League of Nations 1930 Flashcards
What was the Great Depression?
- October 1929
- The Wall Street market crashed
- By 1932 America was in the greatest economic depression in its history and 1.3 million people were unemployed.
Why was the American Economy Weak from the GD?
- Over production
- Unequal distribution of wealth
- High import tariffs on America goods
- Too much speculation on the stock market
- America recalled its loans to European Countries.
What was the impact of the GD on Germany?
Economic:
- 1/3 unemployed
Political:
-Communist parties grew and Hitler and Nazi Party (Bread and work propaganda).
-July 1932 Communists became largest party in Reichstag.
-30th January 1933 Hitler became Chancellor
What happened after Hitler came into power?
- March 23rd 1933 Democracy ends as Reichstag passes the ‘enabling law’ (dictatorship)
- February 1933 Hitler instructed German general to ‘create an army of the greatest possible strength’.
- By July 1933 tanks were being produced.
- 1934 making aircraft and warships.
- By 1935 Hitler introduces conscription.
- October 1933 withdrew from LON and Disarmament Conference.
What was the impact of GD on USA?
- Isolationism: American politicians were more interested in rebuilding American economy.
- National income nearly fell by half from 1929-1932.
- 1932 New president elected F.D. Roosevelt - Isolationism!
- Less of a relationship with France and Britain which allowed Hitler to rise.
What was the impact of GD on Britain?
-Production of textiles feel by 2/3
-1931 the value of the pound decreased (effected national pride etc.)
-Labour party split and set up a coalition government with largely Conservative support
-Leaders were worried about the Empire and would not be able to afford to wars against Germany and protecting Empire.
Therefore there was cuts to public spending and a massive reduction in spending on defence in early 1930’s.
-Began again in 1936 - by this time German air force was close to overtaking in size that of Britain - British generals and admirals became pessimistic about how well Britain could do in a war.
-Full scale rearmament in 1938 (this weakened Britain’s ability to stand up to Hitler).
What was the impact of GD on France?
- After 1933 French industry went through a great crisis.
- Even by 1938 France had still failed to restore the level of national income to that of 1920’s.
- Less spending on military: In 1937 French built 370 military aircraft whilst Germans built 5,606.
- unemployment 1931 - 1935.
- Communist party began to do well in elections.
- The deep divisions between left and right in France between 1933 - 1936 stopped the French government from standing up to Hitler.
Why did the Japanese invade Manchuria?
- Japan had a lack of resource and a rapidly growing population.
- USA was a major trading partner and so after GD the Japanese economy went into crisis.
- Japanese government could not afford to feed its people.
- They wanted to build their empire as this would help the economic crisis especially as Manchuria was rich in raw materials.
Describe the events of Manchuria
- Japan was a powerful army and navy since 1905 and government dominated by military elite.
- 1931: Japanese army control the South Manchurian Railway. They claim that Chinese troops attacked them so they used armed forces and invaded and set up government in Manchuria.
- China appealed to the LON and Japan claim that China was in a state of anarchy and invaded in self-defence to keep peace in the area.
What was the response of the League? (1)
Lytton Committee led by Lord Lytton was set to Manchuria to investigate. (took a year before they presented their report in September 1932). The report said that Japanese were guilty of aggression and recommended their withdrawal so that Manchuria could become a semi-independent state.
How did Japan respond to LON?
- February 1933: announced they intended to invade more of China. (arguing still in self-defence)
- 24th February 1933: League approve the report and all vote (except Japan) for.
- 27th March 1933: Japan ignored this and left LON and the next week invaded Jehol.
Why was the League powerless in Manchuria?
- Trade sanctions would not work as USA not part of LON which was Japan’s main trading partner. Britain also wanted to keep good relation instead with Japan and good trading partner with them.
- Member countries could not agree on banning arms sales as fear of retaliation and war.
- Missing power of USA and USSR as they were the only countries with the resources to remove Japan. (USSR was also not prepared to act alone and preoccupied even though Japan action threat to USSR power in East Asia).
- Britain and France were not willing to risk their navies and troops especially as growing threat from Germany and Britain may lose vital areas of British Empire in Asia if war broke out between Britain and Japan.
What were the consequences of Manchuria?
-LON proved to be powerless and weak against a major power (Germany and Italy could get inspiration).
Why was Mussolini interested in Abyssinia?
- Revenge for 1896 Adowa defeat.
- Could demonstrate Mussolini’s power (1/4 of Ethiopians were killed).
- Economic reasons: agriculture and minerals.
- Distract Italian people from the economic depression gripping Italy
- Personal glory and propaganda.
Describe Mussolini’s Invasion of Abyssinia
- December 1934 Wal Wal dispute between Italian and Ethiopian soldiers.
- Mussolini claimed it was Italian territory and began preparing for an invasion so Abyssinian Emperor appealed to the League for help.
