AP Euro- Europe and the Great Depression of the 1930s

What is a mixed economy?

A mixed economy is an economic system that combines elements of both capitalism and socialism, allowing for private enterprise alongside government regulation.

Factors/causes of the Depression of the 1930s?

financial crisis, crisis in production and distribution of goods, and no strong economic leadership in major nations.

The Dawes Plan of 1924?

reorganized the administration and transfer of reparations which smoothed debt repayments to the US.

The Hoover Moratorium?

a one year moratorium on all international debts proposed by Herbert Hoover. Blow to the french

In which industries did economic growth take place in the 1930s?

Production of automobiles, radios, synthetics, and the service industry.

Fact of employment during the Depression?

There were always more people employed than unemployed.

Psychological impact of the Depression

People were anxious, feared for their economic security. Felt that they were working but going nowhere.

The economic theories of John Maynard Keynes?

Government spending the economy out of depression.

Ramsay MacDonald?

head of the second minority labor government. he wanted to slash the budget, reduce gov salaries, and cut unemployment benefits. when the cabinet ministers refused, at the urging of the king, he formed a coalition ministry called the national government.

The National Government in Britain?

made up of labor, conservative, and liberal parties. Balanced the budget by raising taxes and cut insurance benefits. Britain went off of the gold standard, and passed a 10% ad valorem tariff on imports except those from the empire.

The Road to Wigan Pier?

George Orwell, shows hopelessness during the Great Depression

Sir Oswald Mosely and his organization

Sir Oswald Mosley founded the British union of fascists. He had held a minor position in the second labor government and was disappointed by it’s feeble attack on unemployment. He urged a program of direct action through a new corporate structure for the economy.

The Depression in France— length of?

Came later but lasted longer- unemployment not an issue.

What were the principles of the Action Francaise and the Croix de Feu?

right wing groups with authoritarian tendencies. Action Francaise founded before WWI in wake of Dreyfus affair and Croix de Feu composed of army veterans. They wanted what they thought was the greater good for France and to see above petty machinations of political parties.

Popular Front in France?

only stalin’s fear of Hitler as a danger to the soviet union made it possible to form a coalition of all left-wing parties. It was led by Leon Blum and its purpose was to preserve the republic and press for social reform

Blum’s socialist platform proposed in 1936?

Wanted to bring together representatives of labour and management. Reorganized labor and management relations, wages raised 7-15%, employers required to recognize unions, workers given two week paid vacation, forty hour week introduced.

Compared with tyrants of the past, how were those of the 1930s unique?

They were able to gather mass support through new technologies like radios.

The economic policies of the Blum government?

Blum followed his labor policy with bold departures. Raised salaries of civil servants and instituted a program of public works. Gov loans extended to small industry, spending on armaments increased, National wheat board set up.

Stavisky affair?

Serge Stavisky was a small time gangster who had good connections in the gov. He was involved in a fraudulent bond scheme and when he was tracked down by the police he killed himself. Officials wanted to cover it up, but to right wingers, he symbolized all the seaminess, immorality and corruption of right wing politics.

Reasons for the Weimar Republic becoming a presidential dictatorship?

Financial crisis, economic stress, and social anxiety associated with the onset of the depression. Also Weimar constitution loopholes.

Why did the Nazis gain in popularity?

They gained powerful supporters and sympathizers in business, military and newspaper circles. Not in organized workers, but in unemployed.

Nazis definition of power?

Politics meant the capture of power by terror and intimidation as well as by legal elections.

Why did Hindenburg appoint Hitler chancellor in 1933?

The new chancellor Schleicher proposed a coalition that frightened the Hindenburg circle more than Hitler. They did not trust his unclear motives. They convinced Hindenburg to appoint HItler to control him.

Franz von Papen?

Chancellor before Schleicher - part of a small group of extremely conservative advisors. He wanted to find a way to use the Nazis without giving power to Hitler. They needed the mas support the Nazis had so they convinced Hitler he could not get power on his own. He removed ban of Nazi meeting and called for two Reichstag elections (partly to wear down Nazi financial resources)

Role played by big business in the Nazi rise to power?

German big business received lots of blame for the rise of Hitler. Nazis supporters were suspicious of them and wanted to have a simpler life protected from big business. They looked to Hitler for this.

The Enabling Act of 1933?

Political fear aroused by fire allowed Hitler to control Reichstag. They passed the Enabling act, which allowed him to rule by decree. Weimar constitution was not amended but supplemented by Feb emergency and Enabling act.

Explain the Nazi process of power consolidation?

First a fire set to the Reichstag let Hitler claim it was a communist threat and arrest them. Second, the Enabling act allowed Hitler to rule by decree. Third, he killed his opposition in his party like Roehm, and then Hindenburg died so he took over.

Impact of the burning of the Reichstag?

The nazis claimed it was a communist threat and declared a decree of emergency suspending civil liberties and alleged or not communists. Arrest of communist deputies and political fear from fire allowed Hitler to control the Reichstag.

Heinrich Himmler?

was commander of SS that carried out blood purges of the party. Himmler became head of all police matters and stood second only to Hitler in terms of power.

How did Hitler solve the deflation problems in Germany?

He reversed prior deflationary policies and instituted a massive program of public spending usually related to rearmament.

What best describes Mussolini’s economic policies?

Discipline as a substitute for economic policy and creativity. Sought to make Italy self sufficient.

Kulaks?

class of wealthier peasants that prospered under the NEP, their definitions was very vague and encompassed many people.

Overall results of Stalin’s agricultural policies?

Peasants immediately moved from land to cities. There was a housing shortage and a shortage of basic consumer goods. People began to cope using the blat.

Reasons for Stalin’s reversal of the Comintern policy?

He feared Russia would be isolated against future aggression of Nazi Germany. The soviet union was not strong enough to withstand an attack

“I have seen the future and it works"?

View intellectuals had about Russia after Stalin gave them a scripted tour, leaving out all the fear and death in Russia.

In 1937, Leon Blum…

was replaced by a radical ministry under Daladier

The assassination of Sergei Kirov? purpose and consequence of?

It was thought Stalin ordered his death because he was afraid of him. Complicity in the crime became a normal accusation for those Stalin attacked. He used his death for his own purposes.