AP European History

1. AP European History Political Experiments of the 1920s

2. Debate over Versailles and WWI • Germans say too harsh • French say too lenient • Breakup of nations, new governments, create new balance of power in Europe • Colonialism upset by changes - Europeans begin to lose control and dominance of trade • Can all changes lead to a more peaceful Europe?.

3. Political and Economic Challenges • War Reparations and War Debt. • US demands no reparations but collects on Debt • New underdeveloped nations • Economic instability • New Economic Patterns • US emerges as economic superpower • Europe embraces protectionist policy • Tariffs and lack of cooperation

4. The Soviet Union • Saw themselves as forging a new era in government • Declares a ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ • Communist Party rules (less than 1% of population) - gains full control in 1921 • Lenin nationalizes banks and industries - squelches mutinies and strikes - unable to put down all - allows some private enterprise with his New Economic Policy (NEP).

5. Soviet Successors to Lenin • Leon Trotsky - subordinate architect of Communist state - favored rapid industrialization - export of communism to neighboring states - left wing of Party • Joseph Stalin - Communist Party General Secretary - supported slow industrialization - continuing NEP - seen as too brutal to rule - right wing of Party.

6. Stalin Takes Control • Stalin understood control of Party • Nikolai Bukharin - head of Pravda newspaper supports Stalin • Stalin gets Trotsky removed from Party, exiled to Siberia, deported, killed in Mexico.

7. The Soviet Model • Third International (Comintern) held in Moscow • Established Soviet Union as model for revolutionary Marxism • Devised 21 rules for nations wanting to engage in Marxist revolution - required acknowledgement of Soviet leadership - use of name “Communist Party” • Sought to end democratic socialism • Created fear - drove some to right wing regimes.

8. Italy • Neglected at Versailles • Embraced ‘Fascism’ - group bound together by common cause - Ex: nationhood • Italian fascists - anti-democratic, anti-Marxist, anti-parliamentarian - wanted to avoid party squabble - looked for strong leader - sought unified, unquestioned goals.

9. Benito Mussolini • A socialist prior to the war - becomes opportunist in pursuit of control • Leads ex-army group, Bands of Combat - who felt Italy cheated at Versailles • Feels self-interest groups disruptive to national goals - Mussolini terrorizes • Elected to Chamber of Deputies.

10. Benito Mussolini • Leads Black Shirt March on Rome • King Victor Emmanuel III names Mussolini Prime Minister • Gives Mussolini dictatorial power for 1 year to bring nation together - changes election laws, dissolves other parties • Became known as “Il Duce”.

11. Fascist Italy • Becomes one party state • Mussolini controls opposition • Claimed creation of more efficient society “made the trains run on time” • Lateran Accord - Settles dispute with Vatican - pays Pope for land taken, exempts from taxes - makes Catholicism official faith of Italy.

12. Assignment: Political Forces • Democracy • Fascism • Communism • Please compare and contrast the similarities and differences of these three philosophies • Please use Documents as Evidence • Complete For Homework!

13. Political Venn Diagram Communism Fascism Democracy

14. France • Legislature becomes conservative • Georges Clemenceau driven from power for being too lenient on Germans at Versailles • Rapid turnover in leadership after WWI. • France seeks alliances to replace Russia, Britain

15. France • Forms “Little Entente” with Czechoslovakia, Romania, Yugoslavia (weak alliance, little help) • Germany defaults on reparations - France enters Ruhr Valley area of Germany - mining & manufacturing - to force Germans to pay - costs France to supply civilian workers & alarms British • Eventually becomes more conciliatory to Germany - Aristide Briand improves relations.

16. Britain • Run by Conservative/Labour/Liberal coalition during war • David Lloyd George (Liberal) continues post-war coalition until voted out in 1922 • Post-war economy bad, new Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin tries protective tariffs - electorate (all men over 21 and all women over 30) reject leadership.

17. Britain • Labour Party takes over under Ramsay McDonald - Liberal Party sides with Labour • Labour is socialist but not like Russians, committed to democracy, not revolution • Britain begins to lose control of colonial possessions.

18. Breakup of the British Empire • Already formed commonwealth with Canada and Australia - not completely independent - maintain loyalty to mother country • Gave Ireland (except northern counties) same status after Irish Easter Rebellion of 1916 - Brits put down, execute leaders • 1918 Sinn Fein elects member to Parliament, government refuses to seat them • Guerilla war breaks out.

19. Irish Independence • Eamon de Valera and Michael Collins lead new rebellion - de Valera rises to president of Ireland, Collins killed by IRA • 1921 British grant limited independence in Commonwealth for allegiance to crown • Irish repudiate in 1932.

20. Successor States • Created after World War I - all in Eastern Europe • Most remain independent between WWI and WWII - go communist after WWII • Most have difficulty maintaining republic - too easy to use army to settle problems • Most states rural and unable to compete with industrialized nations • Ethnic groups seek further splits.

21. Europe 1914

22. European Changes • Poland • Czechoslovakia • Hungary • Austria • Yugoslavia • Romania • Bulgaria • Greece.

23. Poland • Difficult for nation to come together that had been parts of three other nations for over 125 years - Austria/Russia/Germany • Wilson insisted on nationhood for Poles • Military dictatorship takes over in 1926.

24. Czechoslovakia • Cooperative nation between the Czechs & Slovaks - found commonality • Reasonably strong economy - & only successful democratic state between wars • President Thomas Masaryk breaks up large estates • Sudetenland within borders.

25. Hungary • Got what it wanted - separation from Austria (though they lost the war) • Follows Soviet lead - Bela Kun establishes communist regime • Kun ousted in favor of landowners who control legislature.

26. Austria • Political infighting keeps nation unstable until Engelbert Dollfuss takes over as Chancellor, a Christian Socialist who becomes quasi-dictator • Dollfuss assassinated by Nazis who favor unification with Germany in the Anschluss.

27. Yugoslavia and Greece • Yugoslavia: Ethnic clashes between Serbs (in power) & Croats/Slovenes • Fighting undermines Parliamentary government • Serbs establish royal dictatorship • Greece: military coups increase in parliamentary monarchy until General John Metaxas takes over.

28. Romania and Bulgaria • Romania: Liberal government until royal dictatorship emerges - claims to rescue Romania from left-wing (communist) elements - King Carol II in 1930 • Bulgaria: same except sooner, King Boris III in 1918.

29. The Weimar Republic • Germany: largest experiment in liberal government in inter-war years (except Soviets) • Constitution enacted in city of Wiemar - Germans associate government with their non-defeat - seen as imposed government - most wanted Kaiser Wilhelm back • Constitution allowed small parties in Reichstag (parliament) - gave president dictatorial powers in emergency.

30. Weimar Germany • After French invade Ruhr Valley and stop German industry, economy collapses • Rates of German mark to U.S. dollar conversion: • 1914 - 4 to 1 • 1921 - 64 to 1 • 1923 - 800million to 1 • Savings wiped out, but debts easy to pay.

31. Adolf Hitler • Austrian, studied art in Vienna • Wounded in WWI, awarded Iron Cross • Moved to Munich & becomes politically active • Joins National Socialist German Workers Party - also known as Nazi Party • Advocates German -Austrian unification • Adopts swastika as symbol.

32. Nazi Party • Anti-Semitic, anti-Bolshevik (anti-Marxist) • Nazi Socialism comes to mean total allegiance to state - hates both conventional socialists and communists • Creates SA - “Brown Shirts” - stormtroopers - a paramilitary force - engages in terrorism • Adolf Hitler rises to leadership.

33. The Beer Hall Putsch • Putsch - attempt coup against the government • November 8, 1923 - crowd gathers at the Burgerbräukeller to hear Erich von Ludendorff, prominent WWI General, speak - Hitler takes over • Hitler and Ludendorff arrested & tried for treason - both jailed - Hitler becomes national figure during trial.

34. Hitler’s Plan • Writes Mein Kampf (My Struggle) in jail - outlines political views including plan for Germans to have “lebensraum” (living space) by conquering surrounding areas • Seeks legal path to power.

35. Gustav Stresemann • Leader until death in 1929 • Stops putsches of Hitler and communists • Introduces new currency • Dawes & Young Plan - restructures German debt.

36. 1925 Locarno Agreements • Revision of Versailles Treaty - stabilized western border - France leaves Ruhr and Rhineland - eastern border un-addressed • Italy and Britain vow help to the invaded • Allies giving control of German affairs • Germany invited to join League of Nations • 1928 - Kellogg-Briand Pact signed - outlawed war as an instrument of foreign policy.