Thai
Sikh International School
Year9, History notes [
The Depression and international politics.]
1.
What
do you know about the economic Depression of 1930? How did it affect the world
economy?
24 October was a fateful day in the
history of the world. This was the day of the Wall Street crash. The value of
shares on the American stock market collapsed. People tried to sell their
shares before the prices fell even further. This was the start of an economic
crisis that devastated the whole world. After Wall Street there was a dramatic
slump in the USA. This had catastrophic results for the world economy. Governments
turned to protectionism.:they imposed high import taxes to protect their own
industries. This resulted in a further decline in world trade and wide spread
unemployment.
2.
How
did USA become more isolationist and did little to stop Hitler and Mussolini?
American foreign policy had been
isolationist before the Depression. The US government became even
more isolationist after 1929. Politicians were more interested in rebuilding
the American economy. Roosevelt, the new president followed even more policy of
isolationism. This policy encouraged Hitler to think that Germany could be
aggressive without much risk of war with the wealthy USA. Mussolini was
criticized by the US government invading African country but nothing practical
was done to stop him. In fact American companies greatly helped Mussolini by
allowing a massive increase in the sale of American oil to Italy.
3. “The
Depression was a tremendous piece of
good luck for Adolf Hitler.” Explain.
Before the Depression Hitler’s Nazi
party was very small. In the election in Germany in 1928 Nazi won only 12
seats. But in September 1930, the Nazi won 107 seats and became the second
largest party in Germany.
As unemployment rose in Germany
there was an increase in street violence between Nazi’s and communists. In next
election in 1932, the Nazi’s won 230 seats and became the largest party in
Germany. Hitler’s appeal was based on the problems of the Depression and most
of his supporters were impressed by the way his propaganda called for “work and
Bread”. After election in 1933 Hitler took complete control. Hitler now had the
power to introduce future laws and became the dictator of Germany.
4.
How
did Depression affect Britain and
France?
1.Depression
and Britain.
In Britain the Depression wrecked
traditional manufacturing industries. The production of textiles fell by two
thirds. Ship building collapsed. In 1931 the value of the pound ( the key
currency in international trade) was reduced and it was no longer linked to the
price of gold. Moreover, at the time of the Wall Street crash, the crisis
undermined the position of government and to split in the Labor
party.( governing political party. The financial crisis encouraged the British
government to take a very cautious approach to Germany.
2.
Depression and France
Depression took longer to have an
impact on France because the French economy depended less on international
trade. However, when the slump did start in France it had a damaging effect.
After 1933 French industry went through a great crisis. As in Britain, the
slump had an impact on defense. The production of new aircraft fell and
compared very badly without put in Germany. The economic problem added to the
bitter social decisions that existed in France. Unemployment trebled between
1931 and 1935. The communist party began to do very well in elections and
resulted in deep divisions between left and right wing. This division stopped
the French government from standing up to Hitler.
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