The+West

media type="custom" key="9016644" Countries that have had democratic and secular governments and mostly free-market economies in place for the last 50 years.

Notes 673 - 678 Main Idea: There were several shifts in the world economy and shifts in government organization following WWI. - Consumerism and changes in women's roles characterize roaring twenties - US and Japan become more important economically and politically - New authoritarian regimes in eastern Europe and Italy - Economic and political challenges after end of WWI (10 million European deaths) - Cubism + Picasso + other intellectual and artistic movements - New mass consumption items (radio) - Women's suffrage - World economy remained sluggish - Emergence of right-wing parties - Australia free from Britain; becomes economic player - More dominions become free - US becomes economic superpower + but isolationist foreign policy - Increase in globalization and big business - Change in workforce organization = assembly line; Henry ford - Growth of Jazz music - Emergence of Hollywood - New Japanese industrial age - Benito Mussolini forms the fascist "fascio di combattimento" --> authoritarian leadership and nationalist values - Authoritarian leaders took control in Eastern Europe, which still suffered from agricultural malaise

Notes 690 - 695 Main Idea: The Great Depression created many of the economic and political conditions that contributed to the inevitability of WWII. - The Great Depression - centered in the west but had global implications - resulted from problems in industrial economy of the West (price fluctuations and protectionism; issues with demand, etc) - Bank failures around the world - US stock market crash in 1929 - Receding investment in growth --> falling production levels ---> less jobs + reduced pay - Severity and breadth of crisis unprecedented (international collapse) - Many govts. tried to cut down on spending --> made crisis more severe b/c of lack of stimulus - Lead to political radicalization -- increased division within govt. --> inaction - Scandinavia learns to take care of its people (foreshadowing of welfare state) - New Deal helped to slow effects of Great Depression in America through govt. intervention into the economy - Fascism took hold in Germany under Adolf Hitler and Nazi party because of sluggish Germany economy and wartime debts - Once in power Hitler ---> totalitarian state + Germany nationalism + Gestapo - Anti-Semitic views used as a scapegoat by Hitler - Wanted to create German land empire - German fascism sputtered towards other nations like Mussolini in Italy + new Italian colony of Ethiopia + some Eastern European nations (Austria) + Spanish Civil War (fascist Francisco Franco) - Socialist and communist parties form in Latin America to give direction

Notes 709 - 721 World War II was a divisive international conflict that had enormous effects on changes in world political, economic, and military power. - Many of the political and economic conditions that lead to WWII were caused by the Great Depression --> political instability as a result of poor economic and social conditions - Japanese sieze Manchuria after fears of growing power of the Chinese (General Chiang Kai-shek) - Hitler and Nazis gain power in Germany --> draw plans to invade Soviet Union to reduce communist threat - European axis powers become emboldened by their well-planned and ruthless military ventures - WWII provoked by "deliberate aggressions of Nazi Germany and a militarized and imperialist Japan" - Winston Churchhill - disagreed with appeasement policies; British Prime minister; opposed Hitler during the war - Japanese make the first move in global war --> attack China from base of Manchuria ---> Nanking massacre - Nonaggression pact and other appeasement pacts signed between Hitler and Stalin; but Nazi invade Poland in 1939 --> Britain and France declare war on Germany - German blitzkrieg - military tactic that Germans employed to quickly and swiftly take over cities and countries - Vichy - French government falls to Germany - Battle for Britain - British oppose German incursions into island - The Desert Fox = Awesome nickname - Stalingrad - turning point in the war in 1942 and 1943 (entire Germany military destroyed by Soviets) - Holocaust - Hitler kills upwards of 6 million Jews in "genocidal orgy" - US comes and saves the day - first in Northern Africa - then at DDay - then at Battle of the Bulge - Battle of the Bulge - Allies beat Hitler at strategic point in Belgium - Pearl Harbor - Americans attacked by Japanese in the Pacific - US entered WWII as a result --> US fleet in the Pacific devastated (but aircraft carriers safe) --> won Midway --> won Guadacanal --> established dominance over Pacific --> Battle of Iwo Jima - 20,000 marines die --> US firebombing of Japan --> Dropping of the atomic bombs --> good times in the USA - In aftermath of WWII, USA and Russia fight for influence over rest of the world - Creation of the United Nations - Tehran Conference --> Yalta Conference --> Postdam Conference : Negotiations regarding the political boundaries of Europe and Asia after WWII; disagreements between American and Western Europeans and Russians particularly over Poland - Many Eastern European countries fell under Soviet sphere of influence --> setup game between Russia and the US

Chapter 31
 * **What were the major effects of decolonization post WWII on Europe?**
 * Europe lost many of their colonial possessions, but, for the most part, did not suffer any major economic consequences. In fact, many nations maintained good relations with their former colonies.
 * How did the Cold War divide Europe? What were the implications of this division?
 * Europe was divided by Western, American-backed governments in the West and Eastern European countries that formed the Eastern bloc which remained under Soviet influence. They were divided by an "iron curtain". This division was an extension of the Cold War, between the US and Russia.
 * Why did European governments move towards Liberal Democracies?
 * WWII, partly caused by authoritarian regimes, discredited right-wing ideas of government (including opposition to liberal democracies).
 * What was the welfare state? Why did they develop? what were the issues?
 * The welfare state was a government that helped to institute several social safety needs including medical care, support for families, and pension systems. They emerged because of the difficulties faced economically by Europeans after WWII (the British, for instance, instituted an aggressive housing program). However, these programs were "undeniably expensive."
 * Trace growing diplomatic relationships within Europe
 * The United States and many Western European formed NATO as a deterrent against Soviet military power. Also, France and Germany and later on many Low Countries and Italy formed an agreement to form an economic pact that would help to facilitate trade between these nations. Eventually, this organization morphed into the European Union, which unites the majority of European (with notable exceptions in Eastern Europe + Norway + Switzerland)
 * Outline economic development in Europe
 * After WWII, Western Europe was able to experience rapid economic growth from reformed industry, low unemployment, and rapid technological change. This lead to a new consumer culture in Western Europe.
 * Outline the post war development of the non-European West (Excluding the United States)
 * Canada gains greater autonomy although it has to deal with regional tensions (Quebec); Australia forms economic ties with Asian nations like Japan
 * Explain the growing role of the United States in world affairs
 * The United States abandoned its non-interventionist foreign policy and began dictating political affairs around the world (NATO, Greece, Turkey, CIA, Berlin Airlift, Korea, Vietnam, Iran, Central America)
 * Trace developments for women in the post war West
 * After WWII women granted more factory jobs; new career opportunities (service sector); more schooling for women; gained the right to vote; birth control; feminist movement pushed for equality for women in terms of income, legal rights, general perception of their sex.
 * Outline cultural developments in Europe.
 * New "pop art" emerges, along with other artistic movements (Ingmar Bergman = Swedish film director); The Beatles and other European mass media figures; liberalization of sexual views