Unit #3 – World War Two

Underlying Causes of WWII 1. The Treaty of Versailles harsh terms imposed on Germany by the

victorious Entente powers (including reparations, war guilt clause, loss of land and demilitarization), left Germany bitter and searching for a new leader to get them through the rough times.

Germany was in chaos – no strong government, citizens had no jobs, money or food

Hitler became the new leader “the right man at the right time”

Learning Goals: I can identify and analyze the

significance of the underlying causes that led to WWII.

I can identify the Steps that lead to war in Europe in 1939.

I can label the countries, territories and cities significant to WWII Europe.

I can identify the significant plans and policies of Adolf Hitler.

Underlying Causes of WWII2. The emergence of new countries and

boundaries the treaty created new countries when old

empires were dismantled new boundaries meant that German speaking

people now lived in parts of Poland, Czechoslovakia, The Rhineland and Austria

Germany (and Hitler in particular) claimed that these regions should be part of their country again and reunited under the ‘Third Reich’

Underlying Causes of WWII

Underlying Causes of WWII

Underlying Causes of WWII3. Isolationism after WWI, many countries including Canada and

the United States, practiced a policy of isolation - no involvement in world affairs, and instead wanted to focus on problems at home (e.g. the Great Depression)

many countries were alarmed by the commitments that would result from Article X

knowing that the US would not immediately arrive to solve international conflicts, Hitler pursued an aggressive war strategy

Underlying Causes of WWII4. Failure of the League of Nations the goal of the organization was to maintain world peace peace was maintained through a collective security system –

Article X (if any member is attacked, the other members will come to her aid)

the League was essentially powerless given that the US was not a member

The other countries had no faith and didn’t believe in this system because they felt the US needed to play a significant role in it

the failure of the League to solve crises in Manchuria, Spain and Abyssinia was evidence of its ineffectiveness

these failures planted ‘seeds’ in Hitler’s mind that he could basically go unchallenged in Europe to fulfill his Third Reich goals

Underlying Causes of WWIIWatch this! http://youtu.be/3mFG0Du_DKU

**Complete the Steps to War worksheet Q#1, 2 and 3**

Complete the Steps to War worksheet Q#4

Underlying Causes of WWII5. Appeasement (giving into the demands of Hitler to avoid another war) many world leaders agreed that the terms of the T of V were too

harsh some people agreed with Hitler’s anti- Semitic policies in

Canada and the US Communism and Fascism were introduced and people/other

countries feared the spread of these governing ways world leaders including British Neville Chamberlain and

Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King, believed Hitler when he repeatedly promised to stop invading countries

as a consequence, Hitler was able to invade: the Saar Valley, the Rhineland, Austria, the Sudetenland, and Czechoslovakia without retaliation

Underlying Causes of WWII

6. Dictatorships in Italy and Germany (based on Fascist ideology) Adolf Hitler became the ruler of Germany Benito Mussolini became the ruler of Italy Francisco Franco became ruler in Spain much of their power came from international fear

of the spread of Communism (Hitler was blatantly anti-Communist)

world powers like Great Britain and the United States were more concerned with containing Communist threats

Underlying Causes of WWII7. Hitler: the Nazi party came to power in 1932 and Hitler

became chancellor of Germany in 1933 he gained power by appealing to the German

people’s need to blame someone for the problems caused by WWI – he used the Jews as scapegoats

Hitler promised to reunite all German speaking people and territories (Anschluss) under the Third Reich

he also promised to gain more living space (Lebensraum) for the German people

Steps to WarWatch This!http://youtu.be/ySbWpp5HDJg Complete the Steps to War worksheet

Q#4