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USII.6a Causes and Events that Led to American Involvement in WWII |
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The student will demonstrate knowledge of the major causes and effects of
American involvement in World War II by a) identifying the causes and events that led to American involvement in the war, including the attack on Pearl Harbor. |
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How did post-World War I Europe set the stage for World War II? |
How did the rise of fascism affect world events following World War I? |
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Political and economic conditions in Europe following World War I led to the rise of fascism and to World War II |
Benito
Mussolini and Adolf Hitler
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The rise of fascism threatened peace in Europe and Asia. |
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Causes of World War II • Political instability and economic devastation in Europe resulting from World War I – Worldwide depression – High war debt owed by Germany – High inflation – Massive unemployment |
• Rise of Fascism – Fascism is a political philosophy in which total power is given to a dictator and individual freedoms are denied. – Fascist dictators included Adolf Hitler (Germany), Benito Mussolini (Italy), and Hideki Tojo (Japan). – These dictators led the countries that became known as the Axis Powers. |
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How did American policy toward events in Europe and Asia change over time? |
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As conflict grew in Europe and Asia, American foreign policy evolved from neutrality to direct involvement. |
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The Allies • Democratic nations (the United States, Great Britain, Canada) were known as the Allies. The Soviet Union joined the Allies after being invaded by Germany. • Allied leaders included Franklin D. Roosevelt and later Harry S. Truman (United States), Winston Churchill (Great Britain), Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union) Gradual change in American policy from neutrality to involvement • Isolationism (Great Depression, legacy of World War I) • Economic aid to Allies • Direct involvement in the war |
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War in the Pacific • Rising tension developed between the United States and Japan because of Japanese aggression in East Asia. • On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor without warning. • The United States declared war on Japan. • Germany declared war on the United States. <-- <-- <-- Pearl Harbor - USS Arizona burned for two days after being hit by a Japanese shell. Parts of the ship were salvaged, but the wreck remains at Pearl Harbor to this day. |
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