Stearns, Chapter 29

The 20s and 30s were socially, politically, and economically descended from World War IWhile the U.S. has a “Roaring 20s,” Western

Europe will struggle to recover from the costs of war.

The war was “good” for the U.S. and Japan.Both involved in limited action.Both economies not only remain intact but prosper.Limited “lost” generation.European troubles encourage U.S. political isolation

Revolutions in Mexico, Russia and China

Over 10,000,000 dead, even more wounded.Debt; inflation; hyperinflationFrench and Russian agriculture down the tubesAfrican and Asian colonies resist colonialismThe U.S.S.R: that’s a game changer

By mid-1920s, Europe has relatively stablized Weimar government not a threat The Kellogg-Briand Pact means peace forever! Inflation brought under control; revives economies for

consumerism Scientific and cultural advances Greater social and political gender equality, the first wave of

feminist “liberation”U.S. industrial centers and agriculture not damaged by

war. They’re booming, actually. “The business of America is business”—Calvin Coolidge

Justifies relatively laissez-faire policies Also justifies political non-interventionism

Automobiles, aircraft, etc.

Benito Mussolini brings fascism to Italy almost immediately after the war (1919) Fascism is neither capitalist nor socialist.

Allows private enterprise, but not necessarily “free” enterprise. Close ties between corporations and the state. Extremely nationalistic. Tendency toward jingoism. Always led by a tough guy.

Emerges in Italy for several reasons. Italian people angry over the Treaty of Versailles Labor unrest, socialists whip up class divisions—fascism is a

good foil. Debt and sluggish economy make people want a “superman.”

Fascism will also infect Spain.

Kinda-sorta, pretty much, in most ways, but different too.Nazis dislike capitalism and socialism (Hitler claims

that both are Jewish systems meant to exploit and drain Germany of its stability and vitality)

Nazis allow private enterprise but there are close ties between corporate Germany and der Reich.

Nazis were extremely nationalisticNazis were jingoisticNazis led by a strong man/tough guyBUT the Nazis were obsessed with race. That’s the

main difference.

The Mexican people have had enough Political repression

Diaz an iron-fisted dictator. Opponents abused and jailed (Francisco madero) Elections either rigged or non-existent No civil rights the government was bound to respect.

Economic cronyism Hacienda system controlled by small elite. Mining & proto-industry run either by foreigners or Diaz’s boyz. Workers want rights; peasants want land.

We don’t need no education? Pancho Villa leads farmers, miners, and vaqueros in the

north Emiliano Zapata leads Mexican “Indians” in the south:

“Tierra y Libertdad”

A new Constitution in 1917 made modest gainsLimit foreign ownership of natural resourcesNew workers’ rightsRestrictions on the churchEducation opportunitiesLand reforms come later.

Mexican nationalism tied to “Indianizing”/renouncing los gringos.

Still political cronyism and a one-party system (PRI).

Cristero resistance to secularism

Tsar executed; Bolsheviks win Russian Civil War.Dr. ZhivagoTrotsky’s “Red Army”West fears spread of Bolshevism

Lenin ushers in Communism with land redistribution and state control of industry.Immediate result was catastrophic. New Economic

Policy meant to resolve problems.Small business owners and peasant landowners allowed

some freedom.Attempt to harness individual initiative to a command

economy.

Capital moved to MoscowDominated by RussiansSo-called S.S.R.s were controlled by the

Communist Party.Political monopoly: no competition in “elections”Created new education system to promote

literacy and communist propagandaChanges remarkably with Stalin’s rise

Lenin institutes the New Economic Policy-a blend of Communism and capitalism.Food production increases, the Bolsheviks

strengthen their hold.The death of Lenin leads to a power struggle,

eventually won by Joseph Stalin-a proponent of a strong, nationalistic version of Communism. Rivals were executed.

Nothing less than totalitarianism.PolitburoViolent police state, tolerates no dissentPurgesCollectivization of agriculture

Results in famine (MILLIONS die)Opponents either “disappear” or are arrested

and sent to Siberia.Five Year Plans: Forced IndustrializationNo Great Depression in USSR.

C’mon, Dobbie, everyone was poor to begin with!

Stalin worship

The fall of the Qing in 1912 left a power struggle in China.Liberal democracy promoted by some (May

Fourth Movement) Both nationalists and communists dislike Western influences.

Mao Zedong forms the Communist Party of ChinaModifies Marxism to fit China. (Peasant question)

Sun Yat-sen forms the Guomindang (Nationalist) Party of China, replaced by Chiang Kai-shek.Enjoyed Western support as an antidote to Mao.

Communists and Nationalists briefly ally to face the Japanese threat.

CausesWWI debts and post-war spending

(government and private)Agriculture struggles: Prices low;

overproduction?Many argue insufficient regulation of

marketsInability to repay loansProtectionism (tariffs)Reckless speculation (buying on margin)—

consequence of loose monetary policies.

October 1929Banks fail, people lose savings.European banks collapseBank failures mean no new loans, no new

investments, so industries collapseUnemployment increases; value of labor

decreases, so wages down.Markets won’t really recover until AFTER WWII

(let me deal with this pernicious myth)

Western European governments cut spending and increase tariffs.They had to cut spendingTariffs HURT!Many European parliamentary systems overturned by

dissatisfaction. (Enter Nazis in Germany; socialists, even communists in France)

The U.S. federal government directly intervenes: The New DealDirect aid to the American people (welfare, social security,

etc).Government involved in economic planning.Banks and stock market get new regulations.Government spending, size, and scope grows dramatically.

Confidence in Weimar Republic lostCorruption, ineptitude, suffering of the peoplePeople turn to the Nazis

National Socialist German Workers Party takes power, 1933Similar to fascismRacist, anti-communist, anti-capitalist, nationalisticRejects VersaillesStabbed-in-the-back theory

Hitler will seize power, enter the totalitarian state.Extreme propagandaNo dissent (Unless you want to meet the Gestapo)Promises redemption/revenge, a thousand-year third ReichLabensraumThe “Final Solution”

Hungary and RomaniaThe Spanish Civil War, Francisco Franco

Economic dependency on the West and an already impoverished population means the Depression hits hard

Move to nationalize key industries (no more foreign ownership—e.g. Mexico’s petroleum industry)

New nationalistic and populist governments:Varas in Brazil (emerges from a civil war; promises

liberal reforms, follows fascist model instead)Peron in Argentina (military coup, socialism)PRI in Mexico

Do we need to cover this again?During the 1930’s, an authoritarian, militaristic

government arose in Japan-bent on creating an empire.

By 1938, they controlled Manchuria, Korea, Taiwan and a large part of northeast China.

Great Depression---nationalistic reaction---global ties weakened---tariffs increased---nations dependent on the West turned to militaristic authoritarianism---

Not good. (Thanks, Dobbie. I wasn’t sure, but now I am)

Who formed the New Deal?Who were the Nazis’ secret police?What were five-year-plans, and who made them?Who led Red China?Who led the Red Army in the Russian Civil War?What caused the Great Depression?Name three men involved in the Mexican Revolution.What’s the difference between a Nazi and a fascist?Who led the Guomindang?