Unit 3.5: Interwar Study Guide

Treaty of Versailles

• Front: What is the Treaty of Versailles?

• Back: The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty signed in 1919 that ended World War I. It required Germany to accept responsibility for the war, make reparations, and gave up territories.

• Mnemonic: "Treaty that tore Germany apart."

Treaty of Versailles

Front:
What is the significance of the Treaty of Versailles?

Back:
The Treaty of Versailles led to widespread resentment in Germany due to harsh conditions. It contributed to the rise of Hitler and WWII by creating economic and political instability in Germany.

Mnemonic: "Peace that planted seeds of war."

Big Four

• Front: Who were the Big Four?

• Back: The Big Four were the leaders of the four main Allied powers during the peace negotiations after WWI: Woodrow Wilson (USA), David Lloyd George (UK), Georges Clemenceau (France), and Vittorio Orlando (Italy).

• Mnemonic: "We Did Great Favors" — Initials of the leaders.

• Front: What role did the Big Four play in the Treaty of Versailles?

• Back: The Big Four were responsible for shaping the Treaty of Versailles. They influenced the conditions of the treaty, with Wilson advocating for the League of Nations and Clemenceau pushing for harsh penalties against Germany.

• Mnemonic: "Big Four: Big decisions for Europe’s future."

Fourteen Points

• Front: What were Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points?

• Back: The Fourteen Points were a set of proposals for a just peace after WWI, presented by Woodrow Wilson in 1918. They called for principles like self-determination, free trade, and the creation of the League of Nations.

• Mnemonic: "14 ways to make peace, not punishment."

• Front: What was the significance of Wilson’s Fourteen Points?

• Back: Wilson's Fourteen Points were a vision for long-term peace, emphasizing diplomacy over punishment. While some points were implemented, others were ignored, leading to dissatisfaction and contributing to future global tensions.

• Mnemonic: "Fourteen ideas, but only some got attention."

League of Nations

• Front: What is the League of Nations?

• Back: The League of Nations was an international organization established in 1920 to maintain world peace and prevent future wars. It was proposed by Woodrow Wilson in his Fourteen Points.

• Mnemonic: "League to keep peace, not power."

• Front: What is the significance of the League of Nations?

• Back: The League of Nations failed to prevent WWII due to its inability to enforce decisions and the U.S. refusal to join. It was replaced by the United Nations in 1946.

• Mnemonic: "League failed, United Nations succeeded."

German Reparation Payments

• Front: What were German reparation payments?

• Back: After WWI, Germany was required to make payments to the Allied powers as compensation for the damages caused during the war.

• Mnemonic: "Paying for the damage caused."

• Front: What is the significance of German reparation payments?

• Back: The reparation payments caused economic hardship in Germany, leading to hyperinflation, political instability, and contributing to the rise of Nazi power.

• Mnemonic: "Germany paid, but the pain lasted."

Dawes Plan

• Front: What was the Dawes Plan?

• Back: The Dawes Plan was a plan created in 1924 to ease Germany's reparation payments. It allowed Germany to borrow money from the U.S. to pay reparations, which were then used by the Allies to pay off their own debts.

• Mnemonic: "Dawes helped Germany pay, but made it dependent on loans."

• Front: What was the significance of the Dawes Plan?

• Back: The Dawes Plan helped stabilize the German economy temporarily, but it created a cycle of dependency on U.S. loans, contributing to the economic instability that led to the Great Depression.

• Mnemonic: "Dawes Plan: short-term fix, long-term debt."

Red Scare and Palmer Raids

• Front: What was the Red Scare?

• Back: The Red Scare was a period in the U.S. (1919-1920) where fear of communism led to widespread panic and suspicion of immigrants and radicals.

• Mnemonic: "Red fear took over America."

• Front: What were the Palmer Raids?

• Back: The Palmer Raids (1919-1920) were actions taken by the U.S. government to arrest and deport suspected communists and anarchists, particularly immigrants.

• Mnemonic: "Raids to remove the Reds."

• Front: What is the significance of the Red Scare and Palmer Raids?

• Back: The Red Scare and Palmer Raids resulted in the violation of civil liberties, deportations, and the persecution of many innocent people, creating a lasting fear of communism in the U.S.

• Mnemonic: "Fear and persecution in the name of security."

Tulsa Race Riot

• Front: What was the Tulsa Race Riot?

• Back: The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 was a violent attack on the Black community of Greenwood, Oklahoma, by a white mob. The riot resulted in widespread destruction and loss of life.

• Mnemonic: "Tulsa tragedy: Black Wall Street destroyed."

• Front: What is the significance of the Tulsa Race Riot?

• Back: The Tulsa Race Riot is an example of racial violence in the early 20th century and highlights the deep racial tensions and inequality in America. It was largely ignored in history for many years.

• Mnemonic: "Racial violence left forgotten scars."

Nativism and the KKK

• Front: What is Nativism?

• Back: Nativism is the belief that native-born citizens are superior to immigrants. This ideology became popular in the 1920s as a response to the growing immigrant population in the U.S.

• Mnemonic: "Nativism: Natives first, immigrants second."

• Front: What is the Ku Klux Klan (KKK)?

• Back: The Ku Klux Klan is a white supremacist group that was particularly active during the 1920s. It used violence and intimidation against African Americans, immigrants, and other minority groups.

• Mnemonic: "KKK: Klan of hate and violence."

• Front: What is the significance of Nativism and the KKK?

• Back: Nativism and the KKK contributed to racial and ethnic tensions in the U.S., promoting discrimination and violence. The KKK reached its peak membership during the 1920s.

• Mnemonic: "Nativism fueled by Klan violence."

Religious Fundamentalism (Scopes Trial)

Front:
Religious Fundamentalism - What was its significance, and what happened during the Scopes Trial?

Back:
Definition: Belief in a literal interpretation of religious texts, particularly the Bible, rejecting modern scientific theories like evolution.
Significance: The Scopes Trial (1925) highlighted the tension between science and religion in schools when John Scopes was tried for teaching evolution in Tennessee, emphasizing the cultural divide of the 1920s.

Laissez-faire Economic Policies

Front:
Laissez-faire Economic Policies - What does this term mean, and what impact did it have on the U.S. economy in the 1920s?

Back:
Definition: An economic approach where the government minimizes its intervention in economic activities, allowing businesses to operate with little regulation.
Significance: In the 1920s, laissez-faire policies contributed to the prosperity of the "Roaring Twenties" but also led to over-speculation and the eventual collapse of the stock market, contributing to the Great Depression.

Trickle-down Economics

Front:
Trickle-down Economics - What is the concept, and how was it applied in the 1920s?

Back:
Definition: An economic theory that suggests benefits for the wealthy (such as tax cuts) will eventually "trickle down" to the lower classes through job creation and economic growth.
Significance: This theory was applied in the 1920s under President Calvin Coolidge, aiming to stimulate the economy by benefiting businesses and wealthy individuals, but it was criticized for deepening wealth inequality and did not prevent the Great Depression.

Tariffs

Front:
Tariffs - What is a tariff, and what role did it play in the 1920s?

Back:
Definition: A tax placed on imported goods to protect domestic industries from foreign competition.
Significance: In the 1920s, high tariffs were implemented in the U.S. to protect American businesses. However, these tariffs led to a decline in international trade and worsened the economic impact of the Great Depression.

Buying on Credit

Front:
Buying on Credit - What is the practice, and how did it affect the economy in the 1920s?

Back:
Definition: A system where consumers purchase goods and services and pay for them over time, often with interest.
Significance: In the 1920s, buying on credit fueled consumerism and the economy’s rapid expansion. However, it also led to rising debt levels, which contributed to the severity of the Great Depression when many people defaulted on payments.

Consumerism

Front:
Consumerism - What is consumerism, and how was it evident in the 1920s?

Back:
Definition: An economic and cultural ideology that promotes the acquisition of goods and services in increasing amounts.
Significance: In the 1920s, consumerism surged, driven by advertising, buying on credit, and mass production. It played a role in the economic boom but also contributed to unsustainable debt levels and the collapse of the economy in the Great Depression.

Communism and Marxism

Front:
Communism and Marxism - What are these economic theories, and what impact did they have on global politics?

Back:
Definition: Communism, based on the ideas of Karl Marx, advocates for a classless society where the state controls the means of production, and wealth is shared equally among all people.
Significance: Marxism influenced revolutions, particularly in Russia, where Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks established the Soviet Union, leading to the spread of communist ideology globally.

Vladimir Lenin

Front:
Vladimir Lenin - Who was he, and what was his role in the Russian Revolution?

Back:
Definition: Lenin was the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 and the first leader of the Soviet Union.
Significance: Lenin’s leadership and policies, based on Marxism, transformed Russia into a communist state and led to the eventual creation of the Soviet Union.

Bolsheviks

Front:
Bolsheviks - Who were the Bolsheviks, and what role did they play in the Russian Revolution?

Back:
Definition: A socialist faction led by Vladimir Lenin that seized power in the October Revolution of 1917.
Significance: The Bolsheviks established a communist government in Russia, which eventually became the Soviet Union, shaping global politics for much of the 20th century.

Socialism

Front:
Socialism - What is socialism, and how does it differ from communism?

Back:
Definition: A political and economic system in which the means of production are owned and regulated by the state or society as a whole.
Significance: Socialism promotes equality and aims to reduce income disparities. It is seen as a precursor to communism, which seeks to abolish private property altogether and achieve a classless society.

Joseph Stalin

Front:
Joseph Stalin - Who was he, and what was his impact on the Soviet Union?

Back:
Definition: Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union after Lenin's death, known for his totalitarian rule and policies that led to massive industrialization and purges.
Significance: Stalin’s Five-Year Plans industrialized the Soviet Union, but his rule was marked by extreme repression, including the Great Purge, which eliminated perceived enemies and led to widespread suffering.

Soviets

Front:
Soviets - What were Soviets, and how did they contribute to the rise of communism in Russia?

Back:
Definition: Councils of workers and soldiers formed during the Russian Revolution, representing local governance in a communist society.
Significance: Soviets played a key role in the Bolshevik Revolution, serving as the foundation for the Soviet state and later became an important feature of the Soviet Union's political structure.

October Revolution

Front:
October Revolution - What happened during the October Revolution, and why was it significant?

Back:
Definition: The October Revolution of 1917 was a successful coup led by the Bolsheviks, overthrowing the Provisional Government in Russia and establishing a communist government.
Significance: The revolution marked the beginning of the Soviet Union and the rise of communist rule in Russia, profoundly impacting global politics and setting the stage for the Cold War.

Five-Year Plan (Soviet Union)

Front:
Five-Year Plan - What was the Five-Year Plan, and what were its objectives?

Back:
Definition: A series of economic plans implemented by Joseph Stalin aimed at rapidly industrializing the Soviet Union and collectivizing agriculture.
Significance: The plan dramatically increased industrial output but caused immense hardship, including famine, forced labor, and the displacement of millions of peasants.

“Collectives”

Front:
Collectives - What were collectives, and how did they affect Soviet agriculture?

Back:
Definition: Large, state-controlled farms created by merging small, private farms during Stalin’s collectivization campaign.
Significance: Collectives were designed to boost agricultural productivity, but the forced consolidation led to widespread famine, especially in Ukraine, where millions died due to Holodomor.

Fascism

Front:
What is fascism?

Back:
Definition: Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian political ideology that emphasizes nationalism, dictatorial power, and suppression of opposition. It often includes militarism, anti-communism, and state-controlled economies.
Significance: Fascism rose in Europe in the early 20th century, especially under leaders like Adolf Hitler in Germany and Benito Mussolini in Italy, leading to WWII.
Mnemonic: "Fascism: A forceful, focused state."

Adolf Hitler

Front:
Who was Adolf Hitler?

Back:
Definition: Hitler was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, leading the country into World War II and initiating the Holocaust.
Significance: His aggressive expansionism, racist ideology, and totalitarian rule caused the deaths of millions and reshaped global politics.
Mnemonic: "Hitler’s hate, humanity’s loss."

Post-WWI Nationalism

Front:
What is post-WWI nationalism?

Back:
Definition: Post-WWI nationalism refers to the resurgence of national pride and identity in countries affected by WWI, often leading to militaristic or expansionist policies.
Significance: Nationalism in Germany, Italy, and other countries after WWI contributed to the rise of fascist regimes and ultimately the outbreak of WWII.
Mnemonic: "Nationalism grows after global grief."

Aryan Race

Front:
What is the Aryan race according to Nazi ideology?

Back:
Definition: The Aryan race was a term used by Nazis to describe a supposed superior, racially pure group of people, particularly those of Northern European descent.
Significance: The concept of the Aryan race was used to justify racist policies and the systematic extermination of Jews, Roma, and other groups during the Holocaust.
Mnemonic: "Aryan: A myth of superiority."

Anti-Semitism

Front:
What is anti-Semitism?

Back:
Definition: Anti-Semitism is prejudice, hostility, or discrimination against Jewish people.
Significance: Anti-Semitism was central to Nazi ideology, leading to the Holocaust, where six million Jews were murdered in Nazi death camps.
Mnemonic: "Hate against Jews: Anti-Semitism’s deadly grip."

Mein Kampf

Front:
What is Mein Kampf?

Back:
Definition: Mein Kampf ("My Struggle") is a book written by Adolf Hitler, outlining his political ideas, including his vision for Germany's future, racial superiority, and anti-Semitism.
Significance: The book became the ideological foundation of Nazism and influenced Nazi policies leading up to and during WWII.
Mnemonic: "Mein Kampf: Hitler’s hateful manifesto."

Nazi

Front:
What is a Nazi?

Back:
Definition: A member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, led by Adolf Hitler, that governed Germany from 1933 to 1945, advocating for fascism, anti-Semitism, and expansionism.
Significance: The Nazis are responsible for the atrocities of WWII, including the Holocaust and the devastation across Europe.
Mnemonic: "Nazi: Nationalism, hatred, and war."

Hitler Youth

Front:
What was the Hitler Youth?

Back:
Definition: The Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organization for boys aged 14 to 18 in Nazi Germany, aimed at indoctrinating youth with Nazi ideology.
Significance: The group played a key role in fostering loyalty to Hitler and Nazi principles, contributing to the militarization of German youth.
Mnemonic: "Hitler Youth: Raising the future for Nazi Germany."

Hyperinflation

Front:
What is hyperinflation?

Back:
Definition: Hyperinflation is an extremely high and typically accelerating inflation rate, often leading to a collapse in the value of a country’s currency.
Significance: Germany experienced hyperinflation in the early 1920s due to reparations from WWI and economic instability, leading to widespread poverty and dissatisfaction.
Mnemonic: "Hyperinflation: When money loses all value."

Benito Mussolini

Front:
Who was Benito Mussolini?

Back:
Definition: Mussolini was the dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943, founding the fascist regime and leading the country into WWII as part of the Axis powers.
Significance: Mussolini's rise marked the first fascist regime in Europe, serving as a model for Hitler and others.
Mnemonic: "Mussolini: Italy's fascist father."

March on Rome

Front:
What was the March on Rome?

Back:
Definition: The March on Rome was a 1922 political event where Mussolini and his followers marched to the capital, leading to Mussolini's appointment as prime minister.
Significance: It marked the beginning of Mussolini’s fascist rule in Italy, signaling the rise of totalitarianism in Europe.
Mnemonic: "March for power, Mussolini’s rise."

Fasci di Combattimento

Front:
What was the Fasci di Combattimento?

Back:
Definition: The Fasci di Combattimento (Combat Groups) was a political organization founded by Mussolini in 1919 that later became the core of the National Fascist Party.
Significance: The Fasci di Combattimento helped establish Mussolini's fascist government, laying the foundation for totalitarian rule in Italy.
Mnemonic: "Fasci: Mussolini’s fighting foundation."

Corporate State

Front:
What is a corporate state?

Back:
Definition: A corporate state is an economic and political system where the state controls industries, often through state-run or state-supported corporations.
Significance: Mussolini's regime in Italy promoted a corporate state, which merged state and business interests to strengthen fascism and suppress workers' rights.
Mnemonic: "Corporate control under Mussolini."

Cult of Personality

Front:
What is a cult of personality?

Back:
Definition: A cult of personality is when a political leader uses mass media, propaganda, and other methods to create an idealized, heroic, and often worshipful image of themselves.
Significance: Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin all utilized cults of personality to solidify their power and manipulate public opinion.
Mnemonic: "Cult: Leaders larger than life."

Changing Borders in Europe

• Front: What were the changes in European borders after WWI?

• Back: After WWI, the Treaty of Versailles and other peace agreements redrew European borders. New nations like Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Poland were created, and empires like Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire were dismantled.

• Significance: These changes reshaped the political landscape of Europe and led to significant ethnic and nationalist tensions, contributing to future conflicts, including WWII.

• Mnemonic: "New nations from old empires."

United States

• Front: What role did the United States play in post-WWI Europe?

• Back: The U.S. emerged as a major world power after WWI but refused to join the League of Nations, opting for isolationism. This decision contributed to the failure of the League and the inability to prevent WWII.

• Significance: The U.S.'s decision to stay out of the League of Nations weakened international cooperation and set the stage for WWII.

• Mnemonic: "U.S. stood out but stayed out."

Europe (General)

• Front: What was the general political and economic climate in Europe after WWI?

• Back: Europe faced economic struggles, including high inflation and unemployment. Political instability led to the rise of fascist and socialist totalitarian governments. The consequences of WWI set the stage for global tensions.

• Significance: Europe's political and economic instability contributed to the rise of totalitarian regimes, including Nazi Germany, and ultimately to WWII.

• Mnemonic: "Europe in crisis, fascism on the rise."

Inflation and Unemployment

• Front: What was the significance of inflation and unemployment in Europe after WWI?

• Back: High inflation and widespread unemployment plagued Europe after WWI. These economic conditions contributed to political instability and provided fertile ground for radical ideologies like fascism and communism to take root.

• Significance: The economic turmoil caused by inflation and unemployment made radical political ideologies appealing to the masses, leading to the rise of extremist movements.

• Mnemonic: "Inflation, unemployment, and unrest."

Weimar Republic (Germany)

• Front: What was the Weimar Republic?

• Back: The Weimar Republic was the democratic government of Germany from 1919 to 1933, formed after WWI. It faced economic problems, political extremism, and the humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles, which weakened its stability.

• Significance: The Weimar Republic's instability paved the way for Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party's rise to power. Its failure demonstrated the challenges of democratic governance in post-WWI Germany.

• Mnemonic: "Weimar: Democracy in a time of crisis."

Rise of Fascist/Socialist Totalitarian Governments

• Front: What led to the rise of fascist and socialist totalitarian governments in Europe after WWI?

• Back: The political and economic instability after WWI, including the hardships of the Treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression, created an environment where authoritarian leaders like Mussolini and Hitler could seize power.

• Significance: The rise of totalitarian regimes under leaders like Mussolini and Hitler contributed to the outbreak of WWII and the spread of oppressive ideologies.

• Mnemonic: "Crisis breeds totalitarianism."

Economic Ideologies and Government System Theories

• Front: What are some major economic ideologies and government system theories that emerged in the early 20th century?

• Back: Key ideologies include capitalism, socialism, communism, and fascism. Each theory offered different approaches to economy, governance, and social organization, with communism and fascism emerging as dominant forces in the early 20th century.

• Significance: These competing ideologies shaped global political movements, leading to the spread of communism in Russia and fascism in Italy and Germany, fueling WWII.

• Mnemonic: "Capitalism, socialism, communism, and fascism: Competing systems."

Secret Police

• Front: What role did secret police play in totalitarian regimes?

• Back: Secret police were used by totalitarian governments to suppress opposition, instill fear, and maintain control. They often engaged in surveillance, arrests, and even torture to eliminate perceived threats.

• Significance: Secret police were essential tools for maintaining authoritarian control and preventing dissent, helping totalitarian leaders secure their power.

• Mnemonic: "Secret police: Silent control."

Elimination of Opposition

• Front: How did totalitarian governments eliminate opposition?

• Back: Totalitarian regimes eliminated opposition through censorship, imprisonment, propaganda, and executions. Political dissent was often crushed with force to maintain absolute power.

• Significance: The suppression of opposition was critical to maintaining the power of totalitarian governments and preventing challenges to the regime's authority.

• Mnemonic: "Opposition silenced by force."

Propaganda

• Front: What role did propaganda play in totalitarian regimes?

• Back: Propaganda was used to control public perception, promote the ideology of the ruling party, and maintain loyalty to the leader. It shaped public opinion by distorting the truth and glorifying the regime.

• Significance: Propaganda was a powerful tool for totalitarian regimes, influencing public opinion and ensuring the population's support for the government and its policies.

• Mnemonic: "Propaganda: Shaping minds, controlling power."

Censorship

• Front: How did censorship function in totalitarian regimes?

• Back: Censorship in totalitarian states controlled the flow of information by suppressing media, art, literature, and speech that opposed the regime. It prevented alternative viewpoints from reaching the public.

• Significance: Censorship helped prevent any criticism of the regime, ensuring that the government maintained control over all aspects of society, including cultural expression and free thought.

• Mnemonic: "Censorship: Controlling the narrative."

Tactics to Stay in Power

• Front: What tactics did totalitarian leaders use to stay in power?

• Back: Totalitarian leaders used fear, propaganda, secret police, control of the economy, and the elimination of opposition to maintain their hold on power and suppress any challenges.

• Significance: These tactics allowed totalitarian leaders to consolidate and maintain absolute power, leading to widespread human rights abuses and suppression of freedoms.

• Mnemonic: "Power through fear, control, and propaganda."

Leninism

• Front: What is Leninism, and how did it shape the Soviet Union?

• Back: Leninism is a form of Marxism adapted by Vladimir Lenin. It emphasized the need for a vanguard party to lead the working class to revolution, establishing the Soviet Union as a one-party state.

• Significance: Leninism laid the ideological foundation for the Soviet Union, shaping its political system and providing a model for communist revolutions around the world.

• Mnemonic: "Leninism: Marxism led by a party."

Communism

• Front: What is communism?

• Back: Communism is an economic and political system based on the theory of Karl Marx, advocating for a classless society where the state owns the means of production. It was implemented in the Soviet Union and later in other countries like China and Cuba.

• Significance: Communism fundamentally altered the social and economic structures of the countries where it was implemented, leading to both positive and negative outcomes depending on the specific regime and policies.

• Mnemonic: "Communism: No class, all equal."