C H A P T E R

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C H A P T E R
World War Looms
CHAPTER OBJECTIVE
INTERACT WITH HISTORY
TIME LINE
Dictators Threaten World Peace
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SECTION
War in Europe
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SECTION
MAP
The Holocaust
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SECTION
America Moves Toward War
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SECTION
GRAPH
VISUAL SUMMARY
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C H A P T E R
World War Looms
To trace the rise of dictators, the beginnings of
war, and the American response in the 1930s
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C H A P T E R
World War Looms
I N T E R A C T
W I T H H I S T O R Y
In the summer of 1939, President Franklin
Roosevelt addresses an anxious nation in response
to atrocities in Europe committed by Hitlers
Nazi Germany. Roosevelt declares in his broadcast
that the United States will remain a neutral
nation. He acknowledges, however, that he
cannot ask that every American remain neutral in
thought.
Why might the United States try to remain neutral?
Examine the Issues
How might involvement in a large scale war
influence the United States?
How can neutral countries participate in the
affairs of warring countries?
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World War Looms
The United States
The World
1932 Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected
president.
1934 Stalin begins great purge in USSR. Chinese
communists flee in the Long March.
1937 Amelia Earhart mysteriously disappears
attempting solo round-the-world flight.
continued . . .
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World War Looms
The United States
The World
1939 Germany invades Poland. Britain and France
declare war.
1940 Roosevelt is elected to a third term.
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KEY IDEA
The United States remains isolated from world
affairs as economic and political factors lead to
the rise of nationalist leaders in the Soviet
Union, Germany, and Italy.
OVERVIEW
ASSESSMENT
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OVERVIEW
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Dictators of the 1930s and 1940s changed the
course of history, making world leaders
especially watchful for the actions of dictators
today.
The rise of rulers with total power in Europe and
Asia led to World War II.
TERMS NAMES
ASSESSMENT
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1. Identify the main ambitions of each dictator
listed in the web diagram.
Hitler
Stalin
Create a model Communist state and transform the
Soviet Union into a great industrial power
Unite the German master race into an empire
destined to rule the world
Dictators Ambitions
Mussolini
Franco
Become Spains supreme military leader
Make Italy a great world power
continued . . .
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2. How did the Treaty of Versailles sow the seeds
of instability in Europe? Think About
effects of the treaty on Germany and the Soviet
Union
effects of the treaty on national pride
the economic legacy of the war
ANSWER
Germany and the Soviet Unions resentment of the
treaty contributed to their renunciation of
democratic values. The treaty did little to halt
the rise of totalitarian governments.
continued . . .
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3. Why do you think Hitler found widespread
support among the German people?
ANSWER
Germany was devastated by the effects of World
War I. The nation suffered from severe economic
depression. Hitler promoted the Nazi party as a
way to restore national pride.
continued . . .
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4. Would powerful nations or weak nations be more
likely to follow an isolationist policy? Explain.
ANSWER
Strong, self-sufficient nations can afford to
adopt isolationist policies. Weaker nations are
often too dependent on foreign powers.
End of Section 1
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MAP
KEY IDEA
A series of bold moves by Adolf Hitlerand weak
countermoves by other leaderstriggers World War
II in Europe.
OVERVIEW
ASSESSMENT
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MAP
OVERVIEW
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Using the sudden mass attack called blitzkrieg,
Germany invaded and quickly conquered many
European countries.
Hitlers actions started World War II and still
serve as a warning to be vigilant about
totalitarian government.
TERMS NAMES
ASSESSMENT
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MAP
1. Trace the movement of German expansion from
1937 to the end of 1940 by supplying events to
follow the dates shown on the time line.
1937
1939
Hitler plans expansion.
World War II begins after Germany invades Poland.
1938
1940
Germany annexes Austria and Sudetenland.
Germany invades France and fights the Battle of
Britain with England.
continued . . .
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MAP
2. To what extent do you think lies and deception
played a role in Hitlers tactics? Think About
William Shirers diary entry about headlines in
the Nazi newspapers
Soviet-German relations
Hitlers justifications for military aggression
ANSWER
Hitlers deceptions included charging the Czechs
with abusing Sudeten Germans claiming that
Sudetenland was his last territorial demand
accusing Poles of brutalizing Germans signing a
secret pact with the Soviet Union dividing
Poland justifying the invasion of Denmark and
Norway as necessary to safeguard his plans.
continued . . .
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3. If you had been a member of the British House
of Commons in 1938, would you have voted for or
against the Munich Agreement?
ANSWER
POSSIBLE RESPONSES For Appeasement would help
avert war compromise is not a sign of weakness.
Against Appeasement would feed Hitlers
military aggression Great Britain should defend
its honor and declare war.
continued . . .
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4. Review Germanys aggressive actions between
1938 and 1945. At what point do you think Hitler
concluded that he could take any territory
without being stopped?
ANSWER
POSSIBLE RESPONSES After taking AustriaFrance
and Britain ignored their pledge to protect
Austria. After Munich ConferenceBritain and
France let Germany take Sudetenland.
End of Section 2
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KEY IDEA
Hitlers plans for conquering the world include
the killing of Jews and other ethnic groups,
which is carried out with frightening
determination.
OVERVIEW
ASSESSMENT
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OVERVIEW
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
During the Holocaust, the Nazis systematically
executed 6 million Jews and 5 million other
non-Aryans.
After the atrocities of the Holocaust, agencies
formed to publicize human rights. These agencies
have remained a force in todays world.
TERMS NAMES
ASSESSMENT
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1. List four events that led to the Holocaust.
Causes
Effect
The removal of non-Aryans from government jobs.
The Holocaust
Nuremberg Laws
Kristallnacht
Final Solution
continued . . .
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2. Do you think that the United States was
justified in not allowing more Jewish refugees to
emigrate? Think About
the views of isolationists in the United States
some Americans prejudices and fears
the incident on the German luxury liner St.
Louis
ANSWER
POSSIBLE RESPONSES Justified The United States
had to protect the national security and the
welfare of its citizens, including job security.
Not justified The United States was obligated
to provide political asylum for victims of
prejudice.
continued . . .
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3. Why do you think the Nazi system of systematic
genocide was so brutally effective?
ANSWER
There was no effective opposition in Germany to
Hitlers plan for mass extinction. Nazis
propaganda loudly proclaimed that the Germans
were a superior race destined to rule the world.
At the same time they preached that Jews, Poles
and other groups were inferior races. Hitler used
the Jews as scapegoats for Germanys problems
following World War I. He stripped them of their
rights and then used terror and propaganda to
coerce them into giving up their freedom.
continued . . .
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4. How might concentration camp doctors and
guards have justified to themselves the death and
suffering they caused other human beings?
ANSWER
They believed that their prisoners were subhuman,
thus they were not actually killing or torturing
human beings. They might claim that they were
simply following orders and had no choice.
End of Section 3
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GRAPH
KEY IDEA
The United States provides aid to nations
resisting Hitler and enters World War II after
the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
OVERVIEW
ASSESSMENT
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GRAPH
OVERVIEW
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
In response to the fighting in Europe, the United
States provided economic and military aid to help
the Allies achieve victory.
The military capability of the U. S. became a
deciding factor in World War II and in world
affairs ever since.
TERMS NAMES
ASSESSMENT
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1. List the key events leading to Americas entry
into World War II. Use the dates below as a
guide.
Congress passes Lend-Lease Act.
Roosevelt and Churchill draw up the Atlantic
Charter.
March 1941
August 1941
September 1940
June 1941
December 1941
Japan, Germany, and Italy, sign the Tripartite
Pact.
Germany invades Soviet Union Roosevelt orders
U.S. Navy to protect lend-lease shipments.
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor.
continued . . .
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2. Do you think that the United States should
have waited to be attacked before declaring war?
Think About
the reputation of the United States
the influence of isolationists
the events at of Pearl Harbor
ANSWER
POSSIBLE RESPONSES Waited An attack by Japan
would swing public opinion away from isolationism
and allow Roosevelt to enter the war with the
support of the American people. Not waited An
earlier declaration of war might have prevented
the attack on Pearl Harbor.
continued . . .
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3. What problem would the Japanese attack on
Pearl Harbor solve for Roosevelt? What new
problems would it create?
ANSWER
The attack would unify public support behind the
war effort, but it would cripple the fleet needed
to fight the war.
continued . . .
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4. Although the U.S. Congress was still unwilling
to declare war early in 1941, Churchill told his
war cabinet, We must have patience and trust to
the tide which is flowing our way, and to
events. What do you think Churchill meant by
this remark?
ANSWER
Churchill believed that the United States entry
into World War II was inevitable. The United
States was edging closer and closer to war.
End of Section 4