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Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles served to end the first World War. The treaty took full advantage of Germany's role in the war, blaming them and charging them millions in war fees. Germany would have to pay for the damage that they had dealt in millions of dollars and land. -
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WWII Causes
The timeline of events leading up to the second World War. -
Benito Mussolini becomes Italian Prime Minister
In 1922, when Benito Mussolini came to power in Italy, it would mark the rise fascism. Fascism emphasizes control of the state in every area of human life. The government cannot be opposed and any contrary opinions will not be tolerated. -
Japan invades Manchuria
The Japanese invasion of Manchuria began on September 18, 1931, when the Kwantung Army of the Empire of Japan invaded Manchuria immediately following the Mukden Incident. The Japanese established a puppet state called Manchukuo, and their occupation lasted until the end of World War II. -
Militarization
Oct. 8, 1931 Japanese planes bombed Chinchow in Liaoning Province, 100 miles southwest of Mukden. The action was significant because the military extremists calculated it would inflame international public opinion and force Tokyo once and for all to support the conquest of Manchuria. It had the effect of dashing all hopes a settlement could be reached. -
Hitler becomes Chancellor
Hitler's rise ends as he comes to power as Chancellor. As a member of the Nazi Party, this solidified their power. The Nazi Party was only just getting started. -
Nationalism
When FDR took office, it began America's journey to become great again. While other nations were also building up their egos through militarism and economy boosts, America was rising from the ashes. FDR helped Americans have pride in their country. -
Appeasement
Appeasement, the policy of making concessions to the dictatorial powers in order to avoid conflict, governed Anglo-French foreign policy during the 1930s. It became indelibly associated with Conservative Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Although the roots of appeasement lay primarily in the weakness of post-World War I collective security arrangements, the policy was motivated by several other factors. -
Anti-Communism
The Dies Committee—later known as the House Un-American Activities Committee—is formed to investigate subversive activities within the United States. The committee, headed by Texas Democrat Martin Dies, initially targets Nazi sympathizers but eventually comes to focus almost entirely on the Communist threat -
Great Depression Ends
As World War II drew near, the Great Depression was finally coming to an end. The economy was finally getting back on its feet. FDR had made America great again. -
WWII Begins
For Americans, World War II had a clear-cut purpose. People knew why they were fighting: to defeat tyranny. Most of Europe had been conquered by Nazi Germany, which was under the iron grip of dictator Adolf Hitler. The war in Europe began with Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939. -
U.S. Isolationism
The year 1940 signaled a final turning point for isolationism. German military successes in Europe and the Battle of Britain prompted nationwide American rethinking about its posture toward the war. If Germany and Italy established hegemony in Europe and Africa, and Japan swept East Asia, many believed that the Western Hemisphere might be next. Even if America managed to repel invasions, its way of life might wither if it were forced to become a garrison state. By the autumn of 1940, many Americ