Great Depression, Authoritarian States, Japan - History

What did falling demand and overpopulation do to the U.S.

farmers and unskilled workers didn’t share wealth, demand for raw materials dwindled and prices fell, led to overproduction

The crash and collapse in the U.S.

prices on stock exchange at an all time high (investors used risky methods),

1929 in the U.S.

people nervous about economy and sold all their stocks at once, led to Great Depression (people bought and invested less, businesses closed, banks failed, unemployement)

What did Franklin D. Roosevelt do to try and help the depression

elected in 1932, introduced the New Deal, includes stock market regulations, protection of bank deposits, aid to farmers, job creation, social security, failed to end depression but eased its effects

The economic crisis throughout the world

U.S. banks stopped making loans and demanded reparation, Germany couldn’t pay reparations, France and Britain couldn’t make loan repayment

What did governments do to try and stop the Depression

put tariffs in place to make people buy domestic goods, (other country kept adding tariffs and it was unsuccessful), war was what end the depression

What did the Depression mark a shift towards

economic nationalism, reduce foreign influence and gain control of their own economies and natural resources

What did the Depression cause people to lose faith in

the ability of democratic governments to solve problems, startted turning to authoritarian leaders who promised to restore order and prosperity

Authoritarian

leader primarily seeks to force its authority on citizens through its politcal control on government, ex. oligarchy, monarchy, military dictatorship (Junta)

Totalitarianism

seeks control of all aspects of society not just politically, controls government, society, and ecnonomy

Similarities of authoritarian and totalitarianism

opposite of democracy, power rest with a single individual or small group, uses censorship, propaganda, and state terror to maintain control over people

Fascism

extreme nationalism, one person control over all, glorification of the military,

Post WWI in Japan

grew in major economic power, annexed Korea as a colony in 1910, sought further rights in China with 21 demands, was awarded former German possesions in East Asia by the Allies

Japan in the 1920s

democracy was fairly liberal but dominated by powerful business interests, Japan agreed to slow down its growth, in 1922 signed an agreement with U.S. Britain and France to limit the size of its navy, agreed to leave the Shanding Province of China and to reduce military spending

When the Depression hits Japan

military and ultranationalists blamed western influences, resented American laws that excluded Japanese, sought renewed expansions to give Japan all the resources it needs (as prosperity grew so did population)

Strengths of Japan in the 1920s

politcal parties grew stronger, elected members of the Diet exercised their power, all adult men won the right to vote

Weaknesses of Japan in the 1920s

Political parties were manipulated by zaibatsu (strong business leaders), women couldn’t vote until 1945

Why is defining fascism as a form of politcal behavior important

you need to pay attention to what fascists do other than what the say, behavior includes making alliances, getting ordinary poples cooperation, and bringing together angry extremists

What do fascitss do to gain power

tell stories about a member of who belongs versus who doesn’t, staged events, propaganda

Why was internationalism a threat to fascists

state needs to be in control, nothing outside of the state

Why is total war the only kind of war for fascists

needed everyone to support them, worked with economic elites (democracy was demolished)

What does word Fascism come from

Italian word fascio, a bundle of sticks or sheaf thats hard to break, used by Italian nationalists to show their commitment to each other and the military

Manchuria and Japan

in 1931 group of Japanese officials pretended that Chinese attacked a Japanese railroad, Japanese attacked out of “self defense” and used Manchuria to get the resources they needed

League of Nations response to Japan

told Japan to get out of Manchuria, Japan upset that western states can expand but not them, left league, Germany saw how the league of nations can do anything to stop nations from expanding

Japan leading in WWII

broke agreement to limit their navy, attacked China in 1937 starting second Sino-Japanese war, signed Tripartite pact with Germany and Italy year after WWII broke out in1939, joining Axis powers

Publics response to Hoovers actions

he was ineffective and out of touch, blamed him for unemployment, bank failure, and economic suffering

What did Hobert Hoover do to try and stop the Depression?

used limited government action, includes public works, farm support, and the Reconstructive Finance Cooperation to try and stabilize banks and the economy