THE WORLD OF THE 1920s
CHAPTER 34a
THE ROARING 20s
Period of apparent peace in early 1920s
– Reduced internal political tensions in Europe
– Extremist groups on the right and left
• Appeared in the aftermath of World War I
• Seemed to lose popularity by middle years of decade
Industrialization and Consumerism
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Boomed on back of growing consumer demand
Development of assembly line factories
Wages increased purchasing power
Power of middle class, middle class values rose
Facilitated rise of consumerism
Age of technological marvels: radio, airplane, auto
Cultural creativity during the 1920s
– Resulted in new artistic styles
• These often conveyed some of the tensions of modern life
• Art: Dadaism, Surrealism, Bauhaus, Cubism
• Literature dealt with realism, often pessimism
– Important new scientific discoveries appeared
Gender Issues
– Women across Europe, United States gained right to vote
– Suffrage brought other social liberties.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
The League of Nations created to maintain world peace
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Forty-two members, twenty-six of them outside Europe
Dominated by UK, France
League used to isolate Germany
The league had no power to enforce its decisions
League could make suggestions, impose sanctions
Collective security depended on all major powers
Powers Left Out
• United States never joined
• USSR ignored; colonies not included
• Germany not invited for some time
The mandate system
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United States opposed direct colonization
Allies proposed system of trusteeships
France, United Kingdom benefited most
Created from German colonies, Ottoman territories in S.W. Asia
Idealistic Attempts during the 1920s
– Attempt to outlaw war led to Kellogg-Briand treaty: we won’t use war to
resolve “disputes or conflicts”
– Result: people stop calling their wars “wars”
THE NEW NATIONS OF EASTERN EUROPE
Eastern European nations
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Arose out of Versailles Treaty at end of World War I
Created out of Germany, Austria, Russia – often by force
Each state was a kaleidoscope of different ethnic groups
Different legal systems, rail gauges
State Building
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Tried to emulate Western Europe without wealth, stability
Also had to build new nations almost from scratch
All were hostile to Communist regime in the Soviet Union
Bitter rivalries broke out over territorial disputes
Little industry, mostly agrarian
Few cities, small middle classes or intellectuals
Authoritarian Temptation
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Parliamentary democracy damaged by competing parties
Often major parties could not form a majority, rule by coalition
Unable to solve social problems such as land reform, ethnic strife
Most reverted to authoritarian or monarchical regimes
Only Czechoslovakia remained a democracy throughout period
RISE OF THE UNITED STATES
World War I
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Put the United State into a position of leadership
Became largest industrialized nation, largest center of banking
Loaned Allies trillions
Left war with 2nd largest navy in world, largest army
Treaty of Versailles Rejected
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Wilson and Republican Senate quarreled: Senate rejected treaty
US refused to join League of Nation, retreats into Isolation
Only in Latin America did USA remained actively interventionist
The Red Scare
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1919 – 1920s: US Government saw communists under every rock
Ignored law and used CID (future FBI) to arrest communists (Palmer Raids)
The Roaring 1920s
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U.S. leadership in world economic and cultural affairs accelerated
New consumerism developed
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U.S. corporations were innovators in technology and production techniques
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Mass Production of appliances and automobiles
Credit, Credit Cards, Catalogs
Greatest mark came in popular culture
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American middle class became able to afford household luxuries
Mass production reduced prices of most items: people began buying on credit
Movies and Hollywood became world-wide symbols
Rise of competitive, team sports and radio
The Age of Jazz and American musicals by Gershwin were models for the world
Many areas of economy like agriculture, banking very shaky with hidden problems
JAPAN AND ITS EMPIRE
Disappointments at Paris
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Japan had wanted Germany’s Asian colonies
During war decided to pick on China
Allies had blocked Japan in its Chinese adventures
Japan turned increasingly hostile
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Favored authoritarian government
Began to plan for war, conquest in the interwar period
An Economic Revolution led to many changes
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In early 20th century, agricultural and industrial production improved
Great industrial combines (zaibatsus) launched expansion of heavy industry
Government and industry cooperated
Japanese standards of living began to improve
By 1925, the state initiated compulsory primary-school education
Japan relied heavily on import of raw materials, trade
Problems for Japan Lead to Dictatorship
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Japan remained vulnerable to external economic conditions
Population growth restricted advances in standards of living
Social problems increased in crowded cities
Military leaders took on a greater role in the 1920s
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They resented what they saw as the selfishness and pandering of the political parties
Disliked democracy, liberalism as much as socialism, communism
Hated reduction in military spending
1928: Tanaka Memorial – Japanese military draw up plans for Pacific War