2. Uneasy Peace, Uncertain Security
World War 1 created border disputes
Germany determined to change the terms of the Treaty of Versailles
President Wilson hoped that the League of Nations would solve new conflicts, however it was not able to maintain peace

3. No US involvement The US would not join the League of Nations
Americans didn’t want to be involved European affairs
League could not us military force
Rely on economic sanctions to stop agression

4. French French demand that the Treaty be strictly enforced
Germans don’t pay anymore of the bill ($33 billion) due to economic issues at home
French occupied the mining center of the Ruhr Valley
French planned to take the reparations by operating German industries.

5. German Response Workers go on strike in Germany
Germany simply printed more money to pay them off.
Inflation decreased the worth of German Marks.
By the end of 1923, the German Mark was worthless, it took more the 4 trillion marks to equal $1.00

6. Help for Germany Huge inflation meant that the people suffered
Economic problems lead to political unrest
Dawes Plan put in place to help. The Payments Germany owed went down where they could afford them and the US offered 200 million in investments, lasted from

7. Lasting Peace? Germany started to recover and became more cooperative.
Treaty of Locarno 1925, which guranteed Germany’s western border
Germany joined the League of Nations in 1928
Kellogg-Briand Pact – renounced war as instrument of national policy
Germany only nation forced to reduce military, How far would trust go??!!??

8. The Great Depression
European prosperity ended in 1929 with the Great Depression.
During a depression there is very low economic activity and high unemployment
Two main causes
Economies suffered and 1929 stock market crash in US.

9. What was the depression?
Germany borrowed money from US banks when stock marked crashed US banks pulled investment out of Germany.
German banks and other European banks were left in weakened state.
Trade slowed and industrial production slowed

10. What to Do??
There were always depressions but this was worse, unemployed and homeless filled the streets.
Governments didn’t know what to do…tried to lower wedges and increase trade costs, made things worse, Communism started to become more popular in many areas.

11. Political Turmoil
People started to follow political leaders who had simple solutions. Democratic governments challenged everywhere.

12. The Rise of Dictators
Between 1919 and 1939 – all European nations except France and Great Britain had adopted some form of dictatorial government
Totalitarian states
Aimed to control all aspects of citizens lives.
Control hearts and minds with propaganda and modern communications to achieve their goals

13. Single leader, All power
Single leader and single parties led the new states
NO INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS….OR LIMITS TO THE GOVERNMENTS POWER
Individuals were subservient to the collective whole
State demanded that citizens actively support any of its goals.

14. Fascism in Italy Government
Europe's first Fascist government
Glorifies state above individual
Strong central government and a single dictator
After WWI Italy had sever economic problems
Citizens afraid of communism, Mussolini and his party took over they were called the Blackshirts. They fought socialists and strikers, anyone who opposed the Fascist.

15. Fascism in Italy Mussolini appealed to nationalist pride
Demanded more land from WWI treaties
Demanded power from Italian king and eventually created Fascist dictatorship
Had the power to decree laws
Outlawed all opposition and setup secret police
Controlled mass media

16. Fascism in Italy Mussolini never achieved total control over the state
Left Vatican in Rome as independent
Catholicism was still state religion
Wanted to keep traditional values and importance of family and women in society

17. New Era in Soviet Union In 1924 Lenin Died
Joseph Stalin was general secretary and appointed thousands of officials throughout Russia.
Used position to gain control over Communist Party, by 1929 removed all Bolsheviks from power and became dictator.

18. New Era in Soviet Union The 5 years plan
Set economic goals for the next 5 years.
Emphasized industrialization and good production
The plan greatly increased output of heavy machinery and production of oil and steel.
Took heavy toll on Russian People
Horrible housing, wages declined
Propaganda used to boost morale

19. New Era in Soviet Union Introduced Collective agriculture.
Government took ownership from private farms and had people work them
Workers resisted and killed livestock and hoarded food Stalin's response was to increase the number of farms
1930’s people starved due to food shortages
Those who resisted were sent to Siberian Labor camps...Purges executed opposition and spared no one
Overturned laws made in 1920’s including women's rights no divorce or working outside the home