The Western Democracies Stumble Chapter 16 – Section 2

What do you think these lyrics are about? Do Now: Monday 4/1/13 “They used to tell me I was building a dream With peace and glory ahead--- Why should I be standing in line, Just waiting for bread? Once I built a railroad, I made it run, Made it race against time. Once I built a railroad, now its done --- Brother, can you spare a dime?” What do you think these lyrics are about?

Postwar Politics Economic problems led to social unrest Needed to find jobs for returning veterans

Irish Independence 1914: home-rule bill  shelved when war began Easter 1916 small group of militant Irish nationalists launched a revolt against British rule Quickly suppressed by British caused wider support for Irish independence 1919  Parliament failed to grant home-rule again Irish launched guerilla war against British forces and supporters 1922  agreement was made Most of Ireland became self-governing Northern counties, largely Protestant, remained under British rule

“The Red Scare” Fear of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia set off a “Red Scare” in the U.S. Police deported suspected foreign born radicals Growing demands to limit immigration

The Great Depression Late 1920s in the U.S. & spread to the rest of the world Demand for raw materials & agricultural products skyrocketed during the war – demand & prices fell after the war Overproduction  slow in production  less workers needed Financial mismanagement Prices on stock exchange were all time high Federal Reserve increased interest rates in 1928 and 1929 Did not work  people became afraid to invest  hurt demand Fall 1929 Stock prices crashed – wiping out fortunes of many investors

Depression Spreads American banks stopped loans abroad Demanded repayment of foreign loans. Without U.S. support, Germany could not make reparation payments France and Britain could not make loan payments U.S. raised tariffs to protect economy Backfired when other nations raised their tariffs

FDR & The New Deal Government was needed to combat the Great Depression Economic and social programs Federal government became more directly involved in people’s everyday lives than ever before Social Security system  pension for elderly 1934  Dust Bowl New Deal did not end the Great Depression, but it eased the suffering for many

Portrait shows Florence Thompson with several of her children in a photograph known as "Migrant Mother". The Library of Congress caption reads: "Destitute pea pickers in California. Mother of seven children. Age thirty-two. Nipomo, California."

Consequences As the Depression continued people lost faith in democratic governments’ ability to solve problems of the modern world Despair in Europe intensified Extremists promised radical solutions Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler

Section 2 Packet  Western Democracies Stumble Homework DUE: Wed. 4/3 Section 2 Packet  Western Democracies Stumble All Checkpoints & #3, 4, 5