French Revolutionary Reforms and the Roots of World War II
Social and Educational Reforms in France
- Implementation of the education system: The University of France and the Institut de France were established. All citizens, regardless of their origin or fortune, could obtain a place in education.
- Religious and cultural changes: There were significant shifts in the culture of liberty and freedom of expression, as stated in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
- Ending privileges: The era saw the end of the privileges previously held by the aristocracy and the clergy.
Causes of the Second World War and Contending Forces
- The Treaty of Versailles: After World War I, this treaty fostered a feeling of humiliation and resentment, especially among German nationalists.
- The Crisis of 1929: The economic collapse helped the rise of fascism in Germany and Italy, leading to aggressive foreign policies that created international tensions.
- Weakness of Democracies: The seclusion and weakness of democratic nations, combined with the continued failure of the League of Nations against Nazi-fascists, eventually led to war.
The Road to War
Since the beginning of the 1930s, fascist-authoritarian states developed expansionist policies:
- Japan: Occupied Manchuria in 1931 and began the invasion of China in 1937.
- Italy: In 1935, Italy invaded and occupied Ethiopia and later annexed Albania.
- Spanish Civil War: Both Italy and Germany took part in the conflict (1936-1939).
- The Third Reich: Hitler aimed to create a great empire. Germany annexed Austria, the Czech Sudeten region, and subsequently Bohemia and Moravia.
Alliances and the Outbreak of the Conflict
- Fascist Alliances: In 1936, Germany signed an alliance with Italy (the Rome-Berlin Axis), which was renewed in 1939 as the Pact of Steel. Germany also signed the Anti-Comintern Pact with Japan.
- The Polish Crisis: When Hitler occupied the Danzig corridor, France and Britain pledged to support Poland.
- The German-Soviet Pact: To prevent the USSR from allying with France and Britain, Hitler signed a spectacular German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact in 1939. This event triggered the start of the Second World War.