Between Wars
World History
The postwar period is one of loss and uncertainty but
also one of invention, creativity, and new ideas.
POSTWAR UNCERTAINTY
Revolution in Science
Einstein’s Theory
of Relativity
Radically new
ideas in physics
Theory of
relativity — space
and time are not
constant
Make world
seem more
uncertain
•
•
•
Freudian
Psychology
New ideas
about the mind
Claims human
behavior not
based on reason
•
•
Art & Literature
Suffering caused
by World War I
leads many to
doubt old beliefs
Thinkers React to
Uncertainties
Existentialism:
no universal
meaning to life
Surrealism: art
movement that
links dreams
with real life
Jazz: music that
captures new
freedom
Women
Women take on
new roles during
World War I
right to vote
freer clothing
hairstyles
new careers
•
•
•
•
Technology
Automobile
Airplanes
• Lindbergh
Radio
Movies
An economic depression in the United States spreads
throughout the world and lasts for a decade.
A WORLDWIDE DEPRESSION
Financial Collapse
A Flawed U.S. Economy
• Wealth distributed unevenly
• People too poor to buy goods
• Factory owners cut back on
production, lay off workers
• Farmers produce more food
than people can eat, prices fall
• Farmers cannot repay loans and
lose their land
• The stock market crashes
Postwar Europe
• Unstable New Democracies
• German Inflation
• Worldwide Unemployment
In response to political turmoil and economic crises,
Italy and Germany turn to totalitarian dictators.
FASCISM RISES IN EUROPE
Fascism Rises
• Fascism is a new, militant
political movement
• Emphasizes nationalism and
loyalty to authoritarian leader
• Italians want a leader who will
take action
• Fascist leader, Benito Mussolini,
promises to rescue Italy
• Italian king puts Mussolini in
charge
Comparing Fascism
to Communism
COMMUNISM
FASCISM
Ruled by:
DICTATOR
DICTATOR
Political Parties
ONE
ONE
Individual Rights
Denied
Denied
Societal Classes
None
-Classless society
Many
•Aristocrats
•Industrialist
•Military
•Lower middle class
•Workers
World View
Internationalism
-unite workers worldwide
National issues take
precedence
Fascism Rises
• Adolf Hitler—obscure political
figure in 1920s Germany
• Nazism—German brand of
fascism
• Hitler believes that Germany
needs lebensraum, or living
space
• Germans turn to Hitler when
economy collapses
1. The 17th century was a period
of great upheaval in Europe.
The decline of feudalism,
constant religious and
territorial conflicts, and
rebellions of overtaxed peasants
led monarchs to seek ABSOLUTE
POWER. What political and
social crises led to the rise of
fascism in the 1920s and 1930s?
1.Devastation of WWI: huge loss
of people, homes, farms,
schools, hospitals
Loss of “next generation”
keeps “old ideas” in power
Lack of Democratic tradition
Personal and social anxiety
2.
3.
4.
GETTING POWER
2. Rulers can increase their power by
limiting the power of other
institutions in society.
17th century ABSOLUTE MONARCHS
gathered power by limiting the
power of the nobility, creating royal
bureaucracies & taking control of the
central government, & bringing the
Church under state control.
How did Fascist leaders increase
their own power?
Fascists get Power
1.Allowed only 1 Political Party
which had total control over
government
Changed laws: personal
freedoms gone, censorship,
created scapegoats (Jews)
Terror: Assassinations,
prison camps, secret police
Propaganda using new mass
media: radio, movies
Weakened Churches
2.
3.
4.
5.
3. Absolute monarchs sought to
control economic affairs by
mercantilism, giving tax
benefits to expand trade &
manufacturing, and by creating
new bureaucracies to control
economic life.
How did Fascist leaders take
command of their countries’
economies?
Fascists & Economy
1.Took over or ended Labor
Unions; outlawed Strikes
2.Eliminated Unemployment
through huge public building
programs: roads, buildings;
dams; war stuff
State control of prices,
factories, banks, & trade
3.
4. In an effort to control every
aspect of society and the lives of
citizens, absolute monarchs
regulated religious worship,
social gatherings, and other
aspects of daily life. What steps
did Fascist leaders take to
control the lives of their
citizens?
1.Controlled Education
2.Created “Must Join” Youth
Groups
3.Censorship
4.Threats/Intimidation
5. Absolute monarchs believed
that the divine right of kings
gave them authority to rule with
unlimited power.
What beliefs or principles did
Fascist leaders use to justify
their unlimited power?
Leaders’ Beliefs
1.Belief in Racial Superiority—
Germans destined to rule the
world as “Master Race”
“Supreme Leader” (or
“Fuhrer Principle”): one leader
should speak for the General
Will of all
2.
Germany, Italy, and Japan conquer other countries;
the rest of the world does nothing to stop them.
AGGRESSORS INVADE NATIONS
Aggressors March
• Britain urges appeasement, a
policy of giving in to aggression
• Germany, Italy, and Japan—the
Axis Powers— form an alliance
• United States Follows an
Isolationist Policy
• Isolationism—avoidance of
•
political ties with other
countries
In 1935, Congress passes
Neutrality Acts
Preserve Peace?
• Britain and France again choose
•
•
•
•
Appeasement, let Hitler take
Sudetenland
But in 1939, Hitler still takes
rest of Czechoslovakia
Mussolini takes Albania; Hitler
demands part of Poland
Nazis and Soviets Sign
Nonaggression Pact
In 1939, Stalin and Hitler pledge
never to attack one another
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