The Great War and the Interwar Years From 1918 to 1939

Women after WWI Due to significance of women’s groups helping to support the war through work and education, many women demand more freedoms throughout the world. -Many nations grant Women’s Suffrage (right to vote) -Women begin to play a larger role in politics and social movements

After World War I… Totalitarianism spreads to some nations (e.g. Italy, Germany, Japan, Soviet Union). Japanese Militarism increases in Asia Fascism: Belief that Society is more important than the individual Independence Movements after WWI: -Gandhi = India -Mao Zedong = China -Haile Selassie = Ethiopia

Great Depression Over-abundance of Food (Why?)  Low prices for food  Farm families unable to buy manufactured goods Loans to foreign nations are not repaid on time  Germany asks for some slack  Animosity between nations increases (France and Germany)

Great Depression Investors purchased stocks “on the margin”  Once stock market went down, investors lost lots of $$  Panic swept the financial markets  “Bank Runs” began to occur People lose their jobs leading to a cycle of job loss that is hard to break Job lost  Spend less  Business receive less $  Lay off workers  Job loss

Pre-WWII Japan Leader = Emperor Hirohito Government = Military Dictatorship (Fascist) -Invades China to strengthen nation [following the West’s example] -Nanjing Massacre: Thousands of Chinese tortured/raped/executed in former capitol of China

Pre-WWII Italy Leader = Benito Mussolini “Il Duce” Government = Military Dictatorship (Fascist) -Invades Ethiopia [positioned between two Italian colonies] in Strengthened Military might

Pre-WWII Germany Leader = Adolf Hitler Government = Socialist Dictatorship (Fascist) -Nuremberg Laws (1935): Forced Jewish people to live in Ghettos, heavy taxes, punished for religion, scapegoat -Kristallnacht (1938): “Night of Broken Glass”; Hundreds killed; thousands brought to prison/camps; businesses and home broken into and robbed.

Pre-WWII Soviet Union Leader = Josef [Joseph] Stalin Government= Communist Dictatorship (Fascist) -Gulags: Forced enemies of the government into work-camps (gulags). Many are worked to death (Kulaks were a major targeted group) -Although Hitler and Stalin hate each other, they sign a Nonaggression pact, stating they would not attack one another (cut a deal to split up Poland)

Pre-WWII Information Appeasement Policy: British Prime Minister’s policy towards Hitler; Give in to demands to stop further aggression Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan Allied Powers: Britain, France, U.S., Soviet Union

Questions 1) Explain two main causes of the Great Depression 2) Which nations avoided the Great Depression? How? 3) How does the Great Depression affect the rise of new leaders in Europe? 4) What is Totalitarianism? What is Fascism? 5) Explain how the Treaty of Versailles played a role in the interwar years? In other words, how did it impact the interwar period?