The Interwar Years

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Influenza pandemic

A global outbreak of the influenza virus that occurred between 1918-1920, exacerbated by the aftermath of the Great War.

Spanish Flu

Name given to the influenza pandemic of 1918-1920, likely originating in the United States despite its name.

Estimated death toll of the flu epidemic

Ranged from 50 to 130 million people, significantly higher than the 17 million death toll of the Great War.

Surrealist Art

An art movement that emerged as a response to trauma from the war, characterized by dream-like imagery.

The Tilled Field

A surrealist painting by Joan Miro created in 1932, exemplifying trauma and dreamlike states in art.

Ubu Imperator

A surrealist artwork by Max Ernst from 1923.

The Persistence of Memory

A 1931 painting by Salvador Dali known for its depiction of surreal dream states.

Bauhaus

An influential art and design school founded by Walter Gropius from 1919 to 1933, known for its innovative approach to design.

Art Deco

A visual arts design style that emerged in the 1920s, characterized by modern forms, vibrant colors, and influences from various cultures.

Jazz Age

A cultural movement that began in the 1920s in the United States and spread to Europe, characterized by the popularity of jazz music.

Cultural revolution in Paris

A movement initiated by African-American servicemen who brought jazz music and culture from the United States to France.

Flapper

A young woman of the 1920s who embraced new fashions and behaviors that challenged traditional norms.

Growth of Radio

A significant increase in radio usage in the 1920s, changing mass entertainment and information dissemination.

Charles Lindbergh

A pioneering aviator who completed the first solo transatlantic flight in 1927.

Silent Film Stars

Famous actors of the 1920s, including Al Jolson, Clara Bow, and Charlie Chaplin, prominent before the advent of talkies.

Automobiles in the 1920s

Vehicles that became widely accessible due to assembly line production, symbolizing mobility and industrial progress.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing heavy reparations on Germany.

Dawes Plan

A plan proposed by the United States to aid Germany in repaying war debts and stabilizing its economy.

Weimar Republic

The democratic government established in Germany after World War I, facing economic and political challenges.

Totalitarianism

A system of government that centralizes control in one party or leader, quelling opposition.

Benito Mussolini

The leader of the Fascist Party in Italy who gained power in 1922, advocating for totalitarianism.

Five Year Plans

A series of plans instituted by Joseph Stalin aimed at rapidly industrializing the Soviet Union.

Stalin's purges

Repressive campaigns in the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin that targeted political rivals and resulted in mass executions.

Hirohito

The emperor of Japan who came to power in 1926, overseeing Japan's imperial expansion.

Manchukuo

A puppet state created by Japan in Manchuria in 1931 as a result of its imperial ambitions.

Great Depression

A worldwide economic crisis that began in 1929, leading to widespread unemployment and financial turmoil.

Czechoslovakia

One of the new countries created after the redrawing of Europe's map following the Great War.

German Ruhr

The industrial region in Germany that was occupied by French and Belgian forces after Germany defaulted on war reparations.

Fascist Party

The political party led by Mussolini in Italy, advocating for nationalism and militarism.

Extreme inflation

A significant rise in prices that destabilized the economy of the Weimar Republic.

Political fighting in Weimar Republic

Ongoing conflicts among political groups in Germany, contributing to the instability of the government.

Jazz music

A genre that became prominent in the 1920s, characterized by improvisation and influence from African-American culture.

The Harlem Renaissance

A cultural movement among African-Americans in the 1920s that celebrated black life and culture.

Bolshevik Revolution

The 1917 revolution in Russia that led to the rise of the Soviet state.

Max Ernst

A painter and a leading figure in the Surrealist movement, known for innovative and impactful artworks.

Salvador Dali

A prominent Surrealist artist known for his dream-like imagery and eccentric personality.

Walter Gropius

Founder of the Bauhaus movement, advocating for modern architecture and design.

Artistic response to trauma

The use of art as a medium to express and process the emotional impact of wartime experiences.

Futuristic architecture

Architectural design style in the 1920s that emphasized modern materials and innovative forms.

Egyptian influences in Art Deco

A characteristic of Art Deco that draws inspiration from ancient Egyptian motifs and styles.

Clara Bow

A popular silent film actress known as the original