The World by the 1920s: Challenges to European Dominance

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The World by the 1920s Challenges to European
Dominance

• Chapter 29 (w/a lil of C28 mixed in)
• EQ How did WWI cause European decline worldwide?
  Who challenged European world dominance after WWI
  and Where?

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Introduction

• The 1920s were profoundly shaped by WWI and
  worldwide independence movements (from
  Imperialism) that were underway before the war
• Four major patterns emerged
• 1) Western Europes recovery from the war was
  incomplete at best
• 2) The US and Japan used WWI to vault them into
  being world superpowers
• 3) Nationalists movements in key European
  colonies distracted the already war weary
  European powers
• 4) Revolutions in countries such as Mexico,
  Russia and China shook the economic and political
  foundations of Imperialism (brief summaries, more
  on these next class)
• Each of these developments brought into doubt
  western Europes assumptions about its place as
  the dominant global power

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Western Europes Post War Disarray

• WWI quickly shattered the peoples confidence in
  pre-war European government, which, in the post
  war, were unable to deal with mounting economic,
  social, political and even psychological issues
• Once grand imperial governments in Germany and
  Austria-Hungary collapsed to the pressure
• With the majority of fighting having been done
  over territory in Europe, several groups of
  people became displaced
• The reality of 10 million deaths in Europe also
  took their toll
• European governments now had NO MONEY since the
  failed to properly tax their citizens for war
  production, and debt to led to inflation and vast
  unemployment (precursor to depression)

4
The Roaring 20s in Europe

• A brief period of recovery occurreddiplomatic
  tensions between nations eased and several signed
  the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928, outlawing war
  forever between nations of Europe (pssh, yeah
  that really worked!)
• Internal politics were mixed, as several leftist
  entities sought to emulate the Russian Revolution
  (Communism) in some nations, while Rightists
  focused on establishing authoritarian governments
  focused on national pride (Fascism)
• Rampant consumerism (desire for autos, radios and
  other amenities) spurred economic growth in the
  short term
• Cultural creativity in areas of film (the new
  medium), Cubism, writing (Realism) distracted the
  masses
• Women in particular gained great rights, as
  nations gave them suffrage at the beginning of
  the decadewomen also challenged Victorian norms
  and became crazed (drinking, smoking, etc.) while
  the reaction was to maintain domesticity for
  women as a whole

5
Fascism and New Nations

• In 1919, Benito Mussolini formed the fascio di
  combattimento or union for struggleadvocated a
  strong central state with state control over all
  aspects of society while emphasizing national
  prideconditions in post-war Italy drove people
  to follow this new government (labor unrest, lack
  of territory, inept parliament)
• Mussolini used these issues to gain supportonce
  in power he eliminated rivals, used propaganda
  and speeches to spur nationalist fervor and
  eliminated privatization
• Meanwhile, in Eastern Europe, new nations were
  formed as a result of the collapse of the Ottoman
  Empire and Austria-Hungary Empiremost struggled
  to find political stability and move beyond
  agriculture in the economic sector
• All spurned Communism while reaching out to
  western nations for help (little to be
  had)internal strife amongst ethnic groups
  coupled with agricultural price collapses during
  the Depression severely crippled these new
  nations, which became ripe for conquering by
  larger neighbors (Germany, Italy, Soviet Union)

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The Rise of the US (1920s)

• While settler societies in Canada and Australia
  became autonomous (self-sustaining) during this
  period, the United States moved to the forefront
  as the worlds major superpower
• Despite serious attempts to remain isolated
  (rejection of Versailles Treaty of WWI), the US
  found itself as the premiere provider of
  industrial consumer goods and agricultural food
  commodities during this period, largely due to
  the innovations of corporate thinkers (Ford,
  Carnegie, Rockefeller) and government friendly
  business policies
• Add to this, the US took the lead in the sciences
  and the arts during this period, producing more
  of the worlds most important advances (assembly
  line, refrigeration, synthetic fibers, etc.) and
  experimenting in a variety of newer art mediums
  (Jazz, talkies, dances)

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The Japanese Empire

• As European imperialism waned in East Asia, Japan
  stepped infueled by zaibatsus and
  jingoist/militarist government policies, the
  Japanese economy grew
• The Japanese industrial system converted from
  simple light industries (silk) to expansion in
  mechanical (ships, planes, cars), electric and
  steel industries
• A better standard of living spurred huge
  population growth and a demand for agricultural
  production to increaseterritorial expansion into
  east Asia brought relief to food suppliesthe
  Japanese government focused on strict education
  programs, with universal compulsory education
  required through secondary school by 1925.
• Japan did have to dodge the oncoming issues
  associated with the Great Depression, coupled
  with ongoing resistance to assimilate outside
  cultural beliefs (Western ideas) and rapid
  population growth leading to overcrowding in an
  already cramped space

8
Nationalist Challenges in India (C28)

• British exploitation of the Indian populace
  reached its peak by WWImany saw themselves drawn
  into military service for the British Empire
  while others grew tired of subjugation under
  economic exploitationearly nationalist leaders
  such as B.G. Tilak proposed violence in response
  to subjugation, but Britain was able to suppress
  it
• In 1919, many peaceful protests broke out across
  Indiaone at Amritsar turned into a massacreit
  sparked militant nationalists in India to begin
  to demand greater independence from the British
  crownBritain responded with reforms
  (Montagu-Chelmsford of 1919) which gave Indian
  legislators greater administrative powerHowever,
  Britain also passed the Rowlatt Act which
  severely limited civil rights
• Mohandas Gandhi emerged as the new Nationalist
  leader in the 1920she promoted Hindu beliefs at
  the center of his movement (ahimsa,
  satyagraha)he proposed that the way to weaken
  British control was through non-violent civil
  disobedience, refuse to support the imperialist
  machine

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Middle Eastern Nationalism (C28)

• The dissolution of the Ottoman Empire as a result
  of WWI led to a question of how Middle Eastern
  territory should be handledmany societies in the
  region looked to Europe to help rebuild and
  restructure while other maintained
  self-sufficiency
• In Turkey, the skilled military leader Mustafa
  Kemal (aka Ataturk) successfully defended
  imperialist territorial expansions from Italy and
  Greece to establish a modern Turkish republic on
  Asia Minor
• Meanwhile, sheiks/sharifs in Damascus, Beruit and
  Baghdad looked to Europeans to solve their
  territorial issuespost WWI military occupation
  led to the creation of artificial borders which
  were drawn by Europeans through several mandates,
  angering several ME leaders to no avail
• The greatest issue surrounded PalestineZionists
  sought a Jewish state in Palestine for Jews being
  expelled from Europe (pogroms)European powers
  pledged this state through the Balfour
  Declaration, which was vehemently opposed by all
  Arabsnonetheless, as long as Europe continued to
  directly occupy the Middle East in the 1930s and
  1940s, Jews flooded into their new homeland

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Egyptian Nationalism (C28)

• Egypts nationalist movement was unique because
  it preceded European dominationremember, Egypt
  revolted against Ottoman rule (C26) in the late
  19th C, prompting Britain to intervene and occupy
• Britain basically replaced the Ottomans as
  masters of Egyptdecades of occupation led to
  violence (Dinshawai incident of 1906)
• In 1913, the British were pressured into creating
  a constitution for Egypt, however, representation
  was limited to men of wealth (i.e. those in
  collusion with Britain)
• WWI took a heavy toll on the Egyptian people as
  Britain declared martial law in Egypt while
  focusing its entire attention on protecting the
  Suez Canal from foreign takeoveradd to this,
  food supplies in Egypt were drained mostly by
  Britains military force, leading to widespread
  food shortages/starvation
• Egypt was now ripe for revolt, and in 1919, it
  happenedEgyptian delegates were denied right to
  represent their case for self-determination at
  the Versailles peace conference and they called
  for public proteststudents and women (yes,
  women) led the demonstrations and a new party,
  the Wafd came to power during the rebellion
• Britain began a slow withdraw in stages by 1922,
  eventually remaining only to protect the canal by
  1936HOWEVER, despite the loss of direct
  occupation by Britain, the new Wafd party did
  little to improve Egypt over the next few
  decades, as widespread corruption and collusion
  with British interests continuedmost of Egypts
  farmland was still in the hands of less than 6
  of the populationit will not be until 1952 when
  sweeping reforms were brought in by socialist
  leader Gamal Abdul Nasser

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African Nationalism (C28)

• Likewise with India and Egypt, in Africa, the
  educated elite and traditional rulers are in
  cahoots with European imperialistsWWI saw both
  conflict in Africa (as allies removed Italy and
  Germany from possessions) as well as raw material
  and military labor exploitation throughout the
  continent
• Continued promises of better living conditions
  and better employment for Africans went unmet,
  with several members of the elite breaking away
  from European collusionwidespread strikes and
  protest broke out in Africa in the 1920s
• Outside forces from the US (WEB DuBois and Marcus
  Garvey) led pan-African movements from America,
  attempting to get many former slave families to
  return to Africa to reclaim their heritagein
  French West Africa, the negritude movement
  sparked conflict regarding racial/social
  stereotypes in Africait reminded Africans that
  once upon a time Africa was ruled by societies
  that promoted greater equality (for women
  especially), where all citizens were cared for,
  etc. (well, forget the fact that there was
  slavery)
• In response to pressures, colonial powers did
  give greater autonomy to newly formed nationalist
  governments in some areas (not settler areas like
  Kenya or Rhodesia)however, it would not be until
  after WWII that African independence efforts were
  kicked into full gear.

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Mexican Revolution A Summary

• Liberals (like Francisco Madero) demanded
  political and land reform from the Diaz regime
  (who refused changed)several characters
  (Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa, Victoriano Huerta
  and Alvaro Obregon) took it upon themselves to
  raise armies to replace the Diaz regime
• Obregon was the eventual winnera constitution in
  1917 promised land reform (but did not happen
  fast enough) and greater education (more of a
  success)
• Mexico post-revolution experienced nationalism
  and indigenism, as natives and mestizos
  demanded moreMarxism also had some impacts
  demanding secularismconservative Catholics
  launched the Cristeros movement to retain their
  power in Mexico
• By the 1930s, a political party known as the PRI
  (Party of the Institutionalized Revolution) took
  controlthough Mexico was now a multiparty
  democracy, the PRI dominated Mexico with
  caudillo-like rule until the 21st century

13
Russian Revolution A Summary

• Failures by the czarist leadership to defend
  Russia in WWI coupled with famines and worker
  unrest caused the revolutiona newly developed
  council of workers called the soviet demanded the
  dissolution of the czarist regime and the
  institution of democratic rulethis happened, but
  for a short time under Alexander Kerensky
  (February 1917)
• In October 1917, another revolt occurred
  expelling Kerenskys liberals and installing
  Lenins Bolsheviks to power
• An internal civil war raged between RED
  (Communist) and WHITE (liberal and czarist)
  factions from 1918-1921, with the Communist REDS
  winning
• Lenin set out the develop the USSR (Union of
  Soviet Socialist Republics) by developing a New
  Economic Policy based on 5 year plans and state
  control and creating the Supreme Soviet based on
  one party, but still elected.

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Chinese Revolution A Summary

• In 1912, the abdication of the last Chinese
  emperor Puyi set the stage for the early battle
  for China between Democratic factions (Sun
  Yat-Sen) and warlord factions (Yuan Shikai) as
  well as the constant fear of invasion from Japan
• Increased Japanese encroachment led to the May
  Fourth Movement, demanding reform and a decrease
  in foreign involvement and greater
  democratizationwarlords would not budge and
  foreign involvement increasedas a result, some
  educated students (like Mao Zedong) turned to
  Communism
• Sun Yatsens Guomindang (Democratic National
  Party) seized power from the warlords in the
  1920s and under the leadership of Suns
  successor, Chiang Kai Shek, aligned with the
  Communists, then turned on them, seeking their
  destruction by the end of the decade
• Mao knew that the only way to gain control of
  China and to solve the problems of the nation was
  to make promises to the peasantswhen Mao was
  escaping persecution from the Chiangs force on
  the Long March, he made sure to preach Communist
  ideology to the peasants
• In the end, the Guomindang and the Communists had
  to once again join force to fight the invading
  Japanese in the 1930s and early 1940sonly to go
  right back at each others throats once World War
  II was over.

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This week

• 4 will be answered
• Tuesday and Wednesday Activity on Revolutions in
  C29
• Thursday I/O on Themes of early 20th C
  revolutionread articles for prep AND answer the
  questions!
• Friday Test on C29, Notes Due
• NOTE You will need to go back over C28 pages
  686-697MC questions will be on this weeks test
  fromm that material!

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Revolutions of the 20th Century

• Assignmentcompare and contrast the causes,
  themes/methods and overall impacts (PERSIA) of
  TWO 20th Century Revolutions.
• IF YOU WERE BORN IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH,
  APRIL, MAY, JUNE OR JULY (7 People)
• Compare and Contrast the Mexican and Russian
  Revolutions
• IF YOU WERE BORN IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER
  (8 People)
• Compare and Contrast the Mexican and Chinese
  Revolutions
• IF YOU WERE BORN IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER (5
  People)
• Compare and Contrast the Chinese and Russian
  Revolutions