In the years prior to the beginning of World War II, Adolph Hitler became dictator of Germany and started to build up the military of Germany, in violation of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I. The ongoing military buildup and conquering of surrounding countries by Nazi Germany increased tensions in Europe, with Britain and France standing up to the aggression of Nazi Germany. World War II is considered to officially have started in Europe, when Nazi Germany invaded Poland in September 1939.
In the Pacific, Japan had increased their military and started their conquest of many islands and nations around the Pacific, most well known being China. During their conquest Japan is well known to have committed several atrocities against the native peoples. The Rape of Nanking is considered to be one of the most barbaric acts carried out by the Japanese military, which resulted in several hundred thousand civilian deaths. The ongoing expansion of Japan increased tensions between Japan and the United States throughout the 1930s, which ultimately culminated with surprise attack at Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941 which led the United States to enter World War II.
Before America's entry in World War II, America was in the grips of the Great Depression and life was hard for many Americans.
In the Pacific, Japan had increased their military and started their conquest of many islands and nations around the Pacific, most well known being China. During their conquest Japan is well known to have committed several atrocities against the native peoples. The Rape of Nanking is considered to be one of the most barbaric acts carried out by the Japanese military, which resulted in several hundred thousand civilian deaths. The ongoing expansion of Japan increased tensions between Japan and the United States throughout the 1930s, which ultimately culminated with surprise attack at Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941 which led the United States to enter World War II.
Before America's entry in World War II, America was in the grips of the Great Depression and life was hard for many Americans.