Notes Chapters 31 & 32 April 8-12, 2013

Causes of the Great Depression Industry producing more than they were selling (overproduction) – Leads to reduced production, which leads to layoffs, which hurts demand Wealth unevenly distributed (top 5% of people gained 33% of the wealth) Buying stocks “on margin” (on credit), without the ability to pay back the loan

Causes of the Great Depression Stock market prices hit “unnaturally high” prices in late September, People begin to sell off, fearing a drop in prices Turns into a panic, and on Tuesday, October 29, a record 16 million stocks are sold and the market collapses

The Rise of Fascism in Europe Mussolini, Hitler, and the turbulent 1930s

Background Harshness of the Versailles Treaty (especially for Germany) Great Depression: mass unemployment and inflation. Democracy is new, especially in Germany under the so-called “Weimar Republic” People start turning to political extremes

What is Fascism? New, militant political movement that emphasized loyalty to the government and obedience to the Leader Incorporated Nationalism Incorporated Militarism Right-wing, opposite of communism

Birth of Fascism in ITALY Benito Mussolini – newspaper editor. Promised to revive economy and armed forces Established the Fascist Party in 1919 Blackshirts: supporters of Mussolini. Attacked opposition political groups (Communists, Socialists) March on Rome: October ,000 Blackshirts King appoints Mussolini as Il Duce (leader)

German Fascism: NAZISM Adolf Hitler: WWI veteran. Joins the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazis) in 1919 Hitler quickly takes over party, known as der Führer (the Leader) Attempts to overthrow the Weimar Republic in Fails, spends nearly two years in prison. Writes “Mein Kampf” (My Struggle) – Germans are the Master Race (Aryans) – Non-Aryans (Jews, Gypsies, Slavs) are inferior – Germany needed more space (Lebensraum)…needed to take it from Eastern Europe and Russia

German Fascism: NAZISM The Nazis remain a minor party until the Great Depression After the 1932 elections, the Nazis are the largest party in the German Parliament. Hitler appointed Chancellor in January 1933 Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act Hitler begins to turn Germany into a totalitarian state.

The Holocaust Persecution and Mass Murder in Nazi Germany

Background Hitler and the Nazis believe that Jews and other groups are inferior because they are “non-Aryan” European anti-Semitism The Nazis blame Germany’s defeat, the Treaty of Versailles, and the economic problems on the Jews Hitler takes power in Germany in January 1933

Early Persecution Nuremburg Laws, Jews are no longer German citizens, Jews cannot marry non-Jews, Jews cannot do certain jobs Kristallnacht, November 9, 1938 Nazis try to deport the Jews, but no other country wanted to take them. Isolation: Jews are rounded up and sent to “ghettos”, walled off sections of cities where they were forced to live

The Final Solution Hitler orders the SS (security force) to round up Jews and other “inferior groups” into concentration camps – Concentration camps were Work Camps, used the Jews slave labor SS go into some areas and kill the Jews “The Final Solution”, 1942: Hitler approves mass extermination.

The Final Solution Will use vital materials and manpower to carry out mass murder, hurts Germany’s war effort Concentration camps converted into Extermination Camps – Built gas chambers disguised as showers – Built “crematoriums” (ovens) to burn the bodies – Dachau, Auschwitz, Treblinka Victims: – 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis – 9-10 million other groups (Gypsies, Slavs, Mentally Handicapped) also killed

Japanese Internment Camps

Background By 1941: 127,000 Japanese Living in the United States, nearly 90% in California Led to high anti-Japanese sentiment. Japanese immigration barred in the 1920s Laws segregated Japanese in some cities

Pearl Harbor and Response Japan attacks Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 Racist attitude towards Japanese Americans increase Roosevelt Issues Executive Order 9066 – Feb 1942 – Secretary of War can create “military zones from which any or all persons may be excluded” – Creates “Military Area No. 1”: Pacific Coast to 100 miles inland.

Internment Starting in March “Civilian Exclusion Orders” are issued restricting rights of Japanese in Military Area No. 1 May 3, Civilian Exclusion Order 33: – All persons of Japanese ancestry to be relocated from Military Area No. 1

Internment Given a week or less to “evacuate” Moved first to Civilian Assembly Centers in California, then to Relocation Camps outside Military Area No. 1 Camps were built quickly, poorly heated, minimum rations, guarded by military sentries and barbed wire fences Held until January Given $25 and a train ticket home.