The Rise of DictatorsThe Axis Powers

The Debate at homeDeclaring War

• How does democracy differ from communism and socialism?

• What were the causes for WWII?• Who were the leaders for the Axis and Allied

powers?• How did the attack on Pearl Harbor change the

American public’s view of entering into WWII?

Rise of the DictatorsJust like the United States, most of the

world was stuck in an economic depression. People had lost

confidence in their governments and believed that things would never get better. People turned to new leaders who promised to make their troubles

disappear.

People were so desperate for a change, they were even willing to give up their freedom. This led to the rise

of dictators in several countries. A dictator is a leader who gains complete

control of a country’s government.

Adolf Hitler became the dictator of Germany in 1933. Hitler and his

political party, called the Nazi party, believed in fascism. This is a form of

government which individual freedoms are denied and complete power is given to the government. Hitler

believed that Germans were superior to other people.

Hitler spoke of hatred for many groups. He particularly attacked Jewish people.

Benito Mussolini took power in Italy in the early 1920’s and promised to attack and

conquer other countries.

In Japan, a small group of military leaders came to power. They planned to use force

to build a massive empire in East Asia.

The Axis Powers

Hitler and Mussolini signed a treaty agreeing to support each other. Japan joined this alliance and they became

known as the Axis Powers.

The world watched as the Axis Powers went on the attack. Italy invaded

Ethiopia and made it a colony. Japan invaded China and Germany took

control of Austria and Czechoslovakia.

In 1939 German forces prepared to invade Poland. The leaders of Britain and France decided it was time to try

and stop Hitler. Britain and France became known as the Allied Powers

and promised to protect Poland.

Hitler ignored the Allied Powers and rushed into Poland. In response

Britain and France declared war on Germany. Thus the beginning of World

War II.

The German military was very successful in the early years of World

War II. After defeating the Poland army, the German army moved west.

Hitler’s massive army quickly conquered nearly all of Western

Europe. France fell to Germans in June 1940. Now Britain stood alone to fight

against the Axis.

The Debate at Home

Americans read of the war in the newspapers. German planes were pounding London and other British

cities. Winston Churchill, the leader of the British government, had to move

his offices underground. Churchill urged President Roosevelt to help

Great Britain.

Most Americans wanted to stay out of the fighting. They remembered the

horrors of WWI. Also the country was still suffering from the Great

Depression. Many Americans wanted their government to focus on the

troubles at home. This lead to strong support of isolationism.

FDR and Congress declared that Great Britain would borrow military supplies it needed to fight the Axis. The US did

not ask for payment for the military supplies.

Declaring War

Like Germany, Japan had great military success in the early years of WWII. Japanese forces controlled much of China and Southeast Asia. The US

spoke out against Japanese expansion. This lead to tension between the

Japanese and the US.

The military leader of Japan, Hideki Tojo, believed that the US was

standing in the way of Japan’s goals. Tojo and other Japanese leaders

decided to attack.

On the morning of December 7, 1941 Japanese planes bombed the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Japanese bombs sank many American warships and destroyed hundreds of American planes. More than 2,300 American soldiers, sailors, and civilians were

killed.

People who were isolationists were suddenly calling for war against Japan.

On December 8 FDR and Congress declared war on Japan. Germany and Italy quickly declared war on the US. The US was now one of the Allies.

How does democracy differ from communism and socialism?

What were the causes for WWII?

Who were the leaders for the Axis and Allied powers?

How did the attack on Pearl Harbor change the American public’s view of entering into WWII?