WORLD WAR II 1939 1945 11.7 Students analyze Americas
participation in World War II
Slide 2
Major Events Before WWII 1.Most of Europe having economic
problems. 2.Treaty of Versailles blamed Germany for WWI; made to
pay $33bil. 3.Soon the Great Depression in the U.S. spread to the
rest of the world. 4.People in various European nations lost faith
in Democratic Govt. lead to the rise of Dictators. 5.Military
Expansion 11.7.1 Students will examine the origins of American
involvement in the war, with an emphasis on the events that
precipitated the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Slide 3
Dictators Adolf Hitler National Socialist Party (Nazi) A leader
of the Nazi Party Appointed Chancellor in 1933 and quickly became
Dictator/known as the Fuhrer or Leader Blamed Treaty of Versailles
and Jews for Germanys problems Believed Germans were the Master
Race
Slide 4
Dictators Benito Mussolini - Fascist Leader of the Fascist
Party 1922 Enough support to have the King name him as prime
minister of the government Also known as Il Duce or The Leader
Overthrown in 1943 and executed in 1945
Slide 5
Dictators Joseph Stalin - Communists In 1924 seized power in
Soviet Union/Russia by eliminating his political enemies Stalin
placed farms and businesses under government control Turned Soviet
Union into a totalitarian state Originally signed peace treaties
with Germany and Japan
Slide 6
MILITARY EXPANSION Japan/Germany/Italy
Slide 7
Reasons for Expansion Japan Small group of islands Short on
resources World wide economic depression affected the peoples faith
in Democratic government Looked towards the military for
leadership
Slide 8
Reasons for Expansion Germany Marched into Austria and took it
over Demanded possession of northwestern Czechoslovakia because 3
mill. Germans lived there Britain and France chose a policy of
appeasement Invaded Poland in 1939
Slide 9
Reasons For Expansion Italy Invaded Ethiopia in North Africa in
1935 Mussolini dreamed of restoring the Roman Empire
Slide 10
WORLD WAR II The war begins
Slide 11
War in Europe Allies unprepared/Dunkirk Thought fighting was
going to be like WWI Germany used new strategy called blitzgrieg
Most of Europe quickly fell to the Axis Powers
Slide 12
BATTLE OF BRITAIN Britain stands alone
Slide 13
Battle of Britain By 1940 most of Europe under Axis control
Attacked civilian targets on purpose Battle of Britain was a 5
month long air war Britain Asks the U.S. to enter the war
Slide 14
Europe Falls Although unsuccessful in Britain, Axis powers very
successful in Europe Hitler next turned his sights east to Russia
Surprise attack on Russia in 1941 Russia enters the war against
Germany
Slide 15
The United States U.S.A In 1940 most Americans did not want to
get involved in European affairs Lend-Lease Act Two U.S. ships sunk
by German U-boats Japan attacks Pearl Harbor 1941 and the U.S.
enters war