Great Depression, New Deal Policies, and Nazi Germany: Key Historical Events and Concepts

What is the Great Depression?

A severe worldwide economic downturn that took place during the 1930s.

Is there a universally agreed-upon cause of the Great Depression?

No, there is no single, universally agreed-upon cause or solution.

What were the primary political parties in the U.S. during the 1920s?

The Republican Party dominated, with all presidents being Republicans until the 1930s.

Who were the presidents of the U.S. during the 1920s?

Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover.

What was significant about the 1928 election?

Herbert Hoover won with a landslide victory of 58% of the popular vote.

Who was Al Smith?

The first Catholic presidential candidate in the U.S. elections.

What was the unemployment rate during the Great Depression?

The unemployment rate surged to 25%.

What happened to GDP between 1929 and 1933?

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dropped by 13.5%.

What was Black Tuesday?

The stock market crash that occurred on October 29, 1929.

What is panic selling?

Widespread panic that led to massive selling of stocks.

What was the impact of the stock market crash on GDP and unemployment?

It took over a decade for GDP and unemployment to recover to pre-crash levels.

What was the role of consumer credit in the 1920s?

It allowed people to spend beyond their means, contributing to the economic crisis.

What does buying stocks on margin mean?

Purchasing stocks with borrowed money, which amplified losses when the market fell.

What was a major agricultural issue during the Great Depression?

There was significant overproduction of food in the 1920s.

What was the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA)?

A government program that paid farmers not to grow food to reduce supply.

What monetary policy did the Federal Reserve implement before the stock market crash?

They tightened monetary policy by raising interest rates and shrinking the money supply.

What was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff?

A protectionist tariff that significantly raised import duties and worsened the global recession.

What was a key factor in the economic recovery during the New Deal?

FDR's departure from the gold standard is considered crucial for recovery.

What was the introduction of a minimum wage law during the New Deal?

It led to a significant rise in unemployment, referred to as a 'recession within the depression.'

What was the economic impact of World War II?

Increased government spending provided the most significant economic stimulus, leading to full recovery.

What is monetarism?

A theory that claims the Federal Reserve caused the Great Depression by tightening the money supply.

What does Keynesian theory suggest?

It advocates increasing aggregate demand through government spending to address economic imbalances.

What is the Austrian School's view on the economy?

They argue that interventionism leads to unintended consequences and advocate for minimal government intervention.

What does Marxist theory state about the economy?

It views the Great Depression as an inevitable outcome of capitalism's flaws.

What was the New Deal Coalition?

A coalition that expanded the Democratic base to include African Americans, women, and progressives.

What is welfare capitalism?

A system combining capitalism with a social safety net, including unemployment benefits and Social Security.

What was the outcome of the 1932 election?

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) won decisively, leading Democrats to control Congress.

What does the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) do?

It insures bank deposits and still exists today.

What was the National Recovery Administration (NRA)?

It was considered fascism by some and was overturned by the Supreme Court.

What is the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)?

It is a government-owned utility that still operates today.

What is the role of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)?

It regulates stock markets and still operates today.

What is Social Security?

It provides retirement and disability insurance and still operates today.

What law is mentioned as 'coming back' in the context of New Deal legislation?

The minimum wage law.

What significant environmental event will be discussed in the lecture?

The Dust Bowl.

What strategy did Hitler adopt after the failed Beer Hall Putsch?

He shifted to a legal, political strategy to gain power.

What book did Hitler publish in the 1920s?

Mein Kampf.

What was the impact of the Great Depression on the Nazi Party?

It led to a significant increase in their electoral success.

What was the structure of the German political system during Hitler's rise?

It had a Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and President, not a single head of state.

Who was appointed to a high-ranking position that allowed Hitler to take power?

General Hindenburg.

Why did the bourgeoisie support the Nazi Party?

They saw it as the lesser of two evils compared to communism.

What was the role of media in Nazi Germany?

Media corporations aligned with the Nazi Party to protect their interests against communism.

What event allowed Hitler to suspend civil liberties?

The Reichstag Fire.

What was the Night of the Long Knives?

It was a purge ordered by Hitler to eliminate potential rivals within the Nazi Party.

What did Hitler do in 1935 regarding the Treaty of Versailles?

He openly renounced it.

What were the Nuremberg Laws designed to do?

They were designed to marginalize and persecute Jewish people.

What did the Nuremberg Laws prohibit regarding Jewish professionals?

They prohibited Jewish professionals from serving non-Jewish clients.

What happened to Jewish government employees under the Nuremberg Laws?

They were fired.

What challenges did Jewish individuals face when considering emigration from Germany?

They had to abandon property and faced unwelcoming countries.

What was the international response to Jewish refugees during the Nazi regime?

The US and neighboring countries largely refused to accept them.

What was the significance of the 1936 Berlin Olympics?

It served as a major propaganda event for the Nazi regime.

What was the purpose of the Olympics for the Nazi regime?

To showcase their perceived economic recovery and national strength.

What was Kristallnacht?

A violent pogrom against Jews on November 9-10, 1938, where Jewish businesses, homes, and synagogues were destroyed.

What happened to Jews during Kristallnacht?

They were rounded up and sent to concentration camps, which were essentially ghettos surrounded by guards.

What was the significance of the Star of David for Jews in Nazi Germany?

Jews were forced to wear it to identify themselves.

What occurred after Kristallnacht regarding Jewish emigration?

Leaving Germany became nearly impossible, with attempts to flee often met with arrest and internment.

What was Germany's withdrawal from the League of Nations?

Germany left the international body overseeing peace in 1933.

What did Germany do in 1935 that violated the Treaty of Versailles?

Germany openly rearmed and rebuilt its military.

What was the remilitarization of the Rhineland?

In 1936, Germany re-established military presence in the demilitarized zone bordering France and Belgium.

What was the Anschluss?

The 1938 annexation of Austria by Germany, which was prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles.

What was the Munich Agreement?

A 1938 agreement where Britain and France conceded to Hitler's demands for the annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia.

What did Winston Churchill think of the Munich Agreement?

He viewed it as appeasing a bully.

What was Lebensraum?

Hitler's plan to conquer Eastern Europe and establish German dominance by displacing or eliminating non-Aryan populations.

What was the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact?

A non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union agreeing not to interfere in each other's invasion of Poland.

When did Germany invade Poland?

On September 1, 1939, marking the beginning of World War II.

Who were the Allies in World War II?

Initially included Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and later the United States.

Who were the Axis Powers?

Included Germany, Japan, and Italy.

What was Hitler's strategic goal in Europe?

To subdue Western Europe and then conquer Eastern Europe.

Who was Joseph Stalin?

The dictator of the Soviet Union and leader of the Communist Party.

Who was Franklin D. Roosevelt?

The US President who died shortly before the war's end.

Who succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt?

Harry S. Truman.

Who was Francisco Franco?

The fascist dictator who led Spain after a civil war.

Who was Benito Mussolini?

The fascist dictator of Italy, eventually overthrown and executed.

What was the Blitzkrieg strategy?

A military strategy involving rapid, concentrated attacks using armored and motorized forces, supported by air power.

What happened to France during World War II?

France was quickly overrun by German forces, and a Vichy government was established as a German puppet state.

Who led the French Resistance?

Charles de Gaulle, who organized the Resistance from exile in England.

What did the Resistance engage in against German occupiers?

Sabotage and espionage, particularly in rural areas.

What was Hitler's next objective after France?

The UK, to prevent interference with his invasion of the Soviet Union.

How did Hitler attempt to weaken Britain?

Through air bombings.

What was implemented for child safety during the war in the UK?

Child evacuation from cities to the countryside.

What were UK citizens issued in anticipation of chemical warfare?

Gas masks.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Britain?

It concluded without a German victory.

What technology helped Britain's ability to resist invasion?

Radar defense stations.

When did Germany invade the Soviet Union?

June 1941.

What was the result of the war on the Eastern Front?

The Soviet Union ultimately won, capturing Berlin.

What was the U.S. initial stance at the beginning of World War II?

Neutrality.

What did the Neutrality Acts prohibit?

Arms sales and involvement in foreign wars.

What policy allowed warring nations to buy U.S. arms?

The 'cash and carry' policy.

What significant act allowed the U.S. to support Allied nations?

The Lend-Lease Act.

What did the U.S. embargo on Japan prohibit?

The sale of crucial resources like oil, rubber, and steel.

What event prompted the U.S. to declare war on Japan?

The attack on Pearl Harbor.

Who was the sole vote against the declaration of war on Japan?

Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin.

What did Executive Order 9066 mandate?

The internment of individuals of Japanese ancestry living near the coast.

What was the Supreme Court's stance on Executive Order 9066?

It upheld the order, citing the Alien Enemies Act.

What compensation did survivors of Japanese internment receive?

An official apology and $20,000 from the U.S. government.

What were the living conditions like in Japanese internment camps?

Basic, but adequate food and shelter.

What was a major difference between Japanese internment and German concentration camps?

Intent: Japanese internment was for preventative detention; German camps were for extermination.

What was the purpose of the Nuremberg Trials?

To prosecute Nazi war criminals.

What ideology did eugenics promote during the era?

That certain individuals were unworthy of life.

What did the eugenics movement target?

Groups including the handicapped, Jewish people, Roma, and homosexuals.

What horrific step followed the ideology of eugenics?

Questioning the right to live of targeted individuals.