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Great Depression
US protectionism and high tariffs started a tariff war between nations. Underconsumption furthered economic stress. It officially began in the US when the stock market crashed and swept the whole world.
This event was significant because it increased international tensions and trade declined. -
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Unit 3 Timeline
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Manchurian Crisis
Japanese expansion in East Asia was a cause of concern to the US and European nations. These concerns were heightened in 1931 when Japan invaded Manchuria. China appealed to the League of Nations, ordering Japan to withdraw.
This event is significant because the League was powerless to do anything in response to Japan's aggressive actions. -
World Disarmament Conference
It was hoped that a reduction of armaments by all nations would help prevent the arms race that characterized the years leading to WWI. All of Europe's leading powers committed to arms reduction in the Treaty of Versailles and the Covenant of the League of Nations. None of the nations kept their commitment and the League organizes a conference.
This event was significant but failed to accomplish anything regarding disarmament because 3 larger issues emerged during the conference undermining it. -
Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany
In 1923, Hitler and the Nazis attempted a national revolution known as the Munich Putsch. It failed, and he was sent to prison. When he was released, Germany was revitalized and the Great Depression occurred, which boosted support for the Nazi Party.
This event was significant because under Hitler Germany became a one-party totalitarian state founded on extreme nationalism. -
Abyssinia invaded by Italy
The League failed to take effective action when Mussolini's Italy invaded Abyssinia. A powerful member of the League blatantly and unjustly displayed aggression toward one of its weaker members. The League condemned this act of aggression and discussed what methods of force should be used on Italy.
This event was significant because it shows how the League failed to solve international relations. -
Remilitarization of the Rhineland
Hitler was convinced that none of the other European countries would take serious action against him and invaded the Rhineland. The Treaty of Versailles ordered the Rhineland to be demilitarized, which Hitler argued was unreasonable since it prevented Germany from defending its border. There was no military resistance to Hitler's invasion though they protested vigorously neither Britain nor France took action.
This event was significant because Hitler recontrolled the Rhine with no bloodshed. -
Spanish American War
The Spanish Republican government appealed to the League for assistance against the Nationalist uprising. Members of the League weren't prepared to intervene because they viewed it as an internal issue. The League established a Non-Intervention Committee that aimed to prevent foreign involvement in the Spanish Civil War.
This event was significant because the League took no action and was weak to respond to the Spanish Civil War. -
Munich Conference
To settle the dispute over the Sudetenland, the Munich Conference was held. The Munich Conference was attended by political leaders from Germany, Britain, France, and Italy. The Munich Conference was perceived as the clearest example of appeasement.
This event was significant because the conference gave in to Hitler's demands and hoped to prevent a major European war by doing so. -
Pact of Steel
Italy made little progress in making Italy great and feared and Mussolini was losing popularity. He was convinced that there was more to gain by allying with Germany than Britain and France and reversed Italy's foreign policy. He started supporting the resurgence of German power and imitating it with aggressive foreign policy.
This event was significant because the pact was a formal military alliance between the two that pledged mutual support in the event of war. -
Germany invades Poland
Nazi soldiers wearing Polish military uniforms staged a fake invasion of Germany and Hitler used this unforgivable act of aggression as a reason for German attack on Poland. On September 1, 1939, German troops marched into Poland, supported by 1300 aircraft. The Polish government requested military support from Britain and France on the same day of the invasion.
This event was significant because the world was at war again, twenty years after WWI.