Germany felt that the treaty’s provisions were too harsh Could not make reparation payments Lack of jobs and increasing prices for food and basic goods.

Causes of the Second World War

Treaty of Versailles

Germany felt that the treaty’s provisions were too harshCould not make reparation paymentsLack of jobs and increasing prices for food and basic goods left Germans very dissatifiedEnded up voting Hitler into power as he said he would “rip up” treaty

Imperialism – Japan Invaded Chinese province of Manchuria

China appealed to the League of Nations for help

LofN condemned actions and tried to negotiate terms of withdrawal

Japan withdrew from LofN and continued policy of expansion

Imperialism – Italy Wanted to expand territory and power

Still upset that it did not receive more land in the aftermath of WWI

Looked to Africa to expand empire

Attacked independent Abyssinia (now Ethiopia)

LofN imposed sanctions against Italy, but were ineffective

Imperialism – Germany

Hitler, first in secret, then in the “open”, increased Germany’s army and weaponsBritain and France became aware of Hitler’s actions, but did nothing at first because felt a stronger Germany would prevent the expansion of CommunismSystematically broke Treaty of Versaille provisions (re-militarized Rhineland, union with Austria {Anschluss})Austria asked for help from Britain and France, but they did nothing when Hitler promised his expansion was complete

Imperialism – Germany continued

Hitler then set his sights on the Sudatenland (home of German speaking citizen in Czechoslovakia)British Prime Minister Neville

Chamberlain met with Hitler 3 times to stop further expansion

Signed Munich AgreementContinued policy of

AppeasementHitler broke his word again,

taking over the rest of Czechoslovakia

Failure of Appeasement

Giving in to someone provided their demands are seen as reasonable

Many felt Treaty of Versailles was too harsh on Germany

Hitler’s demands were seen as understandable and justifiable

Chamberlain felt that giving in to Hitler’s demands would prevent a war that the British and French were not prepared to fight

Failure of Appeasement continued

Chamberlain claimed that Munich Agreement would create “Peace in our time!”Less than a year later, Hitler broke pact, taking over the rest of CzechoslovakiaPoland became the final “line in the sand” for German agression

Failure of the League of Nations

Not all countries were membersSome countries were forbidden to join (Germany, Russia/Soviet UnionOthers opted not to join (United States)Still others joined and then pulled out (Japan)Poor membership made it difficult to enforce rules

League lacked real powerMain punishment was trade sanctionsOffending countries still could trade with Non-member countiresCountries did not want to lose/offend trading partners during the Great Depression

Failure of the League of Nations

League lacked military presenceSoldiers were supplied by member countriesWere hesitant as they did not want to provoke the aggressor into taking direct action against them

Inability to react quickly to issuesLeague was not a permanent bodyWould need to be called together in order to make decisionsUnable to act quickly enough to stop a nation’s act of aggression