Promises of Peace
Bring Darkness
Breakdown of Peace throughout the World
and America’s Return to Isolationism
Today’s Learning Targets
Students will be able to explain how the hostile environment
and difficult economic times led to Joseph Stalin, Benito
Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, and Hideki Tojo’s rise to power.
Students will analyze the policies used to deal with these
leaders and the policies of the American government at home.
Two Forms of Government: Democracy & Dictatorship
These troubled times led to changes
in governments around the world.
Some governments became
democracies while others became
totalitarian regimes.
Hopes for Peace Fall Short
Sadly, the end of World War I simply set the table for World War II to
begin due to the fact that the Treaty of Versailles that ended the war
left many countries very unhappy.
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Soviet Union
Italy
Germany
Japan
Rise of Fascism in Italy
Italy’s turn to extreme government was
due to the fact that Italy felt disrespected
by the other Allies and the government
was weak from the Great Depression.
Benito Mussolini and his new Fascist
Party practiced extreme nationalism and
promised to return Italy to the glory of
the Roman Empire.
Stalin and The Soviet Union
Joseph Stalin became leader of the Communist Party after
the death of Lenin in 1924.
Stalin was a ruthless leader who dreamed of turning the
Soviet Union into an industrial and agricultural power.
Millions of people died during his early reign, but a
combination of fear and propaganda kept Stalin in power.
Nazis Rise to Power in Germany
Following World War I Germany created a
democratic government called the Weimar
Republic, but economic problems and
distrust of the government after the
Treaty of Versailles led to a divided
nation.
This helped lead to Hitler’s rise as a
popular public figure.
Nazis Rise to Power in Germany
Hitler was arrested for attempting to
overthrow the government in 1923. While in
prison he wrote his book Mein Kampf,
attempting to explain the problems facing
Germany.
Hitler expressed many anti-Semitic views,
blaming Jews for many problems facing
Germany and portrayed his party, the Nazis, as
a solution to the economic turmoil and
international disrespect for Germany.
Nazis Rise to Power in Germany
Hitler was appointed chancellor of
Germany of 1933 and by 1935 he was
also president, outlawing all democratic
principles and turning Germany into a
totalitarian government.
By the late 1930’s Hitler had began
rearming Germany and massive public
works projects, effectively ending the
Depression in Germany.
Rise of Militarism in Japan
During the 1920’s Japan’s military
leaders began to see overseas
expansion as their only means to
achieve economic stability and a
say in their own future.
As a response to Japanese
aggression the United States
stopped trading industrial
materials with Japan.
Aggression of the Dictators
While Japan expanded into Asia, Hitler
worked to restore Germany to
greatness through expansion. In 1935,
he took the Saar region from France.
The following year he sent troops into
the Rhineland.
Mussolini also used the growing
military power of Italy to invade North
Africa.
World Response Falls Short
Aggression by these powers went largely
unchecked due the weakness of the League of
Nations and a policy known as appeasement,
granting concessions in an attempt to keep the
peace.
On September 29th, 1938, Britain and France
agreed to surrender the Sudetenland to
Germany in an attempt to avoid war. Instead,
the Munich Pact only delayed war for 11 months.
America’s
Response
Isolationist and Interventionalist Ideals
Four Freedoms Speech
After Roosevelt was reelected, he increased his support for Britain. He started a cash and
carry system with nations in the war. Roosevelt also gave his famous “four freedoms” speech
about the freedom of religion, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and most importantly,
freedom from fear. Roosevelt believed the best way to keep America out of the war was to aid
Britain.
What do you think Roosevelt was talking about when he stated that everyone should be free
from fear?
Four Freedoms Speech
Lend-Lease Act
Britain was the only country left to fight Hitler in Europe and
they were in desperate need of supplies and munitions.
Roosevelt called for America to become the “arsenal of
democracy” and support Britain.
In March 1941, Congress approved the Lend-Lease Act
authorizing Roosevelt to sell, transfer title to, exchange,
lease, lend, or otherwise dispose to any government any
defense article necessary to the defense of the United
States.
The Lend-Lease Act was basically an economic declaration of
war by the United States on the Axis Powers.
The Atlantic Charter
Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt met in secret aboard a warship of the coast of the
Atlantic Ocean. They talked about the war and about their hopes for the world after the defeat
of Hitler.
They signed the Atlantic Charter, a document that endorsed national self-determination and
an international organization to promote international security. The signing of the Atlantic
Charter signified a deepening alliance between the two nations.