyo

30. World War II and the A-Bomb • The Manhattan Project • Wanted to counteract Germany’s actions • Wanted to create a viable atom bomb • Encouraged by Einstein

31. The Potsdam Conference • Held in Germany • President Truman made the decision to drop the bomb on Japan (FDR died in April) • On July 26, 1945, the United States demanded that Japan surrender (Germany had surrendered on May 7, 1945)

32. Potsdam Conference cont’d • Prime Minister Suzuki refuses Japanese surrender • The Soviet Union and Great Britain approve plans to proceed with the bombing

33. Little Boy • First A-bomb to be used offensively • Dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 • The flat terrain of the area allowed for more damage • Over 70,000 people died from the blast alone

34. Hiroshima

35. Enola Gay • Name for the plane which dropped the bomb on Hiroshima

36. Fat Man • Dropped on Nagasaki 3 days later • Hilly terrain prevented “less” damage • 45,000 immediate deaths

37. Nagasaki