The West Between the Wars

Chapter 17

Uneasy Peace, Uncertain Security

The Treaty of Versailles created new boundaries, states & occupied territories; however many were unhappy.

The League of Nations was weak. France demanded reparations

from Germany; when unable to pay, France occupied the Ruhr Valley.

The Dawes Plan: Reduced reparations Coordinated Germany’s

payments with ability to pay Granted a $200 million loan

(Am. Investment)

Treaty of Locarno Guaranteed Germany’s borders

with France and Belgium Germany joins League of Nations

(1926)

Kellogg-Briand Pact 63 Nations “renounce war” No reinforcement

Causes of the Great Depression

# 3 in the Section Review

Great Depression

The Great Depression

Causes:1. Slump in the economies of many

nations2. International financial crisis3. U.S. Stock Market Crash

Responses: Unemployed and homeless filled the

streets. Govt. interference in the economy Renewed interest in Marxist doctrines

Worksheet questions

Answer for each country (include vocab) How did the Great Depression affect the

country? What did the government do in order to

help boost the economy? What effect did these have on the

country? Were the changes a success? How so?

Germany Germany experienced major inflation

which caused serious social problems. A German democratic state was created

known as the Weimar Republic. The country was not able to pull

themselves out of the Great Depression for a long time. The Germans were severely affected by unemployment during the depression and caused the rise of extremist parties.

Great Britain Declines in the production industries led to a

rise of unemployment. The Labour Party failed to solve the economic

problems. Fell from power in 1931

A new Conservative led Gov. brought Britain out of the worst stages of the Depression by using traditional policies of balanced budgets and protective tariffs.

Keynes- advocated deficit spending (going into debt).

France France had a balanced economy Leftist parties formed the Popular Front

government. Created the French New Deal which gave

workers the right to collective bargaining – the right of unions to negotiate with employers over wages and hours

France pulled out of the depression rather quickly due to a more balanced economy and the French New Deal

United States The U.S. production industry fell by half Roosevelt wanted a policy of active

government intervention in the economy, that was called The New Deal.

The New Deal created the U.S. welfare and social security system, including pensions and unemployment insurance.

Although the New Deal didn’t solve the unemployment problem, eventually WW II would because of the need for weapons and supplies.

RISE OF DICTATORSSection 2

The Political Spectrum

The Political Spectrum

Rise of Dictators

Totalitarian state – a government that aims to control political, social, intellectual, and cultural lives of citizens.

Wanted to conquer the minds and hearts of their subjects Propaganda Modern communication

Fascist Beliefs & Policies Fascism - a political movement

that stresses extreme loyalty to the state and its leader.

Support for Fascists comes from aristocrats, industrialists, veterans, and the lower middle class.

Fascism similarities to Communism

1. Ruled by dictator & one party system

2. Both denied individual rights3. State is supreme

Difference is that Fascists didn’t want a classless society.

Methods used by

Mussolini

Strict laws against those

criticizing the regime

Secret police,

OVRA, had unrestricted

authority

Outlawed all other political parties

Controlled mass media

Promoted the main ideals of Fascism

through organizations

Made a deal with the Catholic

Church to gain support

Mussolini in Power

The perfect Italian – fit, disciplined, war loving, held traditional values.

Family is the pillar of the state Catholic Church state religion Still unable to truly control every

aspect Large gap between ideals and

practices

A New Era in the Soviet Union Lenin abandoned war communism in

favor of his New Economic Policy (NEP). allowed private ownership of small

businesses Sell produce openly Heavy industry and banking gov. run

the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

Lenin dies 1924 – no successor named

Politburo – the Communist Party’s main policy making body.

Leon Trotsky Commissar of War Called for rapid

industrialization Spread communism

abroad ( world-

wide revolution

Joseph Stalin

Party general secretary Appointed officials

(received their support) Remove Bolsheviks from

power end NEP

Economic Costs

Stalin shifts from the NEP with his Five-Year Plans. Transform the USSR into an

industrial country Maximum production of military

equipment and capital goods

Social Costs not much money spent on housing

creation of slums Private farms were eliminated under

collectivization – a system in which private farms were eliminated and the government owned all of the land peasants worked on.

Strict laws limited movements

Political Costs

Strengthened hold over party. Those who resisted were sent to

labor camps in Siberia. Old Bolsheviks removed or put to

death Promoted women’s rights

Divorce easier Women work

Stalin Mussolini

Eastern Europe fall to Dictators

In Hungary & Poland, the new democratic governments formed after WWI fall to dictators.

By 1935, Czechoslovakia is the only democracy in eastern Europe.

they see authoritarian rule as the only way to prevent instability.

Spain

Civil war in Spain leads to a Fascist dictatorship.

Francisco Franco — a young general who rose quickly as dictator of Spain. Supported by Italy & Germany The Soviet Union supported the

Republican government Authoritarian more than totalitarian

The ancient Basque village of Guernica was destroyed on April 26, 1937 by a German air force more interested in practicing than in any military aims.

Wave after wave of planes dropped heavy bombs as well as incendiary devices on the defenseless town. Fighter pilots strafed civilians attempting to escape.

Hundreds of Guernica citizens lost their lives during the raid. Up to one-third of the town's 5,000 residents were killed.

This image shows the center of Guernica shortly after the raid. Some three-quarters of all buildings in the town were damaged with the center almost completely destroyed.

THEN

NOW

Guernica by Pablo Picasso

RISE OF HITLER AND NAZI PARTY

Section 3

Hitler’s Germany Hitler wanted to create another

Roman Empire Create an Aryan race that

would dominate Europe Third Reich

Holy Roman Empire Germany empire after unification

Hitler’s Germany

Use variety to maintain a totalitarian state

Schutzstaffeln (SS) – police force used to maintain order Directed by Heinrich Himmler 2 principles – terror and ideology Chief goal was to further the Aryan

race.

Economic policies Put people back to work to reduce

unemployment propaganda

press, radio, literature, painting and film

Rallies (Nuremberg) Youth programs

Women’s roles Traditional role of wife and mother of

the Aryan race Jobs reflected Nazi ideals for women

Anti-Semitic Policies

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Kristallnacht “night of broken glass”, November

9, 1938 Destruction against Jewish

synagogues, businesses, and people

clean up everything from Kristallnacht

Many encouraged to leave the country

Kristallnacht