Chapter 6; Impact of the crisis of capitalism in the USA on other parts of the world Flashcards
The crisis in the capitalist world
The economic crisis in the US of America had far-reaching consequences. By 1931, economic depression had swept through the rest of the capitalist world.
In some European countries faced with economic collapse, right-wing extremist political parties gained more support ]. They promised solutions to the country’s economic problems by setting up authoritarian regimes. Although the world economic crisis was not the only reason for the rise of fascist dictatorships, it made them happen more quickly.
Why did the Great Depression not affect the USSR
because the USSR had few trade and economic relations with the rest of the world and the USSR had already started on the Five Year Plan which was intended to make the Soviet economy grow to the same level as the American economy within the next 10 years
What happened to Germany after the World War One
- lost one-tenth of its population
- lost one-seventh of its land
- had its weapons taken away and was forbidden to make more, its armed forces were disbanded
- Had to sign the humiliating War Guilt Clause in which it accepted responsibility for the war
thy had to pay reparations to its former enemies for the damage it had caused to them during the war
A bankrupt Germany could not pay reparations to France and Belgium. without Frane and Belgium could not repay what they borrowed from Britain and Britain could not repay what it had borrowed from the US during the war
What helped Germany recover from its economic crisis
American loans
What is the Nazi Party
Adolf Hitler joined a mall right-wing political party called the National Socialist German Workers Party later shortened to the Nazi Party. It opposed
What did the nazi party oppose
It opposed the Treaty of Versailles and was an anti- communist party and anti- Semitic
What was the Munich Putsch
It failed and Hitler was arrested and tried for treason against the Weimer government. He was found guilty and sonment , he wrote Kampf, in which he outlined his political program
Response to the crisis of capitalism; The Nazi Party
Germany experienced improved economic conditions between 1924- 1929. The Nazis’ extreme and fanatical solutions did not appeal to Germans when the economy was doing well. However, the Grman party was very strong. It had the support of millions of German workers and help from the USSR
The response to the crisis of capitalism in Germany
Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany in Jan. The Nazis immediately introduced the Enabling Act which gave them dictatorial powers. The democratic Weimer Republic came to an end
While the Nazis had achieved power legally, it is unlikely that they would have been able to do this if it had not been for the Great Depression
Japan after the world war one
Japan had strong imperialist ambitions. It was a small country with limited resources and set its sight mainly on China
What could Japan provide
a large population that would have to buy Japanese goods
Important raw materials and food products
Plenty of living space for japans growing population
The impact of the Great depression on Japan
Japan’s economy was based on trade with the rest of the world. It was therefore badly hit by the Great Depression. The hardship and uncertainty that resulted gave the militarist the opportunity to take power
Japanese exports fell by 50 percent. Jpan was the greatest producer of silk in the world. The depression affected this industry badly because silk was a luxury item. World demand for silk dropped because people could not afford luxury items during the depression
The collapse of the silk industry destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of silkworm farmers. Rural incomes fell by 33%. To make matters worse the rice crop failed in northern Japan in 1931 and there was widespread famine
The Japanese people blamed their politicians for their economic misfortunes. They felt that parliament was not acting in their interests. Ordinary people began to turn to the military to help them solve their economic problems
The rise of militarism: response to the crisis of capitalism
Japanese abandoned political liberalism and party politics and turned to the forces of extreme nationalism and right-wing militarism. This period of Japanese history is sometimes called ‘ Dark valley”
The invasion of Manchuria in 1931
Japan invaded Manchuria. The Chinese forces were no match for the Japanese and Manchuria soon became a puppet state of Japan. The league of Nations ordered Japan to withdraw from Manchuria, but the Japanese government refused. The Japanese resigned from the league in 1933 and when they invaded the rest of china four years later, the League did nothing
The invasion of Manchuria in 1937
Japan had entered a military agreement with Germany and Italy- the fascist states in Europe. this led to the formation of the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis
