THE WORLD OF THE 1920s: CHALLENGES TO EUROPEAN DOMINANCE

1. THE WORLD OF THE 1920s:CHALLENGES TO EUROPEAN DOMINANCE CHAPTER 34a

2. OVERVIEW • Interwar period of the 1920s • Saw revolutionary and authoritarian regimes • False sense of security for democracies, west • Resistance to European imperialism • Golden Age for European, Western Elites • Western Europe • Recovery from World War I was incomplete • War followed by economic disruptions, new borders • Age of artistic creativity, materialism, scientific progress • Age of Pessimism, worries for some sectors of society • The United States and Japan • Increased their industrial strength • Internal problems threatened governments • Other Parts of the World • New revolutionary governments appeared in China, Mexico • Russian Revolution in 1917 and Civil War spread around globe • Balance Sheet • Parliamentary democracy spread even as new challenges arose against it • USA’s economic vitality as well as Japan's challenged Western Europe

3. THE ROARING 20s • Period of apparent peace in early 1920s • Reduced internal political tensions in Europe • Industrialization and Consumerism • Boomed on back of growing consumer demand • Development of assembly line factories • Wages increased purchasing power • Power of middle class, middle class values rose • Facilitated rise of consumerism • Age of technological marvels: radio, airplane, auto • Cultural creativity during the 1920s • Resulted in new artistic styles • These often conveyed some of the tensions of modern life • Literature dealt with realism, often pessimism • Important new scientific discoveries appeared • Gender Issues • Women across Europe, United States gained right to vote • Suffrage brought other social liberties.

4. FASCISM IN ITALY • Authoritarianism • Rule centralized and often arbitrary, frequently dominated by military • Fascism as Ideology • Stemmed from disenchantment with liberal democracy • Rich, middle class worried by social conflict • State threatened by labor unrest, government stagnation • Nationalist resentments stemming from World War I • Goal was to seize power forcefully • Italian Fascists arose in 1920s • March on Rome 1922 • Fascists under leadership of Benito Mussolini • Advocated nationalist corporate state • Wanted to end both socialism and capitalism • King gave in and named Mussolini prime minister • Mussolini began to reform Italian state, rearm

5. THE NEW NATIONS OF EASTERN EUROPE • Eastern European nations • Arose out of Versailles Treaty at end of World War I • Created out of Germany, Austria, Russia – often by force • Each state was a kaleidoscope of different ethnic groups • Different legal systems, rail gauges • State Building • Tried to emulate Western Europe without wealth, stability • All were hostile to Communist regime in the Soviet Union • Bitter rivalries broke out over territorial disputes • Little industry, mostly agrarian • Few cities, small middle classes or intellectuals • Authoritarian Temptation • Parliamentary democracy damaged by competing parties • Often major parties could not form a majority, rule by coalition • Unable to solve social problems such as land reform, ethnic strife • Most reverted to authoritarian or monarchical regimes • Only Czechoslovakia remained a democracy throughout period

6. GOVERNMENTS IN 1937

7. THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH • Dominions • White-dominated colonies granted self-government • Foreign policy, defense policy, trade policies shared • South Africa was first dominion in 1910 • Ireland • Had revolted in 1916 during World War I • British, Irish soldiers increasingly attack civilians • Irish Republican Army resented compromise, switched to largely terrorist role • Canada, Australia, and New Zealand • Granted dominion status after the war for roles in war • Canada • Rapid economic growth, large-scale immigration, increasingly friendly with USA • Treaty of Westminster, 1931 • Britain and its dominions formed a permanent, political alliance • Britain granted self-governing dominions equality of legislation • Other dominions included Irish Free State, Newfoundland

8. RISE OF THE UNITED STATES • World War I • Put the United State into a position of leadership • Became largest industrialized nation, largest center of banking • Left war with 2nd largest navy in world, largest army • Treaty of Versailles Rejected • US refused to join League of Nation, retreats into Isolation • Only in Latin America did USA remained actively interventionist • The Red Scare • 1919 – 1920s: US Government saw communists under every rock • Ignored law and used CID (future FBI) to arrest communists

9. The Roaring 1920s • U.S. leadership in world economic and cultural affairs accelerated • New consumerism developed • American middle class became able to afford household luxuries • Mass production reduced prices of most items: people began buying on credit • U.S. corporations were innovators in technology and production techniques • Mass Production of appliances and automobiles • Credit, Credit Cards, Catalogs • Greatest mark came in popular culture • Movies and Hollywood became world-wide symbols • Rise of competitive, team sports and radio • The Age of Jazz and American musicals by Gershwin were models for the world

10. JAPAN AND ITS EMPIRE • Disappointments at Paris • Japan had wanted Germany’s Asian colonies • During war decided to pick on China • Allies had blocked Japan in its Chinese adventures • Japan turned increasingly hostile • Favored authoritarian government • Began to plan for war, conquest in the interwar period • An Economic Revolution led to many changes • Japanese standards of living began to improve • By 1925, the state initiated compulsory primary-school education • Japan relied heavily on import of raw materials, trade • Problems for Japan Lead to Dictatorship • Population growth restricted advances in standards of living • Social problems increased in crowded cities • Military leaders took on a greater role in the 1920s • They resented what they saw as the selfishness and pandering of the political parties • Disliked democracy, liberalism as much as socialism, communism • Hated reduction in military spending • 1928: Tanaka Memorial – Japanese military draw up plans for Pacific War

11. Stop do not take notes on remaining slides!

12. REVOLUTIONS! • New revolutions • Challenged Western dominance • Offered alternatives to the Western model • Revolutions through 1939 • Iran 1905 • Young Turks 1908 • Mexico 1910 • China 1912 • Russia 1917 (two) • Wafd Revolution, Egypt 1919 • Turkey 1920s • India 1920s • China 1928 – 1949

13. MEXICO’S UPHEAVELS • The Porfirato as a Cause • Response to authoritarian modernization of Porfirio Diaz • Economic prosperity for Mexico but at the cost of turning much of Mexico's economy over to foreigners • Díaz government ruthlessly suppressed opposition: peasants, Indians, workers did not share prosperity • Opposition began, in 1910 Francisco Madero decided to run against Daiz • Díaz arrested his opponents, rigged election • Mexico Rises in Revolt – the Revolution Begins • In the north, Pancho Villa organized resistance • In Morelos, Zapata rallied Indians, peasants behind the banner of land reform • The rebels drove Díaz from power and replaced him with Madero • The Course of the Revolution • Madero's moderate program of reform proved inadequate • Too much concern for elite interests, foreign concerns, Mexico City at expense of other parts of Mexico • In 1913 a military coup removed Madero, who was assassinated. • General Victoriano Huerta attempted to restore the dictatorship, but Villa and Zapata again rebelled • Huerta fell from power in 1914 • Remaining revolutionaries continued to fight among themselves over the nature of the new government • Obregón was elected president in 1920 and attempted to resuscitate Mexico's economy • Under Cárdenas (1934-1940) promised land reform took place as did beginning of public education • The Mexican Constitution of 1917 • Promised land and educational reform, limited foreign ownership of Mexican industry and resources • Guaranteed rights of workers • Limited the Church's ownership of land

14. POST-REVOLUTIONARY MEXICO • Rediscovering Their Indian Heritage • Primary emphasis in post-revolutionary culture was Indian heritage • Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco decorated public buildings with murals • Mexican Muralism heavily influenced by Cubism, European art movements • Glorified the Indian past of Mexico • Popular literature and music celebrated the heroes of the revolution • Some revolutionary changes met with opposition • The Church opposed increasing secularism within Mexican society • Cristero movement of 1920s combined conservative peasants, politicians, Church • Goal was to halt secularization • Education became they most volatile issue and led to revolts, guerrilla movements • The US and Mexico • During Revolution, US supported stability and protection of American property • US bombarded Veracruz for failure of Mexico to salute US Flag • After Pancho Villa attacked banks in US, US sent army into Northern Mexico • More important to U.S. interests was President Cárdenas's nationalization of oil companies in 1934 • Despite tensions, agreements were worked out between the two nations • The PRI • Politically, the revolution resulted in a monopoly of power • Eventually the Party of the Institutionalized Revolution (PRI) was formed • Although technically a democracy, PRI dominated Mexican politics from the 1920s to the presen • In the 1990s, many came to question the integrity and usefulness of the PRI. Cuauhtemoc Against the Myth

15. 1st RUSSIAN REVOLUTION • Causes • World War I • Produced military disasters, social disruptions, economic hardships • Riots began in March 1917 in St. Petersburg protesting poor conditions • All groups demanded a new political regime • The Rise of Soviets February 1917 • Councils of workers or soviets took over the city • Troops mutinied and also formed soldier and sailor soviets • Unable to suppress the disorder, the tsar abdicated. • The Liberal Revolution • The first stage of the Russian Revolution was led by “liberals” • Alexander Kerensky wanted to establish parliamentary government • Government was a socialist, moderate coaltion • Lack of a substantial middle class hindered democracy • Unwillingness to enact land reform • End World War I caused the liberal regime to lose support • Allies convinced Russians to remain in the war • War very unpopular with soldiers, sailors and peasants • Rise of “White” Opposition: Monarchists, conservatives worked against revolution • Socialists, communists organized paramilitary groups to counter white opposition

16. 2nd RUSSIAN REVOLUTION • Bolshevik or Communist Revolution: November 1917 • A 2nd revolution unseated the liberal government • Brought Bolsheviks to power under Lenin’s leadership • Lenin centralized his power in the soviets • Marxism or Leninism? • Marxism • Society went through stages; could not skip a stage • Capitalism and industrialization had to proceed socialism • Rural economies and large peasant classes were not right for revolution • Felt Russia was not likely to have a socialist revolution • Lenin adapted Marxism to fit Russian situation • Small worker, large peasants were radical to a degree • Needed a small cadre of revolutionaries to formant revolution, lead masses • The Communists, The Civil War, and International Politics • The Bolsheviks withdrew Russia from World War I • Surrendered most of Western Russia, Baltic, Finland to the Germans • The Allies regarded the Bolshevik government as dangerous, • Excluded them from the Versailles peace conference • Carved new nations from formerly Russian lands • The Civil War Follows • Many Allies (UK, France, US, Japan, Poland) invaded Russia to overthrown Soviets • Internally Whites (Conservatives), Greens (nationalists) fought Soviets for control • Soviets won due to Red Army, Cheka (Secret Police), Red Terror, War Communism

17. THE SOVIET STATE • Red Institutions • The Bolshevik Party • The formal name for the Communist Party • Led by V. I. Lenin, organized into cells, bureaus • Only members of party trusted • From Red Guard to Red Army • Organized under Leon Trotsky • Created to further spread of revolution • Later protected revolution from “white” opponents • Cheka • Soviet secret police • Used terror, executions to reduce internal opposition • War Communism • Soviets forcibly requisition food, supplies to support Red Army • Demanded all people support revolution under threat of death • The Soviet State • First elections held returned a parliament • The Social Revolutionary party not the Bolsheviks held a majority • Lenin shut down the parliament and replaced it with a Congress of Soviets • Established a Bolshevik monopoly on political action • The Communist party controlled Soviet politics until 1989 • The Communist party dominated all political, intellectual, social organs • Membership in party was criterion for advancement

18. STABILIZATION OF THE REGIME • The Russian Civil War • Officially lasted from 1918 to 1923 • Russia’s neighbors invaded at one time or another • Enemies largely defeated by weather, bad morale • Soviets were better organization of Reds, used terror • New Economic Policy (NEP) • War Communism unpopular, cost production and support for Soviets • 1921 Lenin abandoned war communism and moved to NEP • NEP restored some capitalism for small farmer, small businesses • Reduced resistance to Communist rule and increased food supplies • the New Economic Policy reduced resistance to Communist rule. • The New Constitution • In 1923, a new constitution established the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics • Ethnic republics had local self-rule but this was largely a sham • National state dominated by ethnic Russians; national state strongly centralized • Communist Party of USSR (CPSU) dominated by ethnic Russians • CPSU dominates republics and USSR • Universal suffrage elected the Supreme Soviet • But only Communist party members were allowed to stand for office • The parliament simply ratified decisions reached in the party's executive committees

19. SOVIET EXPERIMENTATION • New Institutions • CPSU encouraged associations to create a “Soviet” society • Many Soviet citizens gained a voice in new organizations • The rapid spread of literacy fostered creativity • Artist, Literary Societies flourished • Gave government tools for reshaping culture • A Power Struggle • Lenin died in 1924: power struggle ensued for control • Lenin preferred Trotsky • But as a “Jew” most Russians distrusted him • Many Russians distrusted influence of Red Army and a Red Napoleon • Joseph Stalin emerged as Lenin's successor • Stalin dominated Ministry of Nationalities, local communist parties • Became General Secretary of the Communist Party • Used divide and conquer tactics to discredit opposition • Socialism in One Country • Stalin devoted to national development as way for USSR to survive • International Communism was secondary to Soviet or Russian needs • In some ways Stalin was a Slavophile who rejected Westernization (Marxism) • Industrialization • Russia needed heavy industry to resist western encroachment • Problem: Russia was largely a peasant country • Stalin forcibly industrialized by destroying peasantry • Collectivized agriculture to free up labor, capital for industry

20. TOWARD REVOLUTION IN CHINA • 1911 Revolution • Revolutionaries were Western educated elite • Revolutionaries were anti-Qing, modernizers, who idealized Japan • First revolts were by military units which spread • The abdication of the Qing emperor in 1912 began long struggle • Each group had a different idea of what was the ideal government • Warlords • Initially, regional warlords dominated Chinese politics. • Alliances of warlords called cliques • Yuan Shikai wished to establish a new imperial dynasty • Power of the warlords partially offset by merchants, bankers in Westernized cities • University Students and Secret Societies • Chinese universities provided the theoretical foundation for political reconstruction • Secret societies plotted to restore the empire under a Chinese ruler • The Foreign Situation • The situation was complicated by foreign intervention in China • Japan and European nations had divided China into imperial zones of influence • From the 1890s to 1945, the most dangerous of the foreign interlopers was Japan • Japan physically tried to annex parts of China during World War I

21. WARLORDS DIVIDE CHINA

22. MAO AND THE PEASANT PROBLEM • China and Marxism • Marxism said • A communist revolution had to occur after industrialization • Marxism felt peasants were too anti-revolutionary to be useful • China had no industry, too few modern cities, and too many peasants • Russia had made revolution with weak industry led by elite party • Enter Mao Zedong • Came from a peasant background • But soon joined the revolutionary and nationalist movement in China • Heavily influenced by the Marxist thinkers in Beijing • Began to see the peasants as the key to a successful revolution • The Nationalist Campaign • Chiang Kai-shek began to expand the territory controlled by the Nationalists • He seized Shanghai in 1927; by 1928 captured Beijing • Chiang Kai-shek was simply the most influential warlord • Chiang ruthlessly eliminated his political rivals • Chiang initiated brutal crackdown on Communists in 1928 with ok of USSR • Long March • Mao to lead 90,000 of his followers in a retreat known as the Long March • Moved entire base of revolution to Yennan Province • Created a state within a state