Social Studies 10 Lessons 📖

By: Gen L

In partnership with Hyperion University, 2023

Lesson 5: Tensions Overseas

The War in the Pacific

  • 1931, Japan invades Manchuria. The League of Nations protests, and Japan defiantly quits the league
  • 1937, Japan invades China
  • Most of the world shocked by Japanese brutality
  • US urged Japan to end hostilities, but could not get involved due to neutrality laws
  • Roosevelt tried economic influences, first stopping shipment of scrap metal, then the shipment of oil.

Tensions in Europe

  • The Depression was disasterous in Europe.
  • Many extreme political factions emerged
  • Ruthless & extreme dictatorships emerged,
  • Accepted by many people because they offered stability.

Soviet Union

  • Joseph Stalin led the Soviet Union
  • He was ruthless, implementing harsh restructuring plans to modernize & industrialize
  • Zero tolerance for political opposition
  • Sent many "political prisoners" to the "Gulag"
  • Controlled all aspects of life in the USSR.

Italy

  • Benito Mussolini led the Fascist Party to power in 1921
  • Fascists controlled media & didn't tolerate opposition
  • Many were eager to have the political & economic stability, but turned a blind eye to the cost.

Germany

  • Very hard hit by the Depression
  • Treaty of Versailles was harsh & humiliating
  • Many felt betrayed by their government in 1918.
  • 1920's - Currency Crisis (460B Marks for loaf of bread)
  • Adolf Hitler started the National Socialist (Nazi) Party
  • Appealed to German discontent

Germany, Part 2

  • Came to power in 1933, started putting people back to work & appeared to have economic solutions
  • Step-by-step, Hitler defied the Treaty of Versailles
    • Re-arming Germany
    • "Uniting" with other "Germanic" Countries
  • Nazis used racism to motivate & rally the people
  • Germans were told they were the "Master Race" and Jews were responsible for all problems
  • People were eager to blame others, but distrust & hatred of Jews wasn't unique to Germany.

Hitler's Visit by King

  • June 1937, King visits Germany & met Hitler
  • King praised Hitler's economic reconstruction, also discussed fear & mistrust rearmament was causing
  • Hitler insisted Germany was only addressing problems in Treaty of Versailles; not interested in war.

Canada's Immigration Shame

  • In the 30's, Canada refused an "Open door" policy to refugees, blaming unemployment.
  • 9 Nov, 1938: Germany - Kristallnacht: a night of riots planned by Nazis to intimidate Jews
  • Many Jews began to flee Germany
  • A Canadian cabinet member suggested Canada accepts 10k refugees
    • Canada's Immigration Director states: "None is too many."

Next Lesson