Causes of World War IICauses of World War II

BackgroundBackground

Many historians trace the causes of World War II Many historians trace the causes of World War II to problems left unsolved by World War I (1914-to problems left unsolved by World War I (1914-1918). 1918). World War I and the treaties that ended it also World War I and the treaties that ended it also created new political and economic problems. created new political and economic problems. Forceful leaders in several countries took Forceful leaders in several countries took advantage of those problems to seize power. advantage of those problems to seize power. The desire of dictators in Germany, Italy, and The desire of dictators in Germany, Italy, and Japan to conquer additional territory brought Japan to conquer additional territory brought them into conflict with democratic nations.them into conflict with democratic nations.

The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles

After World War I ended, representatives of the After World War I ended, representatives of the victorious nations met in Paris in 1919 to draw victorious nations met in Paris in 1919 to draw up peace treaties for the defeated countries. up peace treaties for the defeated countries. The treaties, known together as the Peace of The treaties, known together as the Peace of Paris, followed a long and bitter war. Paris, followed a long and bitter war. They were worked out in haste by countries with They were worked out in haste by countries with opposing goals and failed to satisfy even the opposing goals and failed to satisfy even the victors. victors. Of all the countries on the winning side, Italy and Of all the countries on the winning side, Italy and Japan left the peace conference most Japan left the peace conference most dissatisfied. dissatisfied.

The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles

Italy gained less territory than it felt it Italy gained less territory than it felt it deserved and vowed to take action on its deserved and vowed to take action on its own. own. Japan gained control of German territories Japan gained control of German territories in the Pacific and thereby launched a in the Pacific and thereby launched a program of expansion. program of expansion. But Japan was angered by the But Japan was angered by the peacemakers' failure to endorse the peacemakers' failure to endorse the principle of the equality of all races. principle of the equality of all races.

The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles

The countries that lost World War I—The countries that lost World War I—Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey—were especially dissatisfied with Turkey—were especially dissatisfied with the Peace of Paris. the Peace of Paris.

They were stripped of territory and arms They were stripped of territory and arms and were required to make and were required to make reparationsreparations (payments for war damages).(payments for war damages).

The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles, which was signed The Treaty of Versailles, which was signed with Germany, punished Germany with Germany, punished Germany severely. severely. The German government agreed to sign The German government agreed to sign the treaty only after the victorious powers the treaty only after the victorious powers threatened to invade. threatened to invade. Many Germans particularly resented a Many Germans particularly resented a clause that forced Germany to accept clause that forced Germany to accept responsibility for causing World War I.responsibility for causing World War I.

Worldwide DepressionWorldwide Depression

After World War I, most countries in the After World War I, most countries in the world began to prosper. world began to prosper.

American enjoyed a time called “The American enjoyed a time called “The Roaring Twenties.” Roaring Twenties.”

People felt good about the economy. People felt good about the economy.

They believed that they had a chance to They believed that they had a chance to do well. do well.

In 1929, the good times ended.In 1929, the good times ended.

Worldwide DepressionWorldwide Depression

In the fall of 1929, the United States experienced In the fall of 1929, the United States experienced a stock market crash. a stock market crash. The value of stocks (shares of ownership) The value of stocks (shares of ownership) people held in companies began a steep and people held in companies began a steep and quick drop. quick drop. Stockholders realized that they were in danger Stockholders realized that they were in danger of losing everything they owned. of losing everything they owned. They began to sell their stocks as fast as they They began to sell their stocks as fast as they could. could. Since there were more sellers than buyers, the Since there were more sellers than buyers, the prices continued to fall.prices continued to fall.

Worldwide DepressionWorldwide Depression

Businesses found they could no longer sell Businesses found they could no longer sell their goods because people had less their goods because people had less money to spend. money to spend.

The businesses could not pay their debts. The businesses could not pay their debts.

When businesses could not pay their When businesses could not pay their debts, they had to close. debts, they had to close.

This meant workers lost their jobs. This meant workers lost their jobs.

Worldwide DepressionWorldwide Depression

These events happened so quickly that a panic These events happened so quickly that a panic occurred. occurred.

People tried to get their banks to get their People tried to get their banks to get their money, and they tried to sell their stocks for any money, and they tried to sell their stocks for any amount they could get. amount they could get.

Panic selling and a “run on the banks” caused Panic selling and a “run on the banks” caused the economy of the U.S. to come to a halt. the economy of the U.S. to come to a halt.

Farmers who could not get money to pay their Farmers who could not get money to pay their loans lost their farms and housesloans lost their farms and houses

Worldwide DepressionWorldwide Depression

Businesses around the world traded with Businesses around the world traded with America. America.

When the U.S. stopped buying goods, it When the U.S. stopped buying goods, it hurts businesses in other countries. hurts businesses in other countries.

When U.S. banks closed, banks in other When U.S. banks closed, banks in other countries were hurt too. countries were hurt too.

Stockholders in other countries began Stockholders in other countries began selling their stocks for low prices. selling their stocks for low prices.

Worldwide DepressionWorldwide Depression

They could not sell their stocks in They could not sell their stocks in American companies for any price.American companies for any price.

What followed was called a worldwide What followed was called a worldwide economic depression. economic depression.

As businesses and factories closed one by As businesses and factories closed one by one, buying and selling almost stopped.one, buying and selling almost stopped.

Rise of NazismRise of Nazism

Germany faced many problems after World War Germany faced many problems after World War I. I. It had lost lands that contained valuable natural It had lost lands that contained valuable natural resources. resources. About 2 ½ million Germans had lost their lives. About 2 ½ million Germans had lost their lives. About 4 million were wounded. About 4 million were wounded. The industry and farms in the country had been The industry and farms in the country had been destroyed. destroyed. Highways, bridges, and railroads had to be Highways, bridges, and railroads had to be rebuilt.rebuilt.

Rise of NazismRise of Nazism

The German government worked to solve the The German government worked to solve the country’s problems. country’s problems.

However, the country had another obstacle. However, the country had another obstacle.

It had to pay back the Allied countries for the It had to pay back the Allied countries for the war. war.

Millions of dollars were leaving Germany for Millions of dollars were leaving Germany for France and Great Britain. France and Great Britain.

Germany was forbidden to have a large army or Germany was forbidden to have a large army or navy, so many military people lost their jobs.navy, so many military people lost their jobs.

Rise of NazismRise of Nazism

Prices went up as goods became scarce. Prices went up as goods became scarce. Basic items such as food and clothing Basic items such as food and clothing were not always available. were not always available. Men had trouble finding jobs to support Men had trouble finding jobs to support their families. their families. As things got worse, people blamed the As things got worse, people blamed the government. government. They wanted their leaders to find solutions They wanted their leaders to find solutions to their problems. to their problems.

Rise of NazismRise of Nazism

Then, the stock market crashed in the U.S. Then, the stock market crashed in the U.S.

This made conditions even worse for This made conditions even worse for Germans. Germans.

Businesses and people around the world Businesses and people around the world stopped buying as much. stopped buying as much.

They were worried about losing their They were worried about losing their money.money.

Adolph HitlerAdolph Hitler

Adolph Hitler came on the scene with a big plan. Adolph Hitler came on the scene with a big plan. He and his followers, called the National He and his followers, called the National Socialist or Nazi Party, said they could fix the Socialist or Nazi Party, said they could fix the problems in Germany. problems in Germany. They blamed the Treaty of Versailles for many of They blamed the Treaty of Versailles for many of the problems. the problems. They also said that Jews in the country were They also said that Jews in the country were controlling the banks and money. controlling the banks and money. They blamed Jews for the fact that many They blamed Jews for the fact that many Germans were not able to make a good living.Germans were not able to make a good living.

Adolph HitlerAdolph Hitler

Hitler was named chancellor of Germany Hitler was named chancellor of Germany in 1933. in 1933. He made sure that laws were quickly He made sure that laws were quickly passed to give him more power. passed to give him more power. Soon he had complete control of the Soon he had complete control of the government. government. He had the powers of a dictator. He had the powers of a dictator. He and the Nazis began the work to He and the Nazis began the work to rebuild Germany’s military. rebuild Germany’s military.

Adolph HitlerAdolph Hitler

He opened factories to build weapons. He opened factories to build weapons.

He put unemployed people to work He put unemployed people to work building a superior highway system. building a superior highway system.

The economy improved for a time, but The economy improved for a time, but people lost many of their civil rights. people lost many of their civil rights.

However, many decided that it was better However, many decided that it was better to lose rights than to go without food.to lose rights than to go without food.

WW II BeginsWW II Begins

The Nazis continued to build their military power.The Nazis continued to build their military power.

Germans who spoke against them were put in Germans who spoke against them were put in prison or murdered. prison or murdered.

As Hitler’s strength grew, he made plans to go to As Hitler’s strength grew, he made plans to go to war. war.

In 1936, Hitler sent troops into some of In 1936, Hitler sent troops into some of Germany’s former territory. Germany’s former territory.

By 1938, German troops controlled Austria and By 1938, German troops controlled Austria and Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia.

WW II BeginsWW II Begins

Other European countries protested, but Other European countries protested, but did nothing to stop Hitler. did nothing to stop Hitler.

In 1939, Germany, invaded Poland. In 1939, Germany, invaded Poland.

With that France and Great Britain decided With that France and Great Britain decided something must be done. something must be done.

The declared war on Germany, and WWII The declared war on Germany, and WWII began.began.

SummarySummary

Describe the major developments Describe the major developments following W.W.I: include the Russian following W.W.I: include the Russian Revolution, the Treaty of Versailles, Revolution, the Treaty of Versailles, worldwide depression, and the Rise of worldwide depression, and the Rise of Nazism.Nazism.