In 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria, a region in northeastern China. Japan wanted more land and resources for its growing population and industries. They used a fake attack on a railway (the Mukden Incident) as an excuse to send in troops. Japan quickly took control and created a puppet state called Manchukuo. The invasion showed Japan's aggressive expansion and the weakness of the League of Nations, which failed to stop Japan. This event helped lead to more conflict in Asia before World War II.

In 1932, during the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democrat) defeated President Herbert Hoover (Republican). People blamed Hoover for the economic crisis and voted for change. Roosevelt promised a “New Deal” to help the country recover. He won by a landslide and started a new era of government action to fix the economy.

In 1933, the U.S. ended Prohibition by passing the 21st Amendment. This law canceled the 18th Amendment, which had banned alcohol since 1920. People were tired of illegal alcohol and crime, and the government wanted tax money from alcohol sales during the Great Depression.

In 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. The country was in an economic crisis, and many people supported Hitler’s Nazi Party. President Hindenburg thought he could control Hitler, but once in power, Hitler quickly took full control and ended democracy in Germany.

In 1937, Amelia Earhart tried to fly around the world. She was a famous pilot and wanted to make history. During the trip, her plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. Despite a big search, she was never found. Her disappearance remains a mystery.

In November 1938, the Nazis attacked Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues in Germany and Austria. This event is called Kristallnacht, or “Night of Broken Glass.” Many Jews were killed or arrested. It marked the start of more violent persecution of Jews before the Holocaust.