Ch. 31: Years of Crisis Sec. 1: Postwar Uncertainty

Ch. 31: Years of CrisisSec. 1: Postwar Uncertainty

Brainiacs

• - WWI shattered the Enlightenment belief that progress would continue and reason would prevail. But new technology and scientific advances changed the way people looked at the world

Albert Einstein – A German-born physicist who offered startling new ideas on space, time, energy, and matter

Relativity

- He theorized that while the speed of light is constant, other objects that seemed constant, such as space and time, are not. They can change relative to an object moving near the speed of light.

Theory of Relativity – Einstein’s theory. It replaced Newton’s ideas that the world operated according to absolute laws of motion and gravity

Freud

Sigmund Freud – Austrian-born psychologist who studied the unconscious mind. His ideas weakened the faith in reason as a guide to decision making

- The questions of time were also reflected in the works of great writers such as Franz Kafka and James Joyce

Existential funk!

Existentialism – Belief that there is no universal meaning to life. Each person creates his or her own meaning of life through choices made and actions taken.

Friedrich Nietzsche – A German philosopher who wrote that western ideas such as reason, democracy, and progress have stifled people’s creativity and actions

It’s baffling

• - He urged a return to the ancient values of pride, assertiveness, and strength

• Surrealism – An art movement that sought to link the world of dreams with real life. It was inspired by Freud’s ideas

Surrealism

The 1920’s

• - The 1920’s became a prosperous period for many nations. People were questioning old values and moving away from tradition

• Jazz – A new style of music that emerged in the US. It was developed mainly by African Americans and swept across the US and Europe.

Women

• - As women worked many “male” jobs during WWI, they demanded more freedoms following the war, particularly the right to vote

• - Many women wore shorter hair, shorter clothes, drove cars, and drank and smoked in public. Many sought advanced education as well.

Advances

• - The automobile became affordable for middle class families and changed where people worked and lived. People were much more mobile

• - The airplane changed international travel although it was mostly available to the rich.

Airplane

• - The airplane changed international travel although it was mostly available only to the rich

• Charles Lindbergh – Made a 33 hour solo flight from New York to Paris

• - The 1920’s also brought the radio and motion pictures

Sec. 2: A Worldwide Depression

Background

• - Europe spent the 1920’s rebuilding while America prospered. The American stock market was strong, but there were weaknesses that would soon bring problems.

• - After WWI, many European countries gave up on the monarchy or dictatorship and went with a democracy even though they had no experience with a democracy

• - Often there were many political parties so none could win clear support to rule effectively.

Government

• Coalition government – An alliance of several parties that would rule

• - Because they had such differing views, their rule never lasted long

• - Many voters were willing to go back to a strong, authoritarian ruler.

Germany

• Wiemar Republic – The republican form of government set up for Germany in 1919.

• Problems:

• 1. Germany lacked a democratic tradition

• 2. Post-war Germany had several major parties and many minor ones

Germany

• 3. Many Germans blamed the Weimar government for their defeat and the humiliating treaty of Versailles

• 4. Germany hag huge reparations to pay

• - To cover expenses, the German government printed more money

• - This led to inflation

• Inflation – An increase in prices combined with a decrease in the value of a currency

No value

Recovery

• - The German economy slowly recovered due to investment by American bankers and business

• - Germany and France agreed to never go to war again and many other nations signed similar treaties

• - By the late 1920’s, the US economy largely supported the world economy

• - While the US economy looked sound, it really wasn’t. The US wealth was not evenly distributed. 5% of the people earned 33% of the wealth

Trouble

• - When people could no longer afford goods, factories cut production and staff

• - Farmers faced competition and soon there was overproduction

• - As profits dropped on farms and factories, bank loans went unpaid

Crash

• - As businesses started to fail, stockholders panicked and a selling frenzy began and stock prices plummeted

• - On Tuesday, October 19, 1929, 16 million stacks were sold and the market collapsed

• - Many stocks were now worthless. Within months the unemployment rate increased and production decreased

No jobs!

• - By 1933, unemployment reached 25%

• - Many farmers lost their land when they could not make loan payments

Depression

Depression

Great Depression

• Great Depression – The term for this economic slump

• - American banks panicked and ordered that their European loans be repaid. This led to business failures and job loss in Europe

• - It also led to a shutdown of exported goods

Recovery

• - Through the 1930’s, the nations of Europe slowly recovered

• Franklin Roosevelt – The first president elected after the depression began (1932)

New Deal

FDR New Deal -Roosevelt’s plan for reform

Public Works

Recovery

• - It involved massive public works projects and new stock market regulations

• - Slowly, the US economy began to recover

Sec. 3: Fascism Rises in Europe

Democracy??

• - While democracies remained strong in the US, Great Britain, and France during the depression, that was not the case in all nations. Many people were frustrated with the difficult economic times and lost faith in government

Fascism

• Fascism – A new militant political movement that emphasized loyalty to the state and obedience to the leader

• - Fascism was very nationalist and believed that peaceful nations would be conquered. They believed in a strong military and were quick to use it to preserve order

Fascism

Italy

• - In Italy, people were frustrated by a lack of land gain faollowing WWI. Inflation and unemployment also caused problems

• - The fascist Party began receiving support in 1919 and by 1922 they were in control of the government

Mussolini

• Benito Mussolini – The new fascist leader of Italy

• Il Duce – Mussolini’s title. “The leader.”

• - Mussolini banned all political parties, jailed opponents, censored radio and newspapers, and outlawed strikes

Hitler

• Read Hitler’s Rise to Power – p. 911-914

• Terms:

• Adolph Hitler – German dictator from 1933 – 1945

• Der Fuhrer – Hitler’s title. “The leader”

• Nazi – National Socialist German Workers’ Party. Hitler’s political party

Stuff

• Mein Kampf – “My Struggle.” A book Hitler wrote while in prison

• Lebensraum – German word for “living space.”

• Kristallnacht – “Night of Broken Glass.” This was the real beginning of the Holocaust

Kristallnacht

Kristallnacht

• - By 1935, dictatorships had taken over in Italy, Germany, Poland, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Romania

Hitler

Sec. 4: Aggressors Invade Nations

Stuff

• - By the mid-1930’s Germany and Italy were showing signs of aggression. France and Great Britain were still recovering and wanted peace. Japan had also fallen under military rule and was becoming aggressive.

• - Japan also had experienced economic problems in the early 1930’s. Military leadership soon replaced civilian deomocracy

Japan

Emperor Hirohito – Was the leader of Japan, but he was only symbolic. The real power was with the military

Hideki Tojo – The military leader of Japan

Stuff

• 1933 – Japan invades Manchuria

• - The League of Nations is opposed to this so Japan withdrew from the league

• 1937 – Japan invaded China and controlled much of the north

• - To avenge the 1895 defeat, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia

• - The League of Nations member opposed this as well but did nothing

• - By giving in to Mussolini, Great Britain and France hoped to keep peace in Europe

Hitler’s turn

• - Hitler pledged to undo the Treaty of Versailles and he started by rebuilding his military

• - The League of Nations opposed this but did nothing

Rhineland

• Rhineland – A 30 mile buffer zone between France and Germany. It was German land but it was a demilitarized area

• March 7, 1936 – Hitler sends troops to occupy the Rhineland

• - The French were stunned but did nothing

• Appeasement – Giving in to an aggressor to keep peace

Effects

• - Hitler later admitted that if the French would have challenged him, he would have backed down.

• Effects:

• 1. Hitler gained prestige and power in Germany

• 2. It turned the balance of power in Germany’s favor

• 3. The lack of a response by France and Great Britain encouraged Hitler to speed up expansion

• - In 1936, Germany, Italy, and Japan created an alliance

Axis Powers

• Axis Powers – What Germany, Italy, and Japan came to be called

Spain

- After a 3 year civil war, Spain also fell under a military dictator in 1939

Fransico Franco – Became leader of Spain

- Germany and Italy helped Franco win power but the west did nothing to stop him

Isolation

• - France and Great Britain continued to do little to stop fascism, choosing appeasement instead. The US remained isolated

• Isolationism – The belief that political ties to other countries should be avoided

More German Aggression

• March 1938 – Hitler invades and annexes Austria

• Anschluss – Germany’s peaceful takeover of Austria

• September 1938 – Hitler Invades the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia

• - This had once been German land under the Prussian Empire so Hitler claimed he was just taking back what was rightfully his

No more demands?

• Munich Conference – September 29, 1938, between Germany, France, Great Britain, and Italy.

• - It was agreed that Hitler would take the Sudetenland but that would be his last demand

Poland

• Read Primary Source – p. 919

• Hitler continued his aggression and now looked to Poland

• August 23, 1939 – Russia and Germany sign a non-aggression pact

• - Hitler would now be able to invade Poland

• - He felt that Great Britain and France would do nothing about it

THE END!