An Uncertain Peace Time Between the Wars
League of Nations Doomed to failure because of American isolationism-> refused to join Not strong enough Its sole weapon to halt German and Japanese aggression was economic sanctions
French Policy of Coercion (1919-1924) Apr. 1921 Allied Reparations Commission est. 132 billion marks ($33 billion) for Ger. Reparations payable in installments of 2.5 billion annually—Ger. says can’t pay France threatens to occupy the Ruhr valley, Germany’s industrial center 1922 Ger. announces can’t pay anymore- France sends in troops
VAST INFLATION, worthless money (Ger.) Weimar Republic prints large amounts of paper money to pay back France (also a form of passive resistance) VAST INFLATION, worthless money US $ German Marks Nov. 1, 1923 1 130 billion Nov. 30, 1923 4.2 trillion
Hyper-Inflation in Germany: 1923
The Hopeful Years 1924-1929
Dawes Plan reduced reparations, stabilized Ger. payments based on its ability to pay, US granted $200 million loan for Ger. recovery HEAVY American investment
European Debts to the US
Dawes Plan (1924)
Treaty of Locarno (1925) guaranteed Ger. new borders w/ France and Belgium
Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) signed by 63 nations, promised to NOT ever go to war (also, reducing arms) Few countries complied with disarmament on grounds of nat’l security
The Great Depression 1929-1939
Causes Downturn in domestic economies Decline in agricultural prices due to overproduction Many nations imposed high tariffs, closed markets to goods of other nations Increase in use of oil and hydroelectricity led to slump in coal industry International financial crisis caused y collapse of American stock market (Black Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929)
Era of EXTREMELY high unemployment (~ 50%) and major drop in production
Social Consequences Women re-enter the workforce as servants, laundresses, etc. Rise in gang activity Increased gov’t activity in the lives of citizens Social security programs Renewed interest in Marxist doctrines Increased attractiveness of dictatorships/authoritarian gov’ts (fascism, nazism, communism)
Postwar Philosophy Nietzsche Bergson Wittgenstein Sartre Heidegger
Democratic States between the wars In pairs, research your assigned nation/area during the Depression. Answer the question HOW DO THEY DEAL WITH IT? How do they deal? United States Britain France Scandinavia
Great Britain power struggle between new Labour party and Conservatives- neither succeeded in pulling the country out of depression Brought out by balanced budgets & tariffs
France unstable political system, power struggle between conservative National Bloc and the Cartel of the Left (coalition of Radicals & Socialists)
Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden) rise of stable Social Democratic governments, encouraged development of rural & industrial cooperatives & expanded social services (esp. for women)
United States hit the hardest by depression, FDR pursued his NEW DEAL policies, creating various agencies for relief, reform, & recovery Only WWII could bring US out of depression