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The Interwar Period 1920-1939 Economic Disaster Rise of Dictators Tensions lead to Conflict
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The Economics Crisis There was no reserve of capital Foreign investment disappeared Europe was in debt – weakened currency German reparations were not the solution to the problem Europe was No Longer the World’s Banker
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The Economic Crisis - 2 Europe was replaced by The U.S. and and Japan in heavy industry European share of the world market decreased Europe was not prepared for the new consumer industries: film, radio, and automobiles Industrial Decay
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The Economic Crisis - 3 New countries established tariffs Treaty shift in boundaries shifted both resources and talented populations Labor unrest – increase in strikes Women demanded equal opportunity Reparations destroyed German ability to rebuild The New Map
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John Maynard Keynes British economist Wrote – The Economic Consequences of Peace Linked European economic growth to German economic growth Thought reparations were a bad idea Attacked Classic Economics 1883-1946
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Classic Economics vs. Keynes Classic economics argues that a economic crisis is something that the market must sort out without government interference Keynes argued that an economic crisis could be resolved by government decisions Governments should increase spending (‘Prime the Pump’) even if it had to borrow the money Governments should focus on short term solutions to problems
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Dawes Plan Dawes was Vice-President In 1924 he agreed to a U.S. loan of 800 million marks backed by gold Goal was to assist German economic recovery Germans used the money to make reparations payments British and French used reparations payments to pay debt to U.S. Replaced by Young Plan in 1929 Coolidge and Charles Dawes
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The Depression and Government Depression impacted Democratic more than Totalitarian governments Unemployment Social Despair … thus Socialism and Fascism grew in popularity – strong leaders looked attractive
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Change - Social Structure Middle Class developed (White Collar workers) Right-Wing politics emerged Paramilitary groups formed Victorian morality disappeared. ‘Roaring 20s’ Speed (communications and transportation dictated change)
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Edward VIII 1936
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The Lost Generation Coined by Gertrude Stein referring to Americans living in Paris in 1920’s But, applied to all those disillusioned by the slaughter of WWI Ended any vestige of Victorian morality New art (Modernism), music (Jazz), and literature (Kafka, Joyce, Pound)
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Communism- Growth Workers were disillusioned with economic and social conditions Communist Parties developed in virtually every nation Political leaders assumed Russian subversion
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The Treaty System Flawed Diplomacy
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Conference of Genoa 1922 in Genoa, Italy 34 nations Attempt to reconstruct European commerce First Soviet attempt at European diplomacy – key issue - Czarist debt Other nations were not prepared to grant Russia economic concessions
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Rapollo Treaty
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Rapollo Treaty Specifics 1922 Between Germany and Russia in Rapallo, Italy Germany recognized Russia Cancelled mutual debts Created trade agreements Granted German army right to train and test weapons in Russia
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Locarno Pact
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The Locarno Pact 1925 Germans asked for agreement to protect borders of Rhineland. A Demilitarized region. Offered hope for long-term peace. Nations agreed to allow protection of common borders. Mutual defense agreements signed 1936-Hitler remilitarized the Rhineland
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The Kellogg-Briand Pact Aristide Briand French Foreign Minister Frank Kellogg U.S. Sec. Of State
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The Kellogg-Briand Pact 1927, Briand suggested a treaty between France and U.S. outlawing war. Kellogg extended it to a treaty with all nations Signed in Paris between U.S. and others renouncing war as an element of policy. 62 nations ultimately signed. Never made contribution to peace Did establish international standard of ‘crime against peace’.
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Britain Trouble in the Commonwealth And Trouble with the Economy
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Between the Wars Debtor nation with antiquated industrial machinery High inflation and unemployment Problems controlling Commonwealth nations Internal political crisis; Labour and Conservative Parties; Socialists; and Communists Changes in social standards – The Jazz Age
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Ramsey MacDonald First Labour Prime Minister Served from 1924 –1935 between Stanley Baldwin Opposed WWI Established trade with Soviets Followed Keynes - increased spending to improve economy 1866-1937
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Stanley Baldwin Conservative Leader Served 3 terms as P.M. Strikes plagued first administration Expelled from party for creating coalition with MacDonald’s Labour Party Served as de facto P.M. during MacDonald senility Foreign Policy crisis later – forced resignation 1867-1947
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England and The Irish Republic 1916 – Beginning of the New Troubles
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Home Rule – Too Little, Too Late Gladstone failed to gain approval in 1893 (House of Lords rejected it), but was approved in 1914 (House of Lords lost power) Conflict grows between Orange (Unionists) and Catholics (supporters of Home Rule) WWI saw suspension of Home Rule – Irish separatists argue that Home Rule has no real meaning. Only solution is Irish separation from England.
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North – South Conflict Belfast v. Dublin, Protestants v. Catholics, and Orange v. Green. The Partition Act split six counties in the North (52 MPs), 26 counties in the South (128 MPs). MPs set by the Government of Ireland Act in 1920. Divided national economy. Open warfare by 1921.
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Irish Political Terms Sinn Fein – political arm of the Irish Independence Movement IRA – Military arm of Sinn Fein Black and Tans – British forces in Ireland (included Irish citizens) Irish Free State and Erie – titles for the new nation of Ireland N. Ireland (Ulster) and Belfast – still a part of British commonwealth
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The 1916 Easter Uprising
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Easter Uprising Specifics By Irish nationalists in Dublin in 1916 Goal of establishing an Irish Republic British suspended Home Rule Irish took control of the post office, British responded and succeeded in ending the revolt 15 were executed The first step toward independence
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Eamon de Valera Born in Manhattan, but raised in Ireland Math professor Early leader of revolution Arrested, sentenced to death Sentence commuted, exiled, returned and elected first President Kept Ireland neutral in WWII 1882-1975 Served until 1973
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Michael Collins Leader of revolution – organized intelligence Officer of Sinn Fein Leader of Easter Rebellion Ordered by de Valera to negotiate with British to form the new Irish Republic Killed in 1922 – rumored to have died at hand of those angry with the ‘new’ Ireland 1890-1922
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Irish Move to Freedom 1919-1922, Irish Revolution 1922-1937, Irish Free State, a provisional government with some political rights 1937-1949, Erie, constitution that created a sovereign state. No reference to Great Britain 1949 – Republic of Ireland, free from British, member of the U.N.
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Irish Republican Army Officially formed in 1969, but claims a history over a century old Radical terrorist group as the armed wing of Sinn Fein Dedicated to removing British from Northern Ireland Efforts to end violence through negotiation began in 1994
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The Middle East
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The Greek-Turkish Crisis Founder – Turkish Republic 1881-1938 Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Hero of Gallipoli
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Turkey Post-War Trouble with Greeks – encouraged by Britain to invade in 1922 (thus Greek crisis) Moves for independent rule Ataturk elected President in 1923 Non-Muslims migrate out/Muslims migrate in Progressive reforms: elimination of polygamy, women’s rights (including right to vote), Latin alphabet, and European dress standards (no fez and veil)
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T.E. Lawrence Archaeologist who became an expert on Arab nationalism Served in British army Argued for the creation of an Arab free state at the Versailles Conference Unsuccessful – lands went to France and England Wrote about his experience Joined Royal Air Force Died in motorcycle accident 1888-1935
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Zionism Political movement holding that the Jewish people are a nation entitled to a homeland. Prompted by Dreyfus Affair and Pogroms in Russia Formally created in 1897 by Herzl, a lawyer and journalist Since 1948 movement has focused on defense of Israel 1860-1904 Theodore Herzl
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Palestine
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Balfour Declaration
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The Creation of Israel British supported concept in 1917 Immigration began in 1920’s Immigration restricted in 1939 and renewed following WWII United Nations established Mandate of Palestine, 1947 – set Jewish and Arab states Jerusalem to be an international city Israel proclaimed a nation - May 1948
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France
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France between Wars 600,000 widows and 750,000 orphans Terrible labor shortage Strikes and inflation Communist concerns Quick changes in leadership, until some stability under Poincare Military manpower shortages and poor tactical decisions
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Raymond Poincare Lawyer, government minister beginning in 1883 Elected President of France in 1913 Supporter of Guilt Clause Served two terms as Prime Minister Considered responsible for the restoration of French economy 1860-1934
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Maginot Line
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Charles de Gaulle Military academy graduate Wounded/POW in WWI Fought against Red Army Criticized Maginot Line, supported tank warfare Fled to England during WWII German occupation Recognized as leader of “Free French”, and led French forces Elected French President 1890-1970
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Germany
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The Weimar Republic
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Gustav Stresemann Successful businessman Elected to Reichstag in 1907 Supported German policy during WWI Organized Post-War Government at Weimar In 1924 his successor named him Minister of Foreign Affairs Negotiated the Dawes Plan 1878-1929
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Paul von Hindenburg Served in Franco-Prussian War Retired in 1911 Recalled during WWI Won decisive Russian victories, Chief-of-Staff Served two terms as President of Germany Figure-Head Did not oppose Hitler 1847-1934
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The Weimer Republic 1919-1923, Part 1 Named for city where post WWI constitution was produced Under pressure from Left and Right Numerous ‘Putschs’ – rebellions General strikes and Communism Defaulted on reparations(1923) – Ruhr was occupied by French and Belgians
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Hyperinflation Strikes (workers had not been paid) added to German woes in Ruhr German government simply printed money Exchange rate moved from 4.2 marks per dollar to 4,500,000,000,000 per dollar Reparations payments resumed, and Ruhr was troops were removed But, long term economic consequences
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The Weimar Republic - 2 1923-1929, Better Times The era of Gustav Stresemann Fewer political crisis’ and appearance of economic recovery Improved relations with other nations Largely illusionary – increased overseas loans, decreased trade, and greater debt Illusion ends with Stresemann’s death in 1929
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Rise of Dictators
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