34- Age of Anxiety Flashcards
“The Lost Generation”
Gertrude Stein- Generation of American intellectuals in Paris following war. Expressed the current disillusion of U.S. and European thought after a horrible industrial war.
Uncertainty Principle
Heisenberg: impossible to specify the position and velocity of a sub-atomic particle. The more accurately known the position of an electron, the less precisely one knows its velocity. Probability over exact calculations.
Philosophy: violated cause and effect, objectivity invalid because observer is part of process.
Bauhaus
Brought together architects and designers from many countries. Created a building style and interior designs to fit the urban and industrial 1900s.
Gropius- director; made use of glass, form followed function
der Rohe- steel frames; Functional for gov’t and businesses
What were a couple of turning points in Hitler’s life that made him who he would later become?
Father died- free to indulge imagination. Vienna Academy of Fine Arts rejected him in 1907. Became homeless; hated democracy, liberalism, Judaism, and Marxism. Entered the German army and became enraged when Germany defeated (Jews). He felt compelled to save his country from this humiliation.
Discuss one segment of society that grew increasingly pessimistic and how so.
Intellectuals lamented about western decline. Were disillusioned (disappointed) after the industrial war.
Oswald Spengler- The Decline of the West; all societies experience growth and decay; imperialism and warfare led to irreversible decline.
Criticized democracy- weak, tyranny of the average person, rule of inferiors.
What marked the shift in the type of work that artists produced in this period?
The spread of photography led to a shift to realism and a concern for freedom of expression. Paintings created reality instead of mirroring one. Did not represent recognizable objects- Distorted forms and color to express feelings and emotions.
Drew inspiration from Africa, Japan, indigenous societies- Cubism
Standards about “good” and “bad” art disappeared, as artists were all given a right to their own reality.
Black Thursday
Stock market crash of 1929. Stocks overvalued- bought stock on margin, artificially inflating the price.
Hint of slowdown-Panic-selling ensued; price dropped
Lenders called in loans, forcing more people to unload their stocks.
economic nationalism
Politicians enforced “economic nationalism” by enforcing strict tariffs, trade barriers, and import quotas to make their economies self sufficient. Led to sharp drop in international trade and production.
Keynes
Most influential 20th century economist, published The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money, aimed to solve unemployment. Believed cause of depression to be lack of demand, not oversupply. Believed gov’t should lower interest rate to stimulate investment, undertake public works projects, and redistribute wealth with tax policy.
The New Deal
Roosevelt applied Keynes’ ideas- legislation to save banks, provide jobs and farm subsidies, allow workers to unionize, guarantee minimum wages, and provide social security. The military spending during WWII did more to stimulate the economy, though.
What caused some of the underlying economic problems in the 1920s?
Although world economy recovered, Austria and Germany relied on capital from the U.S. to finance reparations. France and England then paid off debts. Withdrawal of U.S. investment strained financial system.
Improvements in mfg, which used recycled materials, reduced demand for foreign exports (supply gluts)
Agricultural surpluses- During war, Europe quit production while Americas, Australia picked up. When Europe resumed, there was an oversupply, causing prices to fall, diminishing farmers’ income.
How did falling consumer demand create a devastating “ripple effect” on the economy?
Reduced demand led to an oversupply of inventory. Responded with production cutbacks and layoffs. High unemployment rate, no demand; cycle. Germany and Japan couldn’t export mfg goods.
How did the U.S. market affect the global economy?
U.S. economy exported capital and imported goods.
To raise money, Wall st. called in loans, refused to extend them. German economy declined w/ rest of Europe.
Japan’s dependency on the U.S. market caused slowdown.
Raw material and mfg. goods export economies hit hardest.
What were some responses toward dealing with the economic crisis?
Economic nationalism- tariffs, trade barriers, and import quotas to become self sufficient. Backfired because of interdependence; sharp drop in international trade and production.
Some believed removing women from the workforce (marriage, house) would solve unemployment.
Governments responded by either allowing capitalism to fix itself or austerity measures such as budget cuts. Initial action did not help the economy, and people called for reform in economic thought.
Red Terror
Whites (anticommunists) arrested, tried, and executed for opposition. Tsar Nicholas II executed in fear that his family would strengthen White counterrevolutionary forces.
New Economic Policy
Russia- Restored market economy and some private enterprise. Kept large industries, banks, transportation, communication under state control; allowed smaller private enterprises. Allowed peasants to sell surplus at market price. Introduced electrification program, technical schools.
Stalin
General secretary of Soviet Union, Russian nationalist, promoted idea of socialism in one country, rather than an international movement. Became dictator of Soviet Union after death of Lenin.
Five Year Plan
Stalin- Economic plan to replace New Economic Policy, shift from agriculture to industry. Set targets for increased productivity, focused on machinery instead of consumer goods. Centralized economy through state planning agency Gosplan.
The Great Purge
Stalin- Political repression program- Removed anyone suspected of opposition- ½ of high ranking officers, 2/3 of 1934 Central Committee members. Sent to labor camps or executed- 8 million in camps, 3 million killed in “cleansing.”
Why was the Red Army able to defeat the White Army in the Russian Civil War?
The Whites were poorly organized and lacked widespread support to fight to all-out campaign of Red terror despite support from Britain, France, Japan, and the U.S. 10 million died in war, many more due to starvation and disease.
What were some of the problems facing Lenin and the new Bolshevik government?
After civil war, Lenin embarked on war communism, a nationalization policy. Got rid of private property, took control of banks, industry, and commerce. Took crops from peasants to supply food for cities; caused agricultural output to fall to ½ of prewar level.
Lenin had to deal with a war-struck society. Had to make peace with workers, peasants, and the army to rekindle industrial production.
What were some of the successes and drawbacks of industrialization and collectivization?
Collectivization shared land w/ all workers. Way to increase efficiency and ensure that industrial workers would be fed. Instead, millions of migrants burned their farms and slaughtered their livestock. Others moved to cities- strained housing, food, and utilities. Ended by Stalin in 1931.
The five-year plan set unrealistically targets, but set off huge industrial production. Citizens went without appliances, radios, or cars in exchange for full employment, cheap utilities, food, and housing. The Russian centrally planned economy was an appealing alternative to the U.S. economy.
Mussolini
Italian fascist leader, former socialist. Founded “The People of Italy” newspaper. Believed soldiers would create a new military state. Emphasized nationalism, repression of socialists, and called for a strong leader.
Established Italian Combat Veteran League. Gained support from repressing Socialists. Socialists responded w/ strikes, civil war. The Blackshirts marched on Rome in 1922, and the King asked Mussolini to form a new gov’t.
Seized total power in 1926, outlawed political parties, freedom of the press, and freedom of speech and association.
Corporatism
Effort to harmonize interests of workers, employers, and the state. Viewed society as an organic entity through different interests came under the control of the state. National Council of Corporations settled labor and wage disputes (propaganda effort).
