Early Acts Of Appeasement
Notes
- Failure of the League of Nations:
- USA does not join
- Germany joins 1926 - pulls out in 1933
- Lack of enforcement (only economic sanctions)
- Too closely linked with the Treaty of Versailles
- Nationalism too strong (big guys don’t want little guys to tell them what to do)
- Japanese occupation of Manchuria:
- Japan owns South Manchurian railway
- Military operation in 1931 claiming Manchuria (renamed Manchukuo)
- 1932 – League’s Lytton commission decides Japan to leave
- Japan quits the league - invades northern China, 1933
- League decides this conflict has no effect on Europe – ignores situation
- Two men in Europe take notice
- Italian Occupation of Abyssinia(Ethiopia):
- Italy had interest in colony since 1895
- Mussolini wanted to expand his empire (Imperialism)
- 1934 an incident is set up where Italians are killed
- Ethiopia appealed to the league
- 1935 Hitler introduces conscription in Germany
- France, Britain and Italy form the Stresa front to condemn Hitler’s actions
- 1935 Mussolini signs naval agreement with Hitler
- March 1936 Hitler remilitarizes the Rhineland (Breaking the Locarno Pact
Summary
Some of the first acts of appeasement came after the League of Nations failed. It failed because the USA never joined, and Germany dropped out after only 7 years. Appeasement is when people just watch someone do something in hopes that they will eventually stop. Many of the worlds superpowers sat back and watched, while countries like Japan, Italy, and Eventually Germany, all go do things that they shouldn't be doing. They invaded neighbouring countries, and in Germany's case, they began building an army again.
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Subjunctive Question
Why do you think people let this go on for so long before stepping in?
Political Cartoon
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Quote
My good friends, this is the second time in our history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And now I recommend you to go home and sleep quietly in your beds
- Neville Chamberlain
- Neville Chamberlain