Interwar Years 1919-1939A time between two world wars and a different foreign policy

1919-1939 Interwar Years

WWI comes to an end and the U.S. moved toward Isolationism and Neutrality

In America, we were facing the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression

But Europe was ravaged by the war and countries had to be put back together

What happened to Germany?

Germany had to sign the Treaty of Versailles

They adopted a democratic government known as the Weimar Republic

The government fails, the economy crumbles and the citizens hate the new government. They want someone new to rule their country.

We move toward a dictatorship and fascism: the nation is most important, above people

How did the rest of the world change?

Japan: Population doubles, adopts a dictatorship

Germany: Nazi party comes to rule. Hitler comes to power and aligns with Italy.

Italy: Benito Mussolini comes to power; promotes Fascism

How does Germany proceed now?

Hitler blames the Treaty of Versailles for the countries problems, and starts to break the laws of the treaty.

Appeasement: agree to enemy to avoid war

Britain and France do this to avoid war.

Sept. 1st 1939: Hitler invades Poland. Step 1 of WWII

The U.S. stays out; remains neutral

The U.S. and Britain: Our Position Changes

England asks for our help.

FDR believes we must help so he passes the Lend-Lease Act of 1941: U.S. can sell or lend war materials to any country who defense is vital to the U.S.

The U.S. watches what happens in Europe and in the Pacific.

Japan keeps moving East until it reaches Hawaii in late 1941……..