Chapter 26Section 3 : War Breaks Out

The Response to Fascism• Spread into Europe and Asia causes a stir in international politics • Shift in U.S. – Soviet relations: Soviets mend ties with U.S. : U.S.

formally recognizes the Soviet Union• Fascists powers formalize their ties – Germany & Italy form Axis Powers

• Munich Conference – 1938, France, Britain, Italy, Germany leaders signed pact giving Germany control of Sudetenland, adopted the policy of appeasement• Appeasement – giving into demands in an attempt to avoid larger

conflict

The Response to Fascism• European nations speed up rearmament• Winston Churchill feared the appeasement would encourage Hitler to

expand

• U.S. congress passes neutrality laws• Prohibit the shipment of U.S. munitions to warring nations• Require warring nations that buy goods from the U.S. to transport

using their own ships

4 Responses to Fascism

Responses

Soviets and U.S. mend ties

European leaders adopt appeasement

policy

European nations

speed up rearmament

U.S. congress passes

neutrality laws

War!• Fighting Begins• Britain and France announce they will go to war if Germany attacks

Poland• Tried to get Soviet Union support, instead Joseph Stalin signed a

nonaggression pact with Hitler in 1939• Secretly wanted to divide Poland between them

• Sept. 1, 1939 German troopsmove into Poland, two days later Britain and France (Allied Powers) declare war on Germany

U.S. Response to War• Major issue in 1940 election : Roosevelt and Willkie – both

promised to keep U.S. out of conflict• Roosevelt wins election – sees U.S. involvement unavoidable

Lend-Lease Act• U.S. supplying Britain with war materials – Britain could not

afford• Lend-Lease Act – 1941, U.S. lend or lease arms and supplies to

the allies• Appropriated $7 billion for ships, tanks, planes, etc.

“Blitzkrieg”• Blitzkrieg – Hitler’s lightning war against Poland• French troops mobilized and engaged at the Maginot Line with

Germany-Maginot Line – a line of defenses along the French boarder with Germany

• 1940, Winston Churchill becomes Britain's prime minister

Tensions Mount in Atlantic• Atlantic Charter – 1941, Roosevelt and Churchill pledge to not

pursue territorial expansion• Every nation has right to declare own government• Freedom of international trade• When war ends, aggressor states should be disarmed and all

nations work towards peace

Japan Attacks – “A date which will live in infamy”• Japan vs. U.S. – both froze assets and U.S. approved embargo on

shipments of gas, tools, iron, and steel to Japan.

• December 7, 1941 – 17 days after peace conference Japan attacked Pearl Harbor• 20 warships, 200 U.S. planes were destroyed• 2,400 Americans killed• 1,103 sailors entombed on the USS Arizona when it sank

• Congress approves call for war