Section 3: Why did war break out? International relations 1929-1939

The End of Prosperity
1. The Wall Street Crash
  1. 1929 US economy collapses
    1. crash in value of shares
      1. Confidence in economy gone so banks stop giving out loans.
    2. manufactored goods 20% of what it had been. couldn't sell anything. high unemployment.
    3. Start of great depression.
  2. The rest of the world is effected
    1. American had loaned money to other countries. wanted it back to save economy.
      1. 20s 'goodwill' that had developed collapsed
    2. can no longer afford imported goods. demand dropped.
The Manchurian Crisis
1. Effects of Great depression in Japan
  1. small, little raw materials, depended on silk exports to get money to import essentials (coal, rubber, etc)
    1. 1929 population = over 65 million, high unemployment, sometimes food shortages.
  2. America puts taxes on their exports to save their own industry.
    1. Japan can barely export any goods. factories colsed and millions unemployed
2. The Army's solution
  1. Japan, powerful army
    1. Already protecting japasnese train tracks in manchuria (China)
      1. Manchuria had coal, iron ore and oil
        Take control of more of the area.
        government don't approve
  2. raw materials, market for goods and living space needed
    1. Could be achieved by conquest
3. Mukdun Incident septebmer 1931
  1. railway bombed
    1. Japan claim it was China, 'forced' to attack
      1. February 1932 Japan completed conquest, renamed 'Manchukuo. last chinese emporer Pu Yi put in charge, has to do what japan say
4. Leagues reaction
  1. China apealled against Japanese agression
    1. League in awks position
      1. Britain&France didn't want to waste their money sending troops
        could only resrict trade but US not in league&that was Japans biggest trader
      2. Japan has rights to be there
  2. asked japan to remove troops
    1. investigation finds japan in the wrong
      1. japan keeps troops and leaves league.
        1933 Japan invade Jehol
        1937 full scale invasion on Chine
5. League shown as powerless
  1. People hoped it was only because China was seen as weak, if it happened in Europe the league would act.
Italian invasion of Abyssinia
1. Mussolini wanted empire in africa
  1. Owned Libya, Eritrea + Somaliland
    1. Abyssinia independant
      1. Italy had failed to invade once before
  2. 1934 Argument between two countries over borders
    1. Italy given excuse to invade
2. 1935 Mussolini starts preparing army
  1. Britain and France wont stop him, ally if Hitler kicks off
    1. As it gets worse Britain start persuading League to stop Italian agression
      1. British foreign secretary starts appeal to league. makes little difference
  2. invade Abyssinia with guns, planes, bombs, tanks native fought with spears, so had to retreat
3. Haile Selassie, Abussinian emperor
  1. appealed to league, it was their job to stop this.
    1. economic sanctions, no rubber, iron or weapons sold to italy.
      1. not oil, could just buy it from non league countries anyway
    2. when he did attack Abyssinia, Britain and France didn't try top him, didn't want to drive him towards Hitler.
4. Treachery
  1. Hoare-Laval pact 1935
    1. Britain and France say Italy can have 2/3 of Abyssinia if they stop fighting
      1. everyone reacts badly, league was supposed to be extending restriction on Italy.
      2. Shown to be putting their own needs before the leagues
        hoare and laval have to resign
    2. britain and frances plan to use italy failed
      1. 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis
        Germany and Italy will work more closely together
  2. 2nd may took Abyssinian capitol, whole country within a week.
    1. emperor went to league for help
      1. too late, league discredited
Germany and the Treaty of Versailles

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Section 3: Why did war break out? International relations 1929-1939

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