1. The World Between the Wars

2. Postwar Politics in the West
Three Western democracies - Britain, France, and the United States - appeared powerful after WWI but faced serious problems
How would the nations find jobs for unemployed veterans?
How do they work to repair war damaged areas of France and Belgium?
Who will lead the next generation with so many people lost to the WWI?

3. Post War Politics in the West
Economic problems caused social unrest and made radical ideas more popular
Some were inspired by Stalin’s U.S.S.R. and communist movements sprung up across Western nations
Fear of communism also increased
Some saw socialism as the answer
Some embraced extreme nationalist movements
Others held on to democratic and capitalist values

4. Politics in Britain
In Britain political parties competed to control a new direction for the country
The Labour party gained support from factory workers by promoting a gradual move toward socialism
By resisting socialism, the Conservative party drew support from the middle class, upper class, professionals, and farmers.
Conservatives passed laws limiting the right of workers to strike
Ireland gained independence from Great Britain in 1922

5. Politics in France Business as usual in France
Political rivalries and financial scandals continued in France
Conservatives and Communists competed for power
A series of coalition governments (think French Revolution with less violence) competed for power

6. “Red Scare” in the United States
The U.S. emerged from the war in better shape than France and G.B., but worker unrest still lead to some support for communism
Fear of radicals and Bolsheviks lead to the“Red Scare”
Police rounded up foreign born radicals and some were deported
Some native-born Americans sought to exclude newcomers from SE Europe because their cultures differed from earlier N European immigrants.
Congress passed laws limiting immigration from southern and eastern Europe

7. International Relations
Because of the invasions of 1870 and 1914, France still fears Germany
To prevent a third invasion France constructs the Maginot Line along its border with Germany
France continues to argue for strict enforcement of Versailles Treaty as a means to keep Germany weak
France renews its alliance with the Soviet Union

8. International Relations
Britain focusses on stability at home and in Europe
Britain was focused on rebuilding its overseas empire and improving trade
Britain strongly supported the limits on Germany’s navy outlined in the Treaty of Versailles
Britain began to support easing other terms of the treaty because they feared if Germany was too weak, France and the Soviet Union would become too strong

9. International Relations
Efforts to maintain peace
The Locarno treaties settle disputes over Germany’s borders with France, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Poland
Kellogg-Briand Pact is signed by almost every independent nation and renounces war as an instrument of national policy
Great powers also pursue a policy of disarmament, but can’t agree on limiting the size of their armies

10. International Relations
The League of Nations fails to provide any real support
The league has some early success and people are hopeful
Germany is admitted to the league in 1926, and soon after the Soviet Union was also added
Without the ability to use force the league was still basically powerless and this became obvious when it failed to prevent Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in 1931
After this point nations such as Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union began to rearm and pursue aggressive foreign policies

11. The Great Depression
After WWI, the strength of the world economy depended on the health of the U.S. economy
American loans and investments propelled a shaky recovery from WWI
As long as the U.S. economy thrived, the rest of the world remained stable
At the end of the 1920’s, economic crisis in the U.S. lead to an economic collapse

12. The Great Depression Factors leading to the Great Depression
Overproduction caused a surplus of goods in the economy
Businesses reduce output and lay off workers, leading to a cycle of layoffs
Risky investment practices caused panic, people sold off millions of dollars in stock and the market crashed in 1929
Consumer investment and spending continued to fall causing more factories to close and millions more to lose jobs
By 1933, between 13 and 15 million people were unemployed

13. The Great Depression The problem quickly spread around the world.
American banks stopped investing or making loans abroad and demanded repayment of foreign loans
Without U.S. cash European recovery slowed, Britain and Germany were hit hardest
In Germany the unemployment rate rose to 25%
Nations made the depression worse by imposing high tariffs on each other and restricting trade.

14. Countries respond
Almost all capitalist countries moved away from Laissez-faire policies toward more government intervention.
Britain provided unemployment benefits, reduced tariffs within its empire, and raised tariffs against the U.S.
France tried to make changes but lack of political leadership made things difficult
In Germany the depression fueled Hitler’s rise to power
In the United States President Roosevelt started a program called the New Deal

15. Countries Respond
Roosevelt argued that the government needed to take an active role combating the great depression
The New Deal was a massive package of economic and social programs
New laws regulated the stock market and protected banks
Government programs created jobs and helped farmers
The Social Security system was created to provide pensions for the elderly