Western Democracies in Western Democracies in the Inter-war Periodthe Inter-war Period

Democracy on the Run…Democracy on the Run…

The democracies of Western Europe The democracies of Western Europe did little to combat the rise of did little to combat the rise of totalitarian government in central totalitarian government in central and eastern Europe.and eastern Europe.

Political fragmentation and economic Political fragmentation and economic stagnation forces these nations to stagnation forces these nations to look inward.look inward.

Authoritarians in these nations and Authoritarians in these nations and across the globe were emboldened across the globe were emboldened by the situation.by the situation.

FranceFrance

Economic problems (similar to Economic problems (similar to Germany)Germany)

Death, devastation, and debt of WWI Death, devastation, and debt of WWI created economic chaos and political created economic chaos and political unrestunrest

Throughout the 1920s, the gov’ (multi-Throughout the 1920s, the gov’ (multi-party system) dominated by the party system) dominated by the parties on the right (conservatives), parties on the right (conservatives), which supported status quo and had which supported status quo and had backing of business, army, and Church.backing of business, army, and Church.

FranceFrance

1926,1926, Raymond Raymond PoincaréPoincaré recalled to recalled to office while prime office while prime minister Briand replaced minister Briand replaced but remained minister but remained minister of foreign affairs.of foreign affairs.

Gov’t slashed spending Gov’t slashed spending and raised taxes, and raised taxes, restoring confidence in restoring confidence in the economy.the economy.

BritainBritain

Wartime trend toward greater social equality Wartime trend toward greater social equality continued, helping maintain social harmony.continued, helping maintain social harmony.

Representation of the Peoples ActRepresentation of the Peoples Act (1928): women over 21 gained the right to (1928): women over 21 gained the right to vote. (Representation of Peoples Act of 1918 vote. (Representation of Peoples Act of 1918 had given women over 30 the right to vote).had given women over 30 the right to vote).

Unemployment was Britain's biggest Unemployment was Britain's biggest problem in 1920s: about 12%problem in 1920s: about 12%

Did not recover from economic losses Did not recover from economic losses suffered during WWIsuffered during WWI

BritainBritain

1926, General Strike1926, General Strike: support of miners : support of miners who feared a dramatic drop in their low who feared a dramatic drop in their low wages swept the country.wages swept the country.

Gov’t outlawed such labor actions in 1927Gov’t outlawed such labor actions in 1927 Gov’t provided unemployment benefits of Gov’t provided unemployment benefits of

equal size to the unemployed and equal size to the unemployed and supplemented those payments with supplemented those payments with subsidized housing (200,000 units), subsidized housing (200,000 units), medical aid, and increased old-age medical aid, and increased old-age pensions.pensions.

BritainBritain Labour partyLabour party rose as a rose as a

champion of the working champion of the working classes and of greater social classes and of greater social equality and took power briefly equality and took power briefly (9 months); led by (9 months); led by Ramsay Ramsay MacDonaldMacDonald

Came to replace Liberal Party as Came to replace Liberal Party as main opposition to main opposition to conservatives.conservatives.

Conservatives under Conservatives under Stanley Stanley BaldwinBaldwin (1867-1947) ruled (1867-1947) ruled Britain between 1924 and 1929.Britain between 1924 and 1929.

Showed the same compromising Showed the same compromising spirit on social issues: female spirit on social issues: female suffrage, expanded pensions to suffrage, expanded pensions to widows, orphans and the aged.widows, orphans and the aged.

The Irish QuestionThe Irish Question After After Easter Rebellion Easter Rebellion (1916) the extremist (1916) the extremist

Sinn FeinSinn Fein faction gained prominence in faction gained prominence in Ireland.Ireland.

Prompted a civil war between the Prompted a civil war between the Irish Irish Republican Army (IRA)Republican Army (IRA) and the Black and and the Black and Tan, England’s special occupation forces there.Tan, England’s special occupation forces there.

· October 1921, London created the Irish Free · October 1921, London created the Irish Free State, from which Ulster withdrew, as part of State, from which Ulster withdrew, as part of the British Commonwealth (the British Commonwealth (Northern Northern IrelandIreland))

In 1922, Britain granted southern, Catholic In 1922, Britain granted southern, Catholic Ireland full autonomy after failing to suppress Ireland full autonomy after failing to suppress a bitter a bitter guerrilla warguerrilla war..

The DepressionThe Depression

Shattered the fragile optimism of political Shattered the fragile optimism of political leaders in the late 1920sleaders in the late 1920s

Causes: Long-term problems with the U.S. Causes: Long-term problems with the U.S. economy: weak international economy, economy: weak international economy, overproduction, unstable banking, certain overproduction, unstable banking, certain weak industries, 1/2 of all Americans lived weak industries, 1/2 of all Americans lived below poverty line.below poverty line.

Stock Market CrashStock Market Crash (1929) may have (1929) may have triggered U.S. depression that spread triggered U.S. depression that spread world wideworld wide

The DepressionThe Depression Impact on Europe:Impact on Europe: Decline of production occurred in every country Decline of production occurred in every country

(except Russia with its command economy).(except Russia with its command economy). Mass unemployment resulted: Germany hit Mass unemployment resulted: Germany hit

hardest (43%); Britain 18%, U.S. 25%hardest (43%); Britain 18%, U.S. 25% In 1931, Britain went off the gold standard; 20 In 1931, Britain went off the gold standard; 20

other countries followed suitother countries followed suit 1930, U.S. instituted extremely high tariff which 1930, U.S. instituted extremely high tariff which

resulted in retaliation by 23 other countries.resulted in retaliation by 23 other countries. New York bankers began recalling loans made to New York bankers began recalling loans made to

Germany and other European countries, thus Germany and other European countries, thus exacerbating Europe’s economic crisis.exacerbating Europe’s economic crisis.

Economic RecoveryEconomic Recovery Franklin Roosevelt's Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal""New Deal" in in

U.S. sought to reform capitalism U.S. sought to reform capitalism with increased gov't intervention in with increased gov't intervention in the economythe economy

Influenced certain European Influenced certain European countriescountries

KeynesianKeynesian approach (developed by approach (developed by John Maynard Keynes) used after John Maynard Keynes) used after 1938 to permanently prop up the 1938 to permanently prop up the economy through public works economy through public works programs and subsidies.programs and subsidies.

Scandinavia's response to Scandinavia's response to depression was most successful depression was most successful under socialist gov'tunder socialist gov't

British RecoveryBritish Recovery Orthodox economic theory followed after Orthodox economic theory followed after

1929: went off gold-standard, reorganized 1929: went off gold-standard, reorganized industry, increased tariffs, reformed industry, increased tariffs, reformed finances, cut gov’t spending, balanced finances, cut gov’t spending, balanced budget (although unemployed workers budget (although unemployed workers received barely enough welfare to live on)received barely enough welfare to live on)

Economy recovered considerably after Economy recovered considerably after 1932.1932.

Years after 1932 actually better than in the Years after 1932 actually better than in the 1920s.1920s.

Like the U.S. Britain came out permanently Like the U.S. Britain came out permanently from depression due to rearmament for from depression due to rearmament for WWII WWII

French RecoveryFrench Recovery Felt impact of depression later Felt impact of depression later

as it wasn't as highly as it wasn't as highly industrialized as Britain, industrialized as Britain, Germany & USGermany & US

The depression increased class The depression increased class tensions and gave birth to a tensions and gave birth to a radical right that supported radical right that supported gov’t reorganization along gov’t reorganization along fascist lines.fascist lines.

Popular Front: Popular Front: Threat of Threat of fascism prompted coalition of fascism prompted coalition of republicans, socialists, republicans, socialists, communists and radicals; led by communists and radicals; led by Leon BlumLeon Blum

The Spanish Civil WarThe Spanish Civil War Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War, 1936: , 1936:

Mussolini and Hitler use conflict Mussolini and Hitler use conflict as a testing ground for their as a testing ground for their military forces: Italy's army; military forces: Italy's army; Germany's airforce -- Germany's airforce -- LuftwaffeLuftwaffe

Fascism prevails under Fascism prevails under Francisco FrancoFrancisco Franco; also known ; also known as as FalangistsFalangists (or Royalists) (or Royalists)

League ineffective in helping League ineffective in helping republicans (Loyalists) against republicans (Loyalists) against Franco.Franco.

Rome-Berlin AxisRome-Berlin Axis formed formed ("Fascintern"): an alliance ("Fascintern"): an alliance between fascist Italy and between fascist Italy and GermanyGermany