Transcript Do Now-Discussion

World War II
Essential Questions
1) When should the
United States go to
war?
5) Did America’s
involvement in the World
War II and the Cold War
move it closer or further
away from its founding
ideals?
4) What impact do
challenges abroad have
on America at home?
2) What is required to
achieve victory in war?
3) How did America
become a superpower?
Background
•
Less than two decades after the of end of WWI-“The War to end all Wars”fighting erupted again in Europe and in Asia. As Americans read about the
distant battles, they hoped the conflicts would remain on the other side of
the world.
Do Now:Discussion
• With the person sitting next to you, take
about two minutes to discuss the things
that you think you know about WWII and
the things that you want to know.
Dictators Threaten World Peace
For many nations, the peace
of WWI did not bring
prosperity, instead it brought
revolution fueled by
economic depression and
struggle.
Instead of securing peace the
Treaty of Versailles caused
anger and resentment,
especially in Germany.
The postwar years brought
the rise of dictators driven
by the belief in nationalismloyalty to one’s country
above all else- and dreams of
territorial expansion.
Germany blamed for
starting WWI, had to pay
reparations, and were
stripped of their overseas
colonies/border
territories.
Dictator – A ruler with
absolute power
The peace settlement had
not fulfilled President
Wilson’s hope of a world
“safe for democracy”
WWII Political Systems: Activity
We will now be
examining the
political leaders that
rose to power.
In the first empty
row of boxes, write
the name of the
political system of
movement (fascism,
militarism,
Nazism, or
totalitarianism)
that corresponds to
each leader. List 2-3
characteristics of
each political system.
In the second empty
row, list tactics that
each leader/group
used to gain and
keep power.
In the last row,
describe one or more
decisions or actions
by the United States
(or other countries)
that might have
prevented the rise
to power of one or
more of these
leaders. In a few
sentences, explain
why you think the
U.S. (or other
countries) did not act
at the time.
Those who refused were
shot or forced to do hard
labor in prison-like
concentration camps.
Communist party has
the only authority
Stalin used brutal methods to
strengthen his control of the
communist party. The Soviet secret
police rounded up and killed
enormous numbers of party leaders
and military officials. He took
millions of lives to ensure that the
remaining officials would be loyal to
him.
Fascism often arises during a
time of crisis, promising to
revive an earlier era of glory
Inflation and labor strikes
hurt the Italian economy,
and they felt insulted over
the Treaty of Versailles that
granted them limited
territory.
He used his public speaking skills to
promote fascism. He ignited crowds
with emotional outbursts and
dramatic gestures.
While spending a year in prison
for trying to overthrow the gov’t
he wrote the book Mein Kampf,
or “My Struggle” It laid out the
Nazi philosophy.
Germany’s economic depression gave Hitler the
opportunity to spread his ideas. The current
gov’t couldn’t cope with the crisis and Germans
began for a leader who could save the nation
from ruins.
Nazis believed that Germans and other
Nordic peoples-Hitler called them Aryans were morally and physically superior to
other races. Nazis wanted to purify
Germany by removing other races,
especially Jews.
Many politicians
feared for their lives.
Just like Hitler, he wanted to
expand Japan’s “living space”
Could the rise of Dictators/Militarists have been
prevented?
The United States and other countries
like Great Britain and France could have
provided more financial aid to the
countries where these dictators rose.
However, the United States was dealing with
the effects of a serious economic depression
in the early to mid-1930s and had no
resources to help these other countries.