December 14 - 18

The main topics we covered this week:

• Expansionism: When a nation increases/expands their territorial or economic boundaries

-JAPAN

1. They wanted to expand because it had few natural resources and needed raw materials, markets and land from other nations to sustain their large population. Also, the government believed Japan had the obligation to liberate other Asian nations from European and American domination.
2. They expanded into East Asia, first invading the Chinese province of Manchuria then attacking all of China.
3. The world did not react due to the ongoing Great Depression, even after the League of nations confirmed Japan was the aggressor in the attacks. {Only the U.S. put diplomatic pressure on Japan to withdraw from China}

-ITALY

1. They wanted to expand because the pursuit for colonies overseas would bring prestige, wealth & prosperity. In addition Italy wanted an empire in Africa for economic reasons, in order to compete with other European powers.
2. Occurred overseas (areas in Africa).
3. The world did little (too busy with the Great Depression). However, this served as a green light for Hitler, confirming weakness in his foes.

-GERMANY

1. Hitler wanted to expand in order to recover territories lost in WW1, gain lebensraum (living room), strategic advantage (sufficiency in food, oil + other raw materials) and total domination of Europe in the early stages and world domination in the long term.
2. Germany expanded into the new states of Poland and Czechoslovakia, as well as the rhineland.
3. Britain and France appeased Hitler by allowing his troops to march into the rhineland, then agreeing to hand over the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia under the condition that Hitler would stop expanding. When Hitler then invaded all of Czechoslovakia, France & Britain declared war on Germany--starting WW2.

• Schindler’s List:

-This is the true story of a member of the Nazi Party, Oskar Schindler, who was a greedy businessman who does not hesitate to use Jewish slave labour in his new factory. However, over time, he becomes deeply affected by the cruel treatment of Jews and begins to take steps to protect the 1500 or so people who work for him. By the end of the war, Schindler has lost everything but has saved the lives of over 1000 of his employees.

• A quick review of WW1 and WW2 as well as why Germany rejected Liberalism. This is information we should already be familiar with.

Additional Resources:

- This video summarizes most of the concepts we have covered this week, such as expansionism, Hitler, the treatment of Jews, and a detailed description of WW2.