Ch 19: A World in Flames 1931-1941

Section 1: America and the World

Fascism in Italy

• Promoted by Benito Mussolini– Soldier in WWI

• Believed:– that the nation is more important than the individual– in the need of a dictator for order– Expanding territory for strength– Expanding the military– Anti-communism

Mussolini

• Protected private property• Helped the middle class• Employed the working class• Gave out social security• Used pride to get to the top• Set up a dictatorship/got rid of democracy

Communists of Russia

• Took over after WWI under Vladimir Lenin• Renamed Russia USSR (Union of Soviet

Socialist Republics)• One party ruled the gov’t• Ignored personal freedom• Punished enemies of the state

Joseph Stalin• Took over in the USSR in 1926• Increased factory production• Killed all those against his agenda– 8-10 million people were murdered

Nazi Party of Germany

• National Socialist German Workers’ Party• Nationalistic• Anti-communist• Hated the Allies from WWI for how the

Germans were treated/had to take the blame• WAS NOT STARTED BY HITLER• Was voted into power during the Depression

Adolf Hitler

• Admired Mussolini• Arrested in 1923 after trying to overthrow the gov’t• Wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle)– Wanted to unify the Germans– Wanted more land-take over Poland/Russia– Blamed Jews for Germany’s loss in WWI

Hitler’s Rise to Power

• 1933: appointed prime minister of Germany– Gave orders for police to intimidate voters

• 1934: became president– Took the title of fuhrer “leader”

• 1935: started building up the military– Violation of the Treaty of Versailles

Militarism in Japan

• 1920s-Japan was run by businesses– Depression limited growth– Rise in unemployment

• 1930s-Japanese officers wanted to expand Japan’s greatness to takeover China– Invaded China without gov’t permission– Killed Japan’s prime minister– Took over gov’t positions

America Wants Isolation• Stay out of the war because:– European countries were not repaying WWI debts– Believed U.S. was tricked into WWI by gun

companies

• Neutrality Act of 1935:– Made it illegal for the U.S. to sell arms to any

country at war

Germany, Italy, and Japan Become Allies in 1936

• Hitler pledged to help Mussolini during the Spanish Civil War (Rome-Berlin Axis)

• Anti-Comintern Pact:– Japan became allies to Germany and Italy in

exchange of information about communist groups

• Became known as the Axis powers in 1940

Neutrality Act of 1937• Allowed countries at war to buy non-military

goods from the U.S.• The countries had to pay cash for the goods

and had to send ships to pick up the supplies• U.S. wanted to prevent another Lusitania

Incident

Roosevelt’s Ideas

• Wanted to end the Depression• Didn’t like isolationism (believes it will lead to

war)• Supported internationalism:– Trade between nations creates prosperity and

helps to prevent war• Will send military supplies to China to fight

Japan (non-war effort since Japanese gov’t didn’t declare war)