The Interwar Years, 1919-1939

This set of flashcards covers key concepts, figures, and events from the interwar years, highlighting important terminology and definitions relevant to the period.

Inflation

A general rise in prices, which decreases the purchasing power of money.

John Maynard Keynes

British economist who advocated for government intervention in the economy to stimulate growth and address unemployment during the Great Depression.

Deficit Spending

Government practice of spending more money than it receives in revenue to stimulate economic growth.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic downturn that lasted throughout the 1930s, beginning with the U.S. stock market crash in 1929.

New Deal

A series of programs and policies implemented by Franklin D. Roosevelt to promote economic recovery and reform during the Great Depression.

Recovery

The process of overcoming economic decline and restoring growth.

Reform

Changes implemented to improve government policies and regulations to prevent future economic crises.

Relief

Assistance provided by the government to individuals affected by economic hardship.

New Economic Plan (NEP)

Economic policy introduced by Lenin in the Soviet Union that allowed some private trade to alleviate hardship after the Civil War.

Five-Year Plan

Stalin's government plan aimed at rapid industrialization and agricultural collectivization in the Soviet Union.

Dollar Diplomacy

Foreign policy strategy that aimed to use economic power to influence and control countries in Latin America.

Fascism

A political system that emphasizes extreme nationalism, military strength, and centralized control, often led by a dictator.

Corporatism

An economic theory advocating for cooperation between employers, unions, and the state in managing the economy.

Lebensraum

A German term meaning 'living space,' used by Hitler to justify the expansion of German territory.

Spanish Civil War

A conflict from 1936-1939 in which nationalist forces led by Franco fought against the republican government.

Guernica

A town in Spain bombed by German and Italian forces during the Spanish Civil War; also a famous painting by Pablo Picasso depicting the horrors of war.

Luftwaffe

The German Air Force, particularly significant during World War II.

Politburo

The principal policymaking committee in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Amritsar

A site in India where British troops killed hundreds of unarmed Indian protesters in 1919, fueling the independence movement.

Satyagraha movement

Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent resistance against injustice and oppression.

Neocolonialism

A term used to describe the indirect control of a country by a foreign power through economic means.

Good Neighbor Policy

A U.S. foreign policy under FDR aimed at improving relations with Latin American countries by renouncing military intervention.

Nuremberg Laws

Racist laws enacted by the Nazi regime in Germany that stripped Jews of their citizenship and rights.

Kristallnacht

The 'Night of Broken Glass,' a coordinated attack on Jews and Jewish businesses in Germany in 1938.

Long March

A massive retreat undertaken by the Chinese Communist Party in 1934-1935 that became a symbol of resilience.

Negritude Movement

An African cultural movement emphasizing pride in black identity and culture, emerging in response to French colonialism.