Chapter 24Between the Wars

Women after the War

• Women were rewarded for their contributions to the war effort by granting them voting rights

• Return to normalcy was difficult (going back in the home)

Inflation in Germany

• Germany prints more money• This only added to the inflation (rise in prices)• German mark soon became worthless

The Great Depression

• Economic collapse, known as the Great Depression

• Depression, a period of low economic activity and rising unemployment

Causes of the Depression

• Oct. 1929, the U.S. stock market crashed, and the prices of stocks plunged

• In a panic, U.S. investors withdrew even more money from Germany & other European markets

• Industrial production was declining & unemployment was rising

Responses to the Depression

• Governments did not know how to deal with the crisis

• Cut costs by lowering wages & raising tariffs to exclude foreign goods from home markets

• This made the economic crisis worse

• Increased government activity in the economy

• Goes against Laissez faire tradition

• Renewed interest in Marxist doctrines

• Communism became more popular

• Led masses to follow political leaders who offered simple solutions

The Rise of Dictators• Totalitarian state is a government that aims to control the

political, economic, social, intellectual, and cultural lives of its citizens.– Mass propaganda – Single leader & a single party– limited individual freedom– Active involvement of the masses (everyone had to be defenders

of dictators)

Fascism

Fascism in Italy

• Early 1920’s, *Benito Mussolini fascist ruler of Italy

• Created new laws, suspended publications, increased police powers

• Ended free elections, free speech and free press

• Killed or jailed enemies• “Mussolini is Always Right”• Youth groups were used to

promote ideals

The Rise of Hitler and the Nazis

Hitler as dictator(The Third Reich)