The Causes of World War II

    Learning Goal: NJCCCS: 6.1.12.D.11.a
   Evaluate the effectiveness of international
agreements following World War I in preventing
  international disputes during the 1920s and
                     1930s.
Treaty of Versailles
Rise of Italian fascism
Rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party
Great Depression
Japanese expansionism
Anti-communism
Appeasement
Militarism
Nationalism
U.S. isolationism
Maps
Treaty of
                         Versailles
                                        Rise of
          Rise of
                                       fascism in
           Hitler
                                          Italy



                                                Japanese
Nationalism
                       Major Causes           expansionism
                            of
                       World War II


                                             Economic
   Militarism
                                             depression


                                    Anti-
                Appeasement
                                 communism
Treaty of Versailles
  After Germany lost WWI, the winning nations drafted a
treaty to address issues such as territorial adjustments,
reparations, armament restrictions, war guilt and the
League of Nations.
 The treaty punished Germany and left bitter feelings.
 Germany was forced to accept all the blame for the war
and pay millions in reparations to Britain and France.
  Italy was disappointed that it was denied territory
promised by Britain and France.




                                 British
                                  Prime
                                 Minister
                                 George
                                            Italian
                                             Prime
                                            Minister   French Prime
                                                                        U.S.
                                            Orlando       Minister
                                                                      President
                                                        Clemenceau
                                                                       Wilson
1914               1919
                                             “Big Four”
The Rise of Fascism in Italy

Fascism is a totalitarian
  form of government
        which:
  Glorifies the state
  Has one leader and
one party
  All aspects of society
are controlled by the
government
  No opposition or
protests are tolerated
                               Benito Mussolini came to
  Propaganda and
                               power in 1922 and helped
censorship are widely        found the political ideology of
practiced                   fascism. He sided with the Axis
                                    powers in 1940.
In Germany, depression, unemployment and
   hard times led to a dramatic increase in votes
           for Hitler and the Nazi Party.
    Election date       Votes in     Share
                        millions
May 20, 1928              0.81       2.6%

September 14, 1930        6.41       18.3%

July 31, 1932            13.75       37.3%

November 6, 1932         11.74       33.1%

March 5, 1933            17.28       43.9%

   Voting for Hitler’s party increased as
        unemployment rates rose
Worldwide Economic Depression
  After WWI many European
economies were unstable.
  The boom in the U.S.
throughout the 1920s helped
sustain worldwide trade.
  The 1929 stock market crash
in the U.S. and the resulting            German breadlines
Great Depression spread
throughout the world. U.S.
restrictive tariff policies
worsened the depression.
  As economies plummeted and
unemployment rose, many
people turned to powerful
leaders and governments who
promised success through
military buildup and the          Japanese children eating
                                  radish roots during famine
conquest of territory.
Japanese Expansionism
   In 1931 Japan
invaded Manchuria for
raw materials.
    The same year, Japan
began to attack China,
with full-scale war
breaking out in 1937 in
the Sino-Japanese War.
    In 1938, war broke
out between Japan and
the Soviet Union in what
were known as the
Soviet-Japanese Border
Wars.
Anti-Communism

                               Under communism, all
                             means of production are
                             controlled by the
                             government, as are property,
                             the media, and all other
                             aspects of society.
                               The 1930s saw the rise of
                             many totalitarian regimes;
                             but most people chose
                             fascism over communism.
                               Hitler exploited people’s
                             fear of a communist takeover
                             in Germany to rise to power
                             in 1933.

A Battle for Germany: Nazi
anti-communist book from
           1933
Appeasement

  Appeasement is the act of
giving in to an enemy’s
demands in hopes of
avoiding further conflict.
  In 1938, Hitler demanded
that Czechoslovakia cede
the Sudetenland to
Germany. He claimed that
the German population
living there was being
mistreated.
  The British and French
prime ministers agreed to
Hitler’s demands without
consulting Czechoslovakian
leaders, in the hopes that
this would avoid a war in
Europe.
Militarism

     The glorification of
war, in which a nation
strengthens its military
and stockpiles weapons
in preparation for war.
      An important
aspect of militarism is
                                      Hitler Youth group
that the glorification of
war is incorporated into
all levels of society,
including education of
the nation’s youth.
    Militaristic societies
have existed
throughout human
history.
                              Ancient Sparta is an example of a
                                     militaristic society
Nationalism

Nationalism is the
belief in the
superiority of one’s
own nation over all
others.
In the extreme, it
can lead to major
                                     Nazi flag, Italian fascist logo,
conflicts between                            Japanese flag
nations.
Hitler, Mussolini,
and Japan’s Tojo each
touted their nation’s
ability to dominate all
others in the years
leading up to WWII.
American Isolationism

    The failure of peace
efforts such as the Kellogg
Briand Treaty during the
1920s disillusioned many
Americans about
international involvement.
    The U.S. was in a major
depression throughout the
1930s and was mostly
concerned with its own
problems.                        The Nye Committee held
    Conflict in Europe        congressional hearings in the
                              mid-1930s, concluding that the
seemed distant, and the
                              U.S. was tricked into entering
U.S. tried to remain           WWI by arms manufacturers
neutral. This policy              and Allied propaganda.
weakened the European
democracies.
Theaters of War: Where WWII Was Fought




     Europe
                                                  Atlantic
                 Asia
North                                             Ocean
Africa
                          Pacific
HITLER’S
  WWII
PARTNERS
India




Brazil




         THE ALLIED
         POWERS IN
           WWII

12.1.1 causes of world war ii

  • 1.
    The Causes ofWorld War II Learning Goal: NJCCCS: 6.1.12.D.11.a Evaluate the effectiveness of international agreements following World War I in preventing international disputes during the 1920s and 1930s.
  • 2.
    Treaty of Versailles Riseof Italian fascism Rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party Great Depression Japanese expansionism Anti-communism Appeasement Militarism Nationalism U.S. isolationism Maps
  • 3.
    Treaty of Versailles Rise of Rise of fascism in Hitler Italy Japanese Nationalism Major Causes expansionism of World War II Economic Militarism depression Anti- Appeasement communism
  • 4.
    Treaty of Versailles After Germany lost WWI, the winning nations drafted a treaty to address issues such as territorial adjustments, reparations, armament restrictions, war guilt and the League of Nations. The treaty punished Germany and left bitter feelings. Germany was forced to accept all the blame for the war and pay millions in reparations to Britain and France. Italy was disappointed that it was denied territory promised by Britain and France. British Prime Minister George Italian Prime Minister French Prime U.S. Orlando Minister President Clemenceau Wilson 1914 1919 “Big Four”
  • 5.
    The Rise ofFascism in Italy Fascism is a totalitarian form of government which: Glorifies the state Has one leader and one party All aspects of society are controlled by the government No opposition or protests are tolerated Benito Mussolini came to Propaganda and power in 1922 and helped censorship are widely found the political ideology of practiced fascism. He sided with the Axis powers in 1940.
  • 6.
    In Germany, depression,unemployment and hard times led to a dramatic increase in votes for Hitler and the Nazi Party. Election date Votes in Share millions May 20, 1928 0.81 2.6% September 14, 1930 6.41 18.3% July 31, 1932 13.75 37.3% November 6, 1932 11.74 33.1% March 5, 1933 17.28 43.9% Voting for Hitler’s party increased as unemployment rates rose
  • 7.
    Worldwide Economic Depression After WWI many European economies were unstable. The boom in the U.S. throughout the 1920s helped sustain worldwide trade. The 1929 stock market crash in the U.S. and the resulting German breadlines Great Depression spread throughout the world. U.S. restrictive tariff policies worsened the depression. As economies plummeted and unemployment rose, many people turned to powerful leaders and governments who promised success through military buildup and the Japanese children eating radish roots during famine conquest of territory.
  • 8.
    Japanese Expansionism In 1931 Japan invaded Manchuria for raw materials. The same year, Japan began to attack China, with full-scale war breaking out in 1937 in the Sino-Japanese War. In 1938, war broke out between Japan and the Soviet Union in what were known as the Soviet-Japanese Border Wars.
  • 9.
    Anti-Communism Under communism, all means of production are controlled by the government, as are property, the media, and all other aspects of society. The 1930s saw the rise of many totalitarian regimes; but most people chose fascism over communism. Hitler exploited people’s fear of a communist takeover in Germany to rise to power in 1933. A Battle for Germany: Nazi anti-communist book from 1933
  • 10.
    Appeasement Appeasementis the act of giving in to an enemy’s demands in hopes of avoiding further conflict. In 1938, Hitler demanded that Czechoslovakia cede the Sudetenland to Germany. He claimed that the German population living there was being mistreated. The British and French prime ministers agreed to Hitler’s demands without consulting Czechoslovakian leaders, in the hopes that this would avoid a war in Europe.
  • 11.
    Militarism The glorification of war, in which a nation strengthens its military and stockpiles weapons in preparation for war. An important aspect of militarism is Hitler Youth group that the glorification of war is incorporated into all levels of society, including education of the nation’s youth. Militaristic societies have existed throughout human history. Ancient Sparta is an example of a militaristic society
  • 12.
    Nationalism Nationalism is the beliefin the superiority of one’s own nation over all others. In the extreme, it can lead to major Nazi flag, Italian fascist logo, conflicts between Japanese flag nations. Hitler, Mussolini, and Japan’s Tojo each touted their nation’s ability to dominate all others in the years leading up to WWII.
  • 13.
    American Isolationism The failure of peace efforts such as the Kellogg Briand Treaty during the 1920s disillusioned many Americans about international involvement. The U.S. was in a major depression throughout the 1930s and was mostly concerned with its own problems. The Nye Committee held Conflict in Europe congressional hearings in the mid-1930s, concluding that the seemed distant, and the U.S. was tricked into entering U.S. tried to remain WWI by arms manufacturers neutral. This policy and Allied propaganda. weakened the European democracies.
  • 14.
    Theaters of War:Where WWII Was Fought Europe Atlantic Asia North Ocean Africa Pacific
  • 15.
  • 16.
    India Brazil THE ALLIED POWERS IN WWII

Editor's Notes

  • #17 These are the nations that had a substantial number of soldiers involved in the fighting.