Steps to WarChapter 26 Section 1

Rise of DictatorsBy 1930’s dictators had seized control in several countries

ItalyGermanyJapanSoviet Union

Their rise to power was due to the economic and political conditions created by World War I

Italy

Mussolini

Hitler

Stalin Tojo

Bitter Legacy of WW1The treaties that ended World War I did not resolve any issues Japan and Italy: dissatisfiedGermany: 100% blameEurope was in ruins Great Depression worldwide

Italy’s DictatorBenito Mussolini: Italian Fascist dictatorCame to power in Italy in 1922 and began fascismFascism: political philosophy that advocates a strong nationalistic dictatorshipExtreme form of patriotism or nationalism

Germany’s DictatorAdolf Hitler: German dictator; Nazi Party headNational Socialist German Workers PartyBelieved in German racial superiorityBecame chancellor of Germany in 1932, and then took over the government

Soviet Union’s DictatorJoseph Stalin: Communist dictator of the Soviet UnionTook power in 1924 after the death of Vladimir LeninStalin controlled every aspect of life in the nationHe crushed any opposition

Japan’s DictatorHideki Tojo: Prime Minister of Japan 1941-1944The military increased its power in JapanTojo became Prime Minister in 1941As the war progressed, he assumed dictatorial power

Describe what brought dictators to power

Answer:Dictators came to power because

countries were looking for a way out of financial ruin caused by World War

I, the Great Depression, and mass unemployment

Essential Question

Axis Aggression

In 1936, Hitler and Mussolini formed an alliance called the Rome-Berlin AxisAxis: The Rome-Berlin Axis, the alliance between Mussolini and Hitler, later joined by Japan

Germany takes over1938: Hitler invades Austria, home to mostly German-speaking peoplesHitler then looks to the Sudetenland, a region of CzechoslovakiaFrance, and Great Britain pledged their support to Czechoslovakia if Germany was to attack…

World War II Begins…March 1939, Hitler conquers the rest of CzechoslovakiaHitler then threatened to seize Polish territoryFrance and Britain warned Hitler that an attack on Poland would mean war….

Germany Starts the WarAugust 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union agreed not to attack each otherGermany then invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Two days later, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany

Allies Under Attack

June 1940, Germany invades FranceHitler plans to invade Great Britain next….Germany’s Luftwaffe fought Britain’s RAFGreat Britain did not surrender!

America to the RescueLend-Lease Act: allowed the United States to lend weapons to alliesThe United States sent Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and other Allies about $50 billion worth of goodsRemaining neutral, we did not send men….

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor: U.S. Naval base attacked by Japanese forces on December 7. 19412,400 Americans, both service men and civilians died. U.S. warplanes and ships destroyed, leaving the U.S. fleet devastated.Pearl Harbor Video

Pear

l Harbor

U.S. Enters the WarDecember 7, 1941, “a date that will live in infamy”Roosevelt asked congress to declare war on Japan!On December 11, Japan’s allies Germany and Italy declared war on the United States…

Describe the events that led to World War II

Answer:

1. Germany invaded Poland2. Britain and France declared war on

Germany two days later

Essential Question