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World War II Study Guide

Causes:

1. Totalitarianismy Unresolved Problems from WWI

i. Treaty of Versailles1. Big war reparations for Germany2. War blame clause put shame to Germans3. Germans believed they lost land in the treaty

a. Hitler used all of those to come to poweri. Claimed he was bringing glory back to Germany

4. Japan also resented it, wanted more power in the Pacificy Great Depression

i. High unemployment, bad inflation, etc. allowed totalitarians to come intopower

1. People were desperatea. Totalitarian leaders (Hitler in Germany , Stalin in USSR,

Mussolini in Italy, Franco in Spain) promised a better economy,new glory to the country, people believed them

2. Especially bad with Nazi party comin into powery Nazis In power in Germany

i. Rearmed, even though it broke the treaty of Versaillesii. Wanted to unite all countries with German speaking people took over Austria

and Rhineland

1. Britain and france let him go didnt want to start another war2. Political ties around the world

y FDR blocked the London Economic Conference that tried to help the great depressiony Neutrality acts

i. US trying to stay neutral at firsty Mussolini and Hitler ally in Rome-Berlin axisy Spanish civil war

i. Fascist Francisco Franco comes to powerii. Germany and Italy tested out war materials like planes and tanks during the war

y Japan invades Chinai. Trying to become imperialistic

y Munich Conferencei. Allied powers appease hitler, say no war as long as he doesnt invade any more

land

y Germany invades Poland, WWII officially starts3.

US entry into the war

y Neutrality act of 1939i. Cash and carry war supplies for any nation, but greatly supported Britain

y Lend-lease acti. economic declaration of war greatly helped Britain

y Many countries (france, dennmark, Norway, Belgium, netherlands) fall to axisy Us embargoed Japan & froze assets in Japan

i. Lead to pearl harbor attack

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MAIN IDEAS

y Treaty of Versailles sucked, put too much blame on Germany, so Germany resented it reallybad when Germany broke the treaty no other nation stood up to stop them because of fears

of starting a new war

y The great depression was a perfect time for totalitarian leaders to come to power. People werehungry and poor, and new leaders promised a better life, so the people followed them like

sheep.

y As totalitarian dictators started expanding outward, all ies did almost nothing. US tried to remainneutral no matter what

y When war finally started, US still tried to stay out, but obviously favored the allies. Bad traderelations with Japan lead to pearl harbor and us entry into war.