Interwar Period and League of Nations

Significance of 1929

• Year of the Stock Market Crash: Begins the Great Depression.
• Key Transition: Marks the turn towards economic instability and hardship in the United States and globally.

The Interwar Period Overview

• Temporal Range: 1929 - 1939 (from the Great Depression to the invasion of Poland by Hitler).
• Objective of Study: Evaluating how different countries sought to create stability during this tumultuous time.

Contextual Reflections

• Postwar Europe:
  • Impact of World War I: Widespread devastation, loss of life, and economic instability.
  • Persistent Issues: Disease, poverty, national disputes, and lack of government trust.
• Response to Historical Context: Understanding what led to the atmosphere of distrust and anxiety, questioning the effectiveness of alliances like the League of Nations.

Key Questions for Discussion

1. Postwar Europe Characteristics:

   • Widespread death and disease (e.g., Spanish flu).
   • Economic instability in almost every country.
   • Nationalistic conflicts as borders were redrawn after WWI.

2. Shift in Trust:

   • Citizens' trust in governments dwindled after being sent to fight without clear outcomes.
   • Questions of purpose and effectiveness of the war effort.

3. Enduring Anxiety:

   • The prevailing sense of anxiety from the war persists into the interwar period.
   • Anxiety compounded rather than alleviated due to unresolved conflicts and instability.

4. Hope for Future Stability:

   • The need for new alliances and treaties to prevent further conflict.
   • Discussion of the League of Nations as a proposed solution for international peacekeeping.

League of Nations

• Proposed by President Woodrow Wilson: Aimed to create unity and prevent future conflicts.
• Perceptions of Effectiveness:
  • Initial faith in the League was rapidly eroded due to its inability to address significant international conflicts (e.g., Japan's invasions).
  • Political cartoons depict the League's ineffectiveness.
• U.S. Involvement:
  • U.S. did not join the League, which weakened its effectiveness.

Political Cartoons as Historical Evidence

• Cartoons from 1920s:
  • Illustrate the skepticism towards the League of Nations and its perceived ineffectiveness in preventing conflict.
  • Some depict the U.S. as a crucial component (the 'keystone') whose absence undermined collective security efforts.

Project Overview: National Stability Evaluation

• Group Project: Evaluate how assigned nations sought stability during the interwar period.
  • Key activities include:
  • Defining the approach of the assigned country.
  • Measuring success based on historical context and events.
• Expected Format:
  • Individual poster projects outlining findings, including a thesis, visuals, and context.

Final Tasks and Preparation

• Project Due Date: Wednesday.
• Outline of Responsibilities:
  • Collaborate with assigned teams for information gathering.
  • Each group checks their thesis with the teacher before proceeding.
• Use of Historical Context: Incorporate perspectives on how specific countries were impacted by postwar economic and social conditions, fostering a deeper understanding of the era.