The World Leading Into WWII-Part One Review

Democracy Struggles in Japan-Questions 1

1. Japan’s parliamentary government had many weaknesses.

a. It’s constitution put significant limits on the prime minister & cabinet.

b. Civilian leaders had very little control over the armed forces since military leaders reported directly to the emperor.

Militarists Take Control of Japan-Question 2

2. The financial/economic prosperity of the country kept the troubled gov’t afloat. When the depression hit in 1930, support for the gov’t declined.

Militarists Take Control of Japan-Question 3

3. The militarists wanted to restore traditional control of the gov’t to the military. They made the emperor the symbol of state power. Keeping Emperor Hirohito head of state won support for the leaders that ruled in his name.

Militarists Take Control of Japan-Question 4

4. They wanted to solve Japan’s economic problems through foreign expansion. This empire would provide them with raw materials, markets for its goods, and give Japan room for its rising population.

Japan Invades Manchuria Questions 5-7

4. Manchuria is located in north east China.5. The Japanese army seized Manchuria in 1931. Manchuria was rich in resources like iron & coal. 6. The League of Nations responded by protesting & condemning Japan’s decisions, but it could not do anything about it.

Mussolini Invades Ethiopia 8-9

8. Mussolini’s dream was to build a colonial empire in Africa like that of Britain and France.9. Ethiopia was one of the four remaining independent nations. The country had also successfully resisted Italian take over in the 1890s.

Mussolini Invades Ethiopia 10-11

10. Haile Selassie was the emperor of Ethiopia. He appealed to the League of Nations for help against Italy’s aggression.11. The League of Nations condemned Mussolini’s actions but did not take any meaningful steps to stop him.

Hitler Defies Versailles Treaty Questions 12

12. In 1935, Hitler declared that he would not obey the military restrictions placed on Germany in the Treaty of Versailles. (In fact, rebuilding of Germany’s armed forces had already begun.) The League of Nations issued a “mild condemnation” of his actions.

Hitler Defies Versailles Treaty Questions 13

13. In March 1936, Hitler moved his troops into the Rhineland, which Germany was forbidden to enter per the Treaty of Versailles. (It was supposed to form a buffer zone between France and Germany.)

Rhineland

Hitler Defies Versailles Treaty Questions 14-15

14. The French were stunned and unwilling to risk war. The British urged appeasement.15. It strengthened Hitler’s power and prestige within Germany. France and Belgium were now open to attack by the Germans. And, the weak response of the French and British encouraged Hitler to speed up his military and territorial expansion.

Hitler Defies Versailles Treaty Questions 16

16. •Rome-Berlin Axis-Alliance between Italy & Germany•Axis Powers-Germany, Italy, and Japan

The World Leading Into WWII-Part Two

America’s Policy of Isolationism

•As this was happening in Europe America took on a policy of isolationism – avoiding political ties with other countries.

America’s Policy of Isolationism

•America felt it had been a mistake in getting involved in World War I and passed a series of Neutrality Acts.

The German Reich Expands

• In 1937, Hitler told his advisors his plans for expanding the Third Reich (German Empire). •He said that they would take over

Austria (against the Treaty of Versailles) and then take over Poland/Russia.

The German Reich Expands

• In 1938, Hitler annexes Austria.• France and Britain

do not want another conflict, so they decide not to intervene.

The German Reich Expands

• In 1938, Hitler demanded that Czechoslovakia give Germany the Sudetenland, a part of Czechoslovakia where many German speakers lived.•Czechoslovakia refused.

Sudetenland