Foreign Policy Tensions
The Inter-War Years 1920-39
Interventionism
•  World is
interconnected/
”US as Policeman”
•  Collective security
•  Global economy
Isolationism
•  Disarm/Reduce $
spent on military
•  Who cares what
happens in Europe/
Asia
•  America First and
Only
Causes of War
1) Old WWI Issues
–  Treaty of Versailles created bitter feelings
–  Reparations =distrust/hatred in Germany
–  Rivalries renewed (France/Germany) over land/
prestige
2) World Wide Economic Depression
–  “Desperate times call for desperate measures”
–  Need for New Leaders
–  Rebuild a new economy from scratch
–  Install Pride, jobs, and $$$
Causes of War
3)  Rise of Fascism/Dangerous Leadership
Fascism=
–  Aggressive Nationalism and Excessive Pride
–  Dictators/Totalitarian Leadership
–  Complete Government control
–  Reduce people’s Civil Rights
–  Militaristic/Expansionist
Causes of War
4) Militarism (Aggressive Expansion)
–  Germany (Europe)
–  Italy (Ethiopia)
–  Japan (Manchuria/China)
–  All spread beyond their borders!!
dictators
Totalitarian dictators
came to power
during the 1920s and
1930s in Europe.
Mussolini
Stalin
Tojo/Emperor
Hitler
Totalitarian dictators have total power….There are no freedoms
in this type of society…..Usually racist and discriminatory towards
certain groups……Often have large militaries and must expand and
conquer to gain approval from their people. COMMUNISM, FASCISM
AND NAZISM ARE TOTALITARIAN DICTATORSHIPS!
dictators
• Benito Mussolini
• 1922/Italy---Fascism
• Believe, Obey and
Fight
• Revive the Roman
Empire
• Joins Hitler in Rome/Berlin
Axis Agreement
• Joseph Stalin
• 1921/Soviet Union
Communism
• Spread Communism
throughout the world
• Stalin maneuvered himself into becoming the leader
of the Soviet Union.
• The Russian Revolution was led by the people to
overthrow a monarch but when the new ruling class
took over, there were no protections of people’s
rights…… “NO BILL OF RIGHTS”
• Communism and fascism are similar in their
ideologies
dictators
• Considered a
descendent of the Sun
God
• Worshipped in Japan
• Rules 1926 to 1989.
• Japan’s Manifest
Destiny was to expand
into China and the rest
of Asia.
Emperor Hirohito • Empire of the Sun
dictators
• 1931/Japan,
expansionist and
military leader
• Assassination of
civilian prime
minister
• Moves into
Manchuria and
China
Hideki Tojo
• Planned the Pearl
Harbor attack
dictators
The Rise of Dictators cont…
•  Hitler and Nazism in Germany
–  Adolph Hitler
•  Anticommunist
•  Fought in WWI – was nearly killed twice in the
war
•  Was angered by Germany’s sign of the Treaty of
Versailles and depression that sets in afterwards.
–  Nazi Party=National Socialist German Workers
Party. Hitler head by 1923.
–  Tries revolution in Bavaria- Imprisoned
–  Writes Mein Kampf in prison- outlines goals of
party and practices oratory skills.
The Rise of Dictators cont…
•  Hitler and Nazism in Germany cont…
–  By 1932 = Nazi Party =largest; Chancellor. Wants
more power.
–  Uses intimidation and fear to continue rise.
–  1934 Hitler = President/Fuhrer or leader. Total
control over Germany.
–  Ignores Treat of Versailles
–  Now Hitler focused on building up his war machine
and expanding German borders.
• Adolph Hitler, fought
in WWI and hated the
Treaty of Versailles
• 1920s, became
involved with the
NAZI party which
wanted to restore
German pride.
• Became dictator of
Germany in 1933.
• Create a new empire, “Third Reich”
• Revenge towards the Treaty of Versailles
• Rearm Germany
• Take back land lost from WWI
dictators
Main Causes
•  WWI issues
•  Depression world wide
•  Fascism- What it stands for/Dangerous
Leadership
•  Axis Powers- Expansion
–  Mussolini (Italy) Ethiopia
–  Hitler (Germany) (Rhineland/Czech/Poland)
–  Emperor Hirohito/Tojo (Japan) - Manchuria/
China