Post WWI & Great Depression

Europe’s mood after WWI

Europe after WWI

Transformation of Europe  Period of Social Change  Scientific and Cultural Transformation  German Hyperinflation

Social Changes of the 20’s  Class distinctions faded as role of aristocracy declined  Government expansion led to more “white-collar” jobs (office work, business, etc)  Advancements in technology slowed of working class  Women earned the right to vote  Did not effect politics as women voted like male relatives

German Hyperinflation  German economy collapsed in 1923  Treaty of Versailles  Loss of territory  War Guilt Clause  Had to pay the winners back for the war  Leads to Hyper-inflation

What does hyperinflation look like?  What can you do with German money in 1923?  Make a fort (above) or burn it for heat (right)

Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe

The Dawes Plan Allies GermanyUnited States High Interest Loans War Reparations Interest on War Debts

The Great Depression CausesEffects  Agricultural Depression  Bank Failures  Overproduction of Goods  Credit  Decline of world trade  Massive unemployment  Global decline in industrial production  Poverty and hunger widespread

Reactions to the Depression  Government Changes  The New Deal  Keynesian Economics  Greater government role in the economy  Political Radicalization  Rise of communist and fascist parties  Germany and Japan turn to state controlled economic growth

Fascism  Mussolini – Italy (1922)  One- party dictatorship  Took over all positions in government, the press, public education, and gave employers control over workers  Extreme form of nationalism  Powerful secret police  Fascism appealed to people who feared:  Rapid change & economic instability

Totalitarianism and Mass Mobilization  Characteristics:  Attack liberal democracy and capitalism  State directed economy  State more important than the individual  Charismatic dictators  Depend upon mobilization of the masses  Embrace public welfare programs  Use censorship and propaganda  Women not permitted a public role

Adolf Hitler Rise of HitlerReforms by Hitler  Austrian  Served in World War I  Became chancellor of Germany in 1933  Ignores the Treaty of Versailles  Ends war reparations payments  Remilitarizes Germany

Japan  Authoritarian  Want to get out of the Great Depression  Some working class parties  Government fell into the hands of a nationalist military group  Began aggressively attacking areas of Asia