Lecture 1a Causes of World War II From a World Perspective

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Lecture 1a Causes of World War II From a
World Perspective

• (A review of Last Years History)

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Harsh Punishment of Germany

• German Surrender Terms ? The Treaty of Versailles
  
• required to admit total blame for starting WWI
• To pay for the total cost of WWI, including homes
  and factories destroyed ammunition uniforms
  and pensions for Allied soldiers. When the treaty
  was signed, estimates for reparations were as
  high as 30 billion (1918 dollars)
• limit the size of their army and turn their naval
  fleet over to the Allies.
• Germany lost all of its colonies and even some of
  its border lands

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Other Territorial Changes

• Austria-Hungary, Germanys chief ally in WWI,
  was divided into four independent nations
  Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia
• Five other independent nations were established
  along Germanys border with the Soviet Union to
  prevent the spread of communism Poland, Finland,
  Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
• Everyone (WWI allies and WWI Central Powers) was
  freaked out by Communism, which called for an end
  to private wealth

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Before WWI
After WWI
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International Organizations Established

• Two international peacekeeping organizations
  were established by the treaty the League of
  Nations and the World Court.
• League member countries were obligated to assist
  one another in stopping international aggression.
  
• The World Court was set up to mediate disputes
  between countries.

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The Harshness of the Treaty of Versailles
Embittered European Relations for a Generation

• In 1923 France invaded part of Germany to force
  payment of reparations
• In 1932 Germany turned to Hitler and the Nazi
  party based on the partys promise to violate the
  terms of the Treaty of Versailles and to return
  honor to Germany
• In the mid 30s Hitler began to act on his
  aggressive promises
• Remilitarized
• Invaded Austria and then other countries
• Mussolini, the Italian dictator who Hitlers
  modeled himself on, became the follower, copying
  Hitlers aggressive policies
• Attacked Ethiopia

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Totalitarianism ? Fascism v Communism

• Totalitarianism
• A government that seeks total control over all
  aspects of life
• Uses technology to ensure this
• Has a great and radical goal for the country
• Fascist Totalitarianism v Communism
  Totalitarianism
• Fascist
• Germany and Italy
• Based on superiority of nation and race
• Goal ? purify race and expand
• Communist
• Russian/Soviet
• Based on the superiority of the working class
• Goal ? destroy class and expand
• In practice, the societies created by each were
  similar
• Propaganda and censorship
• Dictatorship
• Aggressiveness
• No natural rights

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Lecture 1b Causes of World War II From a U.S.
Perspective
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U.S. Reaction to Treaty of Versailles
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America Returns to Isolationism

• Do we remember why?
• Congress feared losing its power to declare war
  to the League of Nations.
• Americans feared being pulled into another
  European/World War.

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Trouble Brewed in Europe, Especially in the 30s,
but the U.S. mostly ignored it
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Why Ignore the Rise of Fascism in Europe?

• In the 1930s, the U.S. had a few other issues
  going on
• GREAT DEPRESSION!!!
• Dust bowl
• Fight over New Deal
• Etc.

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Without the Aid of the U.S., the WWI allies
(Britain and France) followed a policy of
Appeasement

• Appeasement- giving in to a bully to avoid a
  fight
• Dont forget, the Great Depression had spread to
  England and France, too

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The U.S. Could Not Stay Completely Isolated ?
Growing Troubles with Japan

• Japan was the most advanced non-western (think
  non-European or non-white) nation in the
  world
• They were growing tired of being mistreated by
  the west
• Example ? no racial equality clause in Treaty of
  Versailles
• Japan dreamed of building a Pacific Empire to
  become a first rate power
• The U.S. viewed the Pacific as their Sphere of
  Influence (think ? Open Door Policy)
• Japan, inspired by the boldness and successes of
  the Germans and Italians, shifted towards
  Totalitarianism/ Fascism

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Causes of WWII
What were the causes of WWII?
Treaty of Versailles
Aggression
Appeasement
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German bitterness over the loss of WWI and the
harsh punishments of the treaty
Treaty of Versailles
Aggression
Totalitarian leaders tried to deal with the
problems of the 1920s and 1930s by seeking
conquest and revenge
Appeasement
Democratic nations decided not to challenge
Totalitarian Aggression, hoping to deal with
other problems and avoid another terrible world
war.
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Hansen Name ___________________U.S.
History Period __________________ Causes
of World War II

• Lecture 1a ? From a World Perspective
• ___________ of Germany
• German Surrender Terms ? The Treaty of Versailles
  
• required to admit total __________________________
  
• To _______________________ , including homes and
  factories destroyed ammunition uniforms and
  pensions for Allied soldiers. When the treaty was
  signed, estimates for ___________ were as high as
  _____________ (1918 dollars)
• ____________________________________________
  ____________________________________________
• Germany lost all of its colonies and even
  ___________ ______________________________________
  ______
• Other Territorial Changes
• _____________________ , Germanys chief ally in
  WWI, was divided into four independent nations
  Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and
  ________________________
• Five other independent nations were established
  along Germanys border ___________________________
  ____ to prevent __________________________________
  __ Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and
  Lithuania
• Everyone (__________ and ____________________)
  was freaked out by Communism, which called for
  ____ ____________________________________________
• International Organizations Established
• Two international ________________________________
  ___ by the treaty the League of Nations and the
  World Court.
• League member countries were ____________________
  ___ ______________________________________________
  ___.
• The World Court was set up ______________________
  __ between countries.
• The Harshness of the Treaty of Versailles
  Embittered European Relations for a Generation
• In 1923 France ___________________________________
  _ ________________________________________________
  _
• In 1932 Germany turned to ________________________
  ___ on the partys promise to ____________________
  _ of the Treaty of Versailles and
  ____________________ to Germany
• In the mid 30s Hitler began to act on his
  aggressive promises

• Mussolini, the Italian dictator who Hitlers
  modeled himself on, ______________________________
  ____ ___________________________________________
• Attacked _______________
• Totalitarianism ? Communism v Fascism
• Totalitarianism
• A government that seeks __________________
  _________________________________________
• Uses technology to ensure this
• Has a great and radical ______________________
• Fascist Totalitarianism v Communism
  Totalitarianism
• Fascist
• _________________________________
• Based on superiority of ________________
• Goal ? ____________________________
• Communist
• ________________________________
• Based on the superiority of _____________
  ___________________________________
• Goal ? ____________________________
• In practice, the societies created by each were
  similar
• _________________________________
• Dictatorship

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• Without the Aid of the U.S., the WWI allies
  (Britain and France) followed a policy of
  Appeasement
• Appeasement- ____________________________________
  ________________________________________________
• Dont forget, the Great Depression had
  ________________ _________________________________
  _______________
• The U.S. Could Not Stay Completely Isolated ?
  ______________ ________________________
• Japan was the _________________________________
  (think non-European or non-white)
  ___________________
• They were growing tired of being
  ______________________
• Example ? ________________________________ in
  Treaty of Versailles
• Japan dreamed of building a ______________________
  ____ _____________________________________________
  ____
• The U.S. viewed the Pacific as their
  __________________ ______________ (think ?
  __________________________)
• Japan, inspired by the ___________________________
  ____ _____________________ , shifted towards
  ______________ _______________________________
• Causes of World War II
• Treaty of Versailles - ___________________________
  __________ _______________________________________
  __________
• Aggression - _____________________________________
  ______ ___________________________________________
  ______
• Appeasement - ____________________________________
  ______ ___________________________________________
  ______