Chapter 24A World In Flames

Section 1

America and the World

The Rise of Dictators

• The treaty that ended WWI and the economic depression that followed contributed to the rise of dictatorships in Europe and Asia.

Italy

• 1st major dictatorship in Europe

• 1919 Benito Mussolini founded Italy’s Fascist Party. (anti-communist)

• Fascism = aggressive nationalism

• They believe the nation is more important than the individual, and that a nation became great by expanding its territory and building its military.

Benito Mussolini

• Backed by the Blackshirts.

USSR

• 1917 – Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, set up Communist gov’t throughout the Russian empire.

• 1922 - Renamed Union of Soviet Socialist Republic.

• One-party rule

USSR

• 1926 – Joseph Stalin became the new dictator.

• 1927 – began to industrialize the country.

• Millions who resisted were killed.

Germany

• New parties rose in Germany.

• Nazi Party was anti-communist and nationalistic.

• Adolf Hitler, called for unification under one gov’t.

Germany

• Believed Germans were part of a “master race” destined to rule the world.

• Felt Jews were responsible for the worlds problems.

• 1933 Hitler appointed Prime Minister.

Germany

• Storm Troopers intimidated voters into giving Hitler dictorial powers.

Japan

• Many Japanese wanted to seize territory to gain needed resources.

• 1931- w/o permission, the army invaded Manchuria.

• Military took control of Japan.

America Turns to Neutrality

• The Nye Committee documented the huge profits that arms factories had made during the war.

• People believed this influenced America into war.

• Americans began to support isolationism.

Legislating Neutrality

• Neutrality Act of 1935 – made it illegal for Americans to sell arms to any country at war.

• Neutrality Act of 1937 – ctd. the ban and required nonmilitary supplies from the U.S. on a “cash and carry” basis.

Rome-Berlin Axis

• After the Spanish Civil War began in 1936, Hitler and Mussolini signed an agreement pledging to cooperate on several issues.

Anti-Comintern Pact

• The following month Japan aligned itself with Germany and Italy.

• Pact required the 2 countries to exchange info about Communist groups.

• These 3 countries became known as the AXIS POWERS

FDR & Internationalism

• FDR supported internationalism – trade b/w nations creates prosperity and helps prevent war.

Japan Goes to War

• 1937 – Japan launched a full scale attack on China.

• Roosevelt authorized the sale of weapons to China, saying that the Neutrality Act of 1937 did not apply, since neither side actually declared war.

End of Section 1

Next: Section 2

World War II Begins