The U.S. and Europe The U.S. and Europe Between the WarsBetween the WarsMr. White’s World History

Main IdeaMain IdeaThis period was an era of intense

economic, political, social, and cultural change that:◦Resulted in changing lifestyles for

people in the western democracies◦Saw democratic governments in the

United States, England, and France struggle to preserve democracy

◦Created fascist and communist dictatorships in Europe

SECTION 1: CULTURE SECTION 1: CULTURE AND SOCIETYAND SOCIETY

New technology, science, and culture changed the world after World War I.

Changing Lives for Changing Lives for WomenWomenWomen began to

challenge old social norms following the war◦ Many had worked in war

industries, and had demanded equal pay to men

◦ Many began to demand, and won, the right to vote

Many women adopted new fashions and social behavior◦ Increased use of make-

up in public (considered indecent before)

◦ Openly drinking, smoking, casually dating men

Popular TechnologyPopular Technology New technology in

communication and transportation increased the pace of life and the interconnectedness of society◦ Automobile – increased

mobility and freedom for people (mostly for the wealthy at first)

The beginning of popular radio led to a homogenization of culture◦ Stimulated the desire for

consumer goods◦ Psychology was used in

advertisements to convince people to buy

Leisure TimeLeisure TimeNew labor-saving devices such as

electronic appliances (vacuum cleaners, toasters, refrigerators, etc.) led to a growth in leisure time

Leisure activities such as spectator sports, athletic activities (biking, tennis), and popular reading grew in popularity

ScienceScienceNew advances in

science changed the way that people viewed the world◦ Albert Einstein

developed the theory of relativity – governs the laws of motion and energy

◦ Sigmund Freud developed theories on the human mind and subconscious to explain human behavior – growth of psychology as a discipline

LiteratureLiteratureMany authors of the time began to

pick new techniques and subjects to portray◦Writers were often critical of the society

of the time – materialism, middle class values

◦James Joyce – “Ulysses,” pioneered a style known as “stream of consciousness”

◦Many writers became interested in writing about social issues of the time

PaintingPaintingNew techniques in painting

challenged old conventions about art◦Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque

developed a style known as cubism – broke human and still-life forms into fragments

◦The Dada school of art stressed absurdity, and was “anti-art”

◦Surrealism developed as an offshoot of Dadaism – portrayed a surreal view on life

This, one of Picasso’s most famous paintings, shows early elements of Cubism, which involved breaking up forms into shapes that distorted them.

Les Demoiselles D’Avignon, Pablo Picasso

MusicMusicSergei Prokofiev composed driving

and dissonant music – often criticizedArnold Schoenberg of Austria used

12-note harmony to compose music reflecting what he saw as the decline of Western culture

Jazz developed in the U.S. as a popular style of music, incorporating West African, rhythms, classical music, etc.

DanceDanceSergey Diaghilev developed

modern ballet by blending classical ballet elements with modern dance styles

Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham pioneered styles that laid the foundation for modern dance

ArchitectureArchitectureThe Bauhaus school of

architecture linked beauty to practicality, and avoided using classical styles as patterns

Frank Lloyd Wright of the U.S. blended his structures with their natural surroundings – organic architecture

The Bauhaus school of architecture grew in Germany as a break from the traditional styles and forms of the past, and tied architecture to the function of the building.

The Bauhaus Dassau

Popular CulturePopular CultureHollywood productions began to

dominate movie theaters of the timeSilent movies were popular, at the

beginningThe beginning of sound in films

increased their popularity – musicals, gangster films, and horror movies

Dance bands popularized the dance music of the era – jazz, swing

SECTION 2: U.S. SECTION 2: U.S. ISOLATIONISM AND ISOLATIONISM AND DEPRESSIONDEPRESSION

After World War I, the United States isolated itself from foreign influences and eventually slipped into an economic depression.

Woodrow WilsonWoodrow WilsonAs WWI ended, Woodrow Wilson tried

to keep the U.S. involved in world affairs, specifically the League of Nations

Congress had to vote by 2/3 to join the League of Nations for it to go into effect◦Wilson refused to compromise and work

with Congress◦Then, Wilson suffered a stroke

The U.S. did not join the League of Nations

Red Scare and the KKKRed Scare and the KKKAmericans began to fear foreign

influences after World War IThe spread of communism in

Russia made many Americans afraid that it might spread to the U.S. – “red scare”

The Ku Klux Klan rose again with support from people who feared non-American influences

Post-war ProsperityPost-war ProsperityWorld War I had given much of

the economy, especially manufacturing, a boost

Many Americans had a great deal of confidence in the economy◦Some industrial workers had

increased wages◦Many people began to buy on credit

or speculate in the stock market

Weaknesses of the Weaknesses of the EconomyEconomyHowever, the economy had many

underlying weaknesses◦The farming sector of the economy

was not doing well◦Demand for products and the

increase in wages across the economy were not keeping up with production – factories were making more than could be purchased

Stock Market CrashStock Market CrashIn 1929, the stock market crashed,

and this signaled the beginning of the Great Depression◦Loan brokers called in the collection of

loans◦Financial panic resulted in a run on the

banks – not enough cash to cover◦As banks failed, businesses closed,

wages fell, workers lost their jobsThe U.S. government mostly stayed

out of providing assistance, at first

FDR and the New DealFDR and the New DealIn 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt

was elected president of the United States

Roosevelt and Congress worked together to pass laws that provided assistance to the economy◦Regulated banks and the stock market◦Established production guidelines◦Sponsored public works programs to

provide jobsLater laws also created social security

and unemployment insurance

SECTION 3: GREAT SECTION 3: GREAT BRITAINBRITAIN

After World War I, Great Britain experienced a loss of global power because of mounting debt and industrial competition with the U.S. and Japan.

Economic CompetitionEconomic CompetitionDuring the war, Great Britain had to

turn all of its resources to fighting the war◦Had to borrow money from the U.S.

when it ran out◦When Britain turned most of its factories

to war production, it was no longer able to produce to trade with its partners

◦These trading partners eventually started trading with the U.S. and Japan, instead

The Commonwealth of The Commonwealth of NationsNationsGreat Britain reorganized its

government into the Commonwealth of Nations◦Voluntary linking of Great Britain with

its colonies on an equal basis◦After a series of resistances and

uprisings by Irish nationalists in British Ireland, Britain granted self-government to the southern counties of Ireland – northern six counties remained in Great Britain

SECTION 4: FRANCESECTION 4: FRANCEAfter World War I, France struggled to recover.

France’s TroublesFrance’s TroublesFrance had suffered greatly

during World War I◦Much French farmland was destroyed◦Cities and towns along the battlefield

were mostly reduced to rubble◦Much of France’s infrastructure was

destroyed, which made it harder to recover

◦Half of the males aged 18 to 32 were killed

Economic and Political Economic and Political ProblemsProblemsFrance faced economic and

political trouble after World War I◦Unemployment, inflation, war debts◦Unable to rebuild infrastructure◦Political parties competed for votes,

and these coalitions quickly fell apart◦Extremist groups such as

communists, socialists, fascists, anarchists, and nationalists began to struggle for power

Keeping the PeaceKeeping the PeaceFrance worked to try to maintain peace

with Germany through different ways◦League of Nations and the international

community◦Forming strategic alliances with other

nations in case of German attack◦Construction of the Maginot Line – defense

line along the border with GermanyFrance also tried to work with the

government of Germany to maintain peace

SECTION 5: ITALIAN SECTION 5: ITALIAN FASCISMFASCISM

Benito Mussolini and the Fascist party took power in Italy following World War I.

TotalitarianismTotalitarianismDuring World War I, many

governments had adopted increased control over most aspects of life to support the war effort

After the war, many non-democratic nations adopted this approach to peacetime government, as well

Totalitarian governments resulted, in which the government sought to control every aspect of its citizens lives

Italy’s ProblemsItaly’s ProblemsMany Italians were unhappy after

World War I◦Thought Italy had been cheated at

the Paris Peace Conference◦Heavy unemployment for returning

soldiers, strikes, peasants seized land

The Italian government wasn’t able to do anything to relieve these problems

Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini In 1919, Benito Mussolini, a

former socialist, formed a new political party – the Fasci di Combattimento (Fascist party)

Totalitarian government that supported:◦Glorification of the state◦Single-party system with strong ruler◦Aggressive nationalism◦Expand and increase glory through

war, if necessary

Mussolini and the Mussolini and the BlackshirtsBlackshirts Mussolini, as head of

the fascist party, was able to use the unrest and discontent, plus the violence of the fascist blackshirts, to take power as prime minister

1924 election – Blackshirts used intimidation and beatings to make sure people voted only for fascist candidates

Mussolini and the fascists worked to end democratic government in Italy

Mussolini’s ruleMussolini’s ruleMany Italians opposed fascism –

Mussolini and the fascists responded by saying that “the masses must obey.”

Most Italians supported Mussolini◦Opposed communism and revolution◦Brought order to the nation

Mussolini rekindled feelings of patriotism in Italians and spoke of a future of renewed Italian power

SECTION 6: NAZI SECTION 6: NAZI GERMANYGERMANY

Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party took power in Germany.

Weimar RepublicWeimar RepublicGermany had adopted a

democratic form of government after the war known as the Weimar Republic

This government struggled with Germany’s post-war problems and tried to hold onto power◦In 1920, nationalist army officers

tried to overthrow the government; failed

Germany’s ProblemsGermany’s Problems German war reparations had been set

at $35 billion – German government, in 1922, said it couldn’t pay the reparations

France sent troops into Germany and took over coal mines and steel mills; German workers went on strike

To make the payments, the German government began to print more money – inflation soared

In the mid 1920s, Germany and France made an agreement to decrease the payments – Germany began to recover slightly

Hitler and the NazisHitler and the Nazis Many different political parties opposed

the Weimar government – among them was the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei

Adolf Hitler joined the Nazi party after World War I, and formed the Sturmabteilung (SA), or brownshirts, a paramilitary group of young veterans and street thugs

Hitler attempted to seize power in 1923, but was arrested

Mein KampfMein Kampf In prison, Hitler wrote

Mein Kampf, a book that outlined the basic beliefs of Nazism◦ Communists, Jews, and

other groups were responsible for Germany’s defeat in World War I

◦ Germans made up a master race that should rise in power and expand

Hitler and the Nazis created a false history behind why the Germans were a master race

Hitler’s RiseHitler’s Rise After Hitler got out of prison, he

continued his leadership of the Nazi party◦During the Great Depression, he promised

to end unemployment in Germany◦Also promised to restore Germany’s

military power In the early 1930s, the Nazis gained a

large number of seats in the Reichstag, Germany’s law-making lower house

In 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany

Reichstag FireReichstag Fire Hitler still didn’t have enough power

to set up a totalitarian government A week before new elections were to

be held, the Reichstag building burned to the ground – Hitler blamed communists

The SA forced German voters to back the Nazis, who took many more seats in the Reichstag

After the elections, Hitler was granted emergency powers to deal with the “communist threat.”

Nazi ReformsNazi ReformsAll parties except the Nazi party

were bannedFreedom of speech, press,

religion, and assembly were limited

Nazi government took over factories and production, also controlled churches

Nuremberg LawsNuremberg Laws 1935 – Nazis passed the Nuremberg

Laws, taking away citizenship from Jews, banning them from schools

November 9 and 10th, 1938 (Kristallnacht) – Nazis attacked Jews on the streets and vandalized Jewish property; Gestapo (Geheime Staatspolizei) arrested Jews and political opponents, some shot

Jews and others were rounded up and sent to concentration camps

Hitler’s RuleHitler’s RuleNow with absolute power, Hitler

adopted the title, “der Fuhrer” – leader

Set about to restore Germany’s power◦Ignored the Treaty of Versailles and

ordered German factories to begin building weapons, ammunition, planes, tanks, etc.

◦Stopped payments to the Allies

Nazi ControlsNazi Controls To glorify Nazism, the Nazis brought

all art, architecture, learning, etc., under the control of the government – many of Germany’s brightest minds left

Propaganda praising the government flooded the population◦Stressed the importance of devotion to

the nation The Nazis even set up youth

organizations to teach young children the beliefs of Nazism (Hitlerjugend)

SECTION 7: THE SECTION 7: THE USSRUSSR

Lenin and Stalin worked to increase the power of the USSR, and the power of the communist government.

Lenin and the USSRLenin and the USSR V.I. Lenin had taken

power in Russia as part of the communist revolution

Lenin brought all major industries under state control, but early in his rule, allowed some small industries to operate privately

Russia changed its name to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR

In theory, the state was controlled by the workers, but in reality, it was controlled by the government and the Communist party

Josef StalinJosef StalinLenin dies of a stroke; in 1922

Josef Stalin takes overStalin thought the USSR should

concentrate on growing strong, and that this would encourage communist revolutions in other nations

Stalin was a capable administrator, and was also paranoid, cold, and ruthless

Five Year PlansFive Year Plans Stalin wanted to

transform the USSR into an industrial power

Announced Five Year Plans to reorganize industrial and agricultural production under government control◦ Built heavy industry and

collectivized farming at the expense of consumer goods

The Five Year Plans and Stalin’s reign were characterized by tight control and careful planning – often inefficient and clumsy

Farm CollectivizationFarm Collectivization Stalin brought farms under

government control; thought it would be more efficient and would allow for a surplus

He also used collectivization to intimidate anti-Communist peasants

Many collectivizations resulted in revolts by the peasants; the government put down this resistance and often sent these people to prison camps or starved them into submission

Terror and ControlTerror and ControlStalin demanded complete

obedience from his people and used terror as a government tool

Used secret police to keep an eye on people and their actions

Stalin purged the government and Communist party of elements that he thought might be disloyal; extremely paranoid

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