YEARS OF CRISIS

CHAPTER 15

How did the following challenge deeply rooted ideas &

traditions?

1. Theory of Relativity -----• Shattered the belief that the world operated

according to absolute laws of motion and gravity.

2. Freudian Psychology ----- * This theory hypothesized that much of human behavior is irrational, it weakened faith in reason

POSTWAR UNCERTAINTYsection 1

3. Existentialism --------* Taught that life had no universal

meaning, leaving people to find their own meaning in life

4. Surrealism ---------* inspired by Freud’s ideas, sought to link

world of dreams with real life in art.

How did the following demonstrate the independent spirit of

the times?

5. Jazz -------- * Composers moved away from traditional styles. The jazz beat was uninhibited and energetic, fitting the freedom and spontaneity of the times.

6. Women ------* Abandoned restrictive clothing and styles.

Argued that they should be equal partners with men.

How did the following change ways of life?

7. Automobiles --------* Created new manufacturing jobs & new

businesses to serve car owners. Expanded recreational travel. Led to the growth of suburbs and commuter population.

8. Airplanes ----------* Improvements in aircraft made possible

commercial passenger service and international travel

9. Radio ----------* Expanded audiences for news, plays,

and sporting events. Helped bring world in closer touch.

10. Movies -----------* Movie-making became a serious art

form in Europe and a major industry in Hollywood. Movies became a popular escape from daily hardships.

1. In new postwar democracies, there were frequent changes in gov’t.

* Many citizens of the new democracies had little experience with representative gov’t. Some countries had many political parties, which made effective gov’t difficult and led to the formation of coalition gov’t that often unraveled.

2. In Germany, the Weimar Republic was weak from the start.

* Germany lacked a strong democratic tradition; postwar had multiple political parties. Many Germans blamed the Weimar gov’t NOT their wartime leaders for the country’s military defeat & humiliation at Versailles.

A WORLDWIDE DEPRESSION

section 2

3. Postwar Germany suffered from severe economic inflation.

* The German gov’t printed money for war expenses and reparations. This devalued the mark (German dollar) to the point where people needed wheelbarrows full of money to buy food.

4. The United States had a flawed economy.

* Uneven distribution of wealth, overproduction by businesses and agriculture (farms) led to lessened demand for consumer goods.

5. On October 29, 1929, the U.S. stock market crashed.

* Believing that the prices would drop, investors tried to sell high-priced stocks that they had bought on margin, but no one wanted to buy.

6. A long depression followed the crash in the United States.

* Unemployment rates rose as industrial production, prices, and wages fell. Businesses failed. Individuals lost their savings when banks closed, and farmers lost their land.

7. Collapse of the U.S. economy affected countries worldwide.

* Some countries had war debts and were dependent on American loans and investments. Worried American bankers demanded repayment for their overseas loans, and American investors withdrew their money from Europe. American market for imported goods dropped sharply. Raising of tariffs led to decrease in world trade and market demand.

8. In Britain, the National Government rescued the economy.

* Passed high protective tariffs, increased taxes, regulated the currency, and lowered interest rates to encouraged industrial growth.

9. In France, the Popular Front was formed as a coalition gov’t.

* Economic crisis in France led to political instability and leaders feared the growth of antidemocratic forces.

10. Socialist gov’ts in Scandinavian countries dealt with the economic crisis successfully.

* Relied on existing tradition of cooperative community action & gov’t sponsored public works programs to keep people employed and producing food. Raised pensions for the elderly and benefits for those in need.

CAUSE EVENT EFFECTS

• Italians were disappointed by terms of Versailles & distressed by social unrest, rising inflation, & high unemployment

• Mussolini promised to rescue Italy by reviving its economy & rebuilding armed forces

• He founded the Fascist party & rapidly gained popularity as economic conditions continued to worsen

1. Mussolini gains

popularity

• Mussolini publicly criticized the government

• Fascists promoted a campaign of terror and gained support of middle classes, industrial leaders, & aristocracy

FASCISM RISES IN EUROPEsection 3

CAUSE EVENT EFFECTS

• The king decided that Mussolini was the best hope for his dynasty to survive

2. King Victor Emmanuel III puts Mussolini in charge of

the government

• Mussolini abolished democracy

• outlawed all political parties, but his Fascist party

• Imposed censorship

• Had opponents jailed

• Outlawed strikes• Made allies of

industrialist & large landowners

• He was a successful organizer and speaker

3. Hitler is chosen leader

of the Nazi party

• The Nazis became a growing political force

CAUSE EVENT EFFECTS

• Inspired by Mussolini’s march on Rome, Hitler & the Nazis tried to overthrow the gov’t and seize power in Munich.

4. Hitler is tried for

treason and sentenced to

prison

• In jail, he wrote Mein Kampf, which set forth his beliefs and goals for Germany

• When the depression ended the nation’s brief postwar recovery, the German economy collapsed

• Civil unrest broke out & people looked to Hitler for strong leadership

• Conservative leaders, believing they could control Hitler, advised Pres. to name Hitler chancellor

5. President Paul von

Hindenburg names Hitler chancellor in

1933

• Hitler acted quickly to strengthen his position

• He won a parliamentary majority in elections he called

• Turned Germany into a totalitarian state

CAUSE EVENT EFFECTS

• Anti-Semitism was a key part of the Nazi ideology

• Nazis used Jews as the scapegoat for Germany’s troubles

7. Nazis passed law depriving

Jews of their rights

• Violence against Jews increased

• Kristallnacht signaled the real start of the process of eliminating Jews from German life

1931 – Japan Invades Manchuria

1. Why did the Japanese invade Manchuria?

* To solve its economic problems & protect Japanese business interest

1935 – Mussolini invades Ethiopia

2. Why did Britain and France take no action against Italian aggression?

* Britain and France hoped to keep the peace in Europe

1935 – U.S. Congress passes first of three Neutrality Acts

3. Why did isolationists want these laws passed?

* They hoped to keep the U.S. out of another war

AGGRESSORS INVADE NATIONSsection 4

1936 – German Troops move into the Rhineland

4. What were some effects of appeasing Hitler after his invasion of the Rhineland?

• Strengthened Hitler’s power in Germany

• Tilted the balance of power in Germany’s favor

• Encouraged Hitler to speed up military & territorial expansion

1937 – Japan invades China

Hitler plans to absorb Austria & Czechoslovakia into the Third Reich

5. What were the immediate results of this invasion?

• The Chinese retreated and set up a new capital

• Chinese guerrillas continued to fight in the occupied area.

1938 – Munich Conference is held

6. Why was the Munich Conference unsuccessful?

• The Czechs were not invited.

• British prim minister Neville Chamberlain believed he could preserve peace by giving into Hitler’s demands

• When Hitler’s troops took over Czechoslovakia, it was clear that the agreement had failed to stop Hitler from occupying Czechoslovakia and then demanding Danzig, Poland

1939 – Franco becomes Spanish dictator

7. How did other countries help Franco’s Nationalist forces bring about the collapse of Republican resistance?

• While the Western democracies remained neutral, Hitler and Mussolini sent troops, tanks, and airplanes to Franco in Spain

1939 - Germany and Russia sign a nonaggression pact

8. Why did Stalin sign an agreement with Fascist Germany, once a bitter enemy?

• Stalin wanted to avoid war with Germany