• Economic results: $200 Billion spent
during war. Japan & US emerge in
better position after war. Increase in
trade.
• Rise of new democracies. End of
absolute rulers in Germany, Austria,
& Russia. Stability of these new
democracies were weak. Multi-party
systems. (France & Great Britain)
• Positive feelings in political affairs.
– Treaty of Kellogg - Briand, 1928 (US &
France) Encouraged peace.
• Advances in Technology, Science, &
Psychology.
– Automobiles, Air Travel, Radio
– Einstein, Freud
• Independent spirit - changing role of
women
• “Red Scare” the fear of the spread of
Communism throughout the world.
• US Isolationism. (Political Only)
– Dawes Plan - loan to Germany.
• Great Britain - returns to Gold
Standard.
• Deceptive Normalcy - life was not
normal (returned to Pre War lifestyle)
• NY Stock Exchange - Center of Financial
World.
• October 24, 1929, “Black Tuesday”
• Depression: economic term - prices,
wages, investment, employment, & trade
drop.
• 1933 - US Production cut in half.
– 11,000 banks close. 44% of total in 1929.
– Unemployment rate - 3.2% 1929 - 25% 1932
• Causes:
– Mass production & Under
Consumption. (Unequal Wealth
distribution)
– Farming - New Science/Technology =
flooding the market.
– Speculation in investing at NYSE.
• Results:
• Spread onto the World Scene.
• Debt payments in Germany/Austria
cause challenges to political systems.
(Fascism)
• Possible Solutions:
• (Political/economic - ideological responses)
–Socialism & Democracy: France
& Britain (Popular Front &
Labour Party)
–Democratic Reform: US - the
New Deal (FDR)
–Fascism: Italy & Germany
(Mussolini & Hitler)
Mussolini
Hitler
• A political movement that believes
in an extreme form of nationalism denying individual rights, insisting
upon the supremacy of the state &
advocating dictatorial one-party
rule.
–“Fascism….it was born of the need
for action” B. Mussolini.
Benito Mussolini
of
Italy
• Italy was the First country to adopt
Fascist ways. Reasons for Italian
acceptance of Fascism:
– Discontent from WWI. Desired
territory in Austrian Alps, along
Adriatic Sea.
– War caused a 500% cost of living
increase.
– Fear of spread of Communism.
• Mussolini favored Nationalism &
Militarism
– Formed a combat group known as the
Black Shirts.
– Group roamed streets, attacking
communists & socialists.
– Won support of the aristocracy,
industrialists, & middle class.
• 1922, Mussolini became primer of Italy.
Entitled “Il Duce”.
• Fascist Policies in Italy:
– Set up a one-party state.
– Remove all democratic & Parliamentary
processes.
– Censor the press.
– Set up State owned corporations which
controlled all aspects of the Economy.
Strikes are against the law.
– Limit free speech & free assembly.
– Used secret police to keep people in line.
Adolf Hitler
of
Germany
• National Socialist German Workers
Party: aka: NAZIs
• Nazism: German brand of Fascism
– Nazis blamed Treaty of Versailles from
WWI as major cause of German troubles.
– Condemned democracy (Wiemar
Republic) as imposed form of govn’t.
– Economic problems were due to
territorial losses in Europe & colonies
overseas.
• Adolf Hitler: Austrian born, fought for
Germany in WWI, joined Nazi party
after war.
– 1921, announced Fuhër (leader) of the
Nazi party.
– 1923, attempted coup of German govn’t
in Munich. Sent to jail. Served 8 months.
– Wrote Mein Kampf (my struggle).
Hitler’s views on the superiority of the
German people.
• Late 1920’s: Rise in Nazis in the
Reichstag (legislature) 550 total seats.
– 12 in 1929, 107 in 1930, 220 in 1932.
• Jan. 1933, Hitler appointed Chancellor,
called for new elections, consolidated
power of Nazis.
• March 1933, Enabling Act, 4 years of
dictatorial powers. Nazi party only
legal party.
• 1934, Hindenberg dies, Hitler
absorbs the presidency.
• Nazification of all organizations &
aspects of life.
–Arts, literature, industry, media,
science, & technology.
• Major Goals of Hitler: Establish the
Greater Germany - Third Reich.
Late 1930’s
• Dictatorship vs. Democracy.
– Germany & Italy vs. Great Britain,
France & US
• France wanted maintain Treaty of
Versailles, Britain thought it was too
harsh on Germany.
• Weakness of the League of Nations &
the policy of Appeasement.
(concessions/compromise)
• Step 1: Japan Invades China 1931.
By 1937, this is a full scale war.
• Step 2: Italy’s desire for African
colonies leads to the invasion of
Ethiopia in 1935.
• Step 3: Military build up in
Germany. March, 1935, Hitler
renounces the Treaty of Versailles.
• Step 4: 1936, German troops move
into the Rhineland, territory along
border of France, west of the Rhine
river.
• Step 5: Rome-Berlin Axis. Oct.
1936, Alliance between Hitler &
Mussolini. The whole of Europe will
rotate around this axis. (Japan
eventually joined by Nov. 1936)
• Step 6: Civil War in Spain.
1936-39. German & Italian
support of dictator Franco.
Spain becomes a Fascist country
in 1939.
• Step 7: Hitler moves into
Austria. March 1938, Austria is
a German province.
• Step 8: Sept. 1938, Hitler moves
into Czechoslovakia, desire to
incorporate the Sudenten land. Four
Main powers (GB, France, Italy &
Germany) meeting in Munich. To
appease Hitler, all agree to give over
Sudenten land in exchange for peace.
By March 1939, all of Czech is under
German control.
(The only option left to stop the
Fascist aggression.).
• Violence & persecution
against a particular race,
religion, ethnicity or
group of people; is it
justifiable? Why?
• Describe the Russian
Revolution. In chronological
order, explain each of the
critical events that lead to
the revolution. Explain the
results of the revolution.