German and Russian Revolutions 10/20/09 11:06 AM

1. German Revolution

November 26, 2009 On November 9, 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany abdicated and

left Germany to the Netherlands.

The events that preceded this decision:

i. The Kaiser did not accept the Treaty’s conditions because

he did not want to make Germany more democratic.

o This caused revolts around the country. Even the

Kaiser’s armed forces were revolting against this.

o The revolts began because they were sick and tired

of the war. They thought it was bad enough, they

didn’t want more.

o The Kaiser stepped down because he didn’t want to

give the parliament a lot of power.

SUMMARY: Peace under certain conditions:

i. Germany to become more democratic.

o Kaiser refused.

o Revolts began and growing fear of

socialist/communist revolution.

Friedrich Ebert

i. Elected to Reichstag in 1912.

ii. Leader of Social Democratic Party since 1913.

iii. Elected President in January 1919.

Weimar Republic

i. Weimar constitution was written in July 1919.

ii. Extremely democratic constitution. Shown:

o All Germans over 20 could vote.

o The president is elected.

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o The system had proportional representation.

Proportional representation: the more votes

you get, the more seats you get in the

Reichstag.

Example: 10% of votes=5 seats. 50% of

votes=50 seats.

iii. Some non-democratic laws:

o The president could rule the country for six months

without any role of the Reichstag.

iv. This was made to be used in emergency situations and

crises such as war etc.

Democracy: Power of the people; the leader is elected by the

people.

In the Weimar Republic, the people vote for seats in Reichstag,

and majority of representatives vote for Chancellor.

Challenges for the Weimar Republic.

i. The national income was about 1/3rd of what it was in 1913.

ii. Industrial production was 2/3rd of what it was in 1913.

iii. Threatened by revolution – unstable.

How close was Germany to a Communist revolution? What

stopped it?

i. An ‘alliance’ was formed between Ebert’s Social

Democratic Party, and right-wing Freikorps to stop and

crush the imminent communist revolution.

Left-wing party: communist, and socialist.

i. Communist: equal rights, equal income, and equal rights.

Some countries wanted this because of a huge gap in

wealth between the classes. This would diminish the whole

point of classes and everyone would be equal.

Right-wing party: conservatives who like to keep things the way

they are. Severe right-wing party would be fascist.

After Ebert signed the Treaty of Versailles, he was almost

overthrown by the rightists but the people in cities saved him

because they did not want a conservative government, they

needed things to change. They were sick of wars, whether civil or

foreign. Enough is enough, NO MORE PROBLEMS.

December 3, 2009

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In which parts of the Weimar Republic were there right-wing

supporters?

i. In the army

ii. In the bureaucracy

iii. In the judiciary system

iv. Industrialists, businessman, financiers

v. Religious establishments

What stopped a right-wing takeover?

i. The people

The Ruhr invasion and hyperinflation

i. 1922: Germany did not pay reparations

ii. France and Belgium invaded the industrial heartland of

Germany, the Ruhr.

iii. The German workers went on a government requested

strike.

iv. Invasion turned violent.

v. Halt in industrial production caused a collapse of the

German economy and currency.

vi. Hyperinflation as a result of too much money in circulation.

The Effects of Hyperinflation

i. The middle class became poor.

o Because the middle class had savings, and since the

value of money went down, what they had became

pointless.

ii. The working class – nothing changed

o Their life was paycheck every week, and lived like

that. No savings, no nothing, so no effect.

Stresemann

i. Took over as Chancellor in August 1923.

ii. Called off the strike.

iii. Replaced the worthless currency.

iv. Negotiated US loans (Dawes plan).

v. Reparation payments renegotiated.

vi. HOWEVER, long term damage had been done: the Weimar

Republic had lost the support of the middle class.

German Economy

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i. Was now based on American loans, as was the rest of the

world.

ii. GET CHART OF DAWES PLAN, VERY IMPORTANT.

Documentary on Germany in Inter-War Period

i. After the war, people were ecstatic and they all celebrated

peace and end of bloodshed.

ii. Although the defeated have to pay price of peace

iii. Treaty of Versailles

o Took place in January 1919, in Versailles, France.

o Most important people there were, Lloyd George (PM

of Britain), Woodrow Wilson (US President), and

George Clemenceau (French Premier).

o Woodrow Wilson wanted long and ever-lasting peace,

not revenge. His 14 points put some moral rules into

government.

Although while he was working, the people in

the U.S. lost interest and decided they did not

want anything to do with European problems.

o Lloyd George was working most to recover Germany

and get it ready to be a steady trading partner.

o While Germany were fighting for their existence at

the conference, it was the allies who were setting the

fate of Germany.

o Here, the map of Europe was changed many times.

o Consequences of Treaty of Versailles:

Germany was not allowed to place any troops

in the Rhineland, it was to be kept by allied

forces until 1935.

Germany had to limit their troops to 100,000

men

Germany had to accept full responsibility for

starting the war.

Since Germany was in no position to decline of

even negotiate the terms, they were forced to

sign.

o During the communist revolution, the army did not

shoot at the Friekorps, and it was the strike that

saves the German government.

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o In 1921, the allies were still discussing how much

Germany should pay.

France: repairing the war crushed country was

extremely expensive and they believed that

they could just squeeze the money out of

Germany.

Germany argued that reparation would be a

terrible burden on Germany and the people.

o On January 1923, the reparations were still not paid

so French and Belgian troops entered and invaded

the Ruhr.

The French then believed that the German

workers there would now work for them, but

unexpectedly, the German troops and

industrialists united and striked against this.

The French then decided to get some of its own

workers.

Tensions grew and soon enough Germans

started killing some French soldiers.

It was a united hatred against the French.

o 1923 was a terrible year for Germany.

The Ruhr was invaded and Hyperinflation hit

Germany with a boom.

o In Germany, the left wings were mostly treated and

sentenced harshly and right winged people were

treated and sentenced very leniently. This shows how

the German’s mindset was.

iv. Stresemann was then elected as chancellor.

o He decided that Germany would pay the reparations

as the only way to get France out.

o The inflation became under control.

o And Stresemann created the Dawes plan which was

accepted among the Big Three.

o German industry returned to normal as the French

decided to pull out because of the Dawes Plan.

o All hostilities seemed to be disappearing.

o And in 1926, Germany became a member of the

League of Nations.

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o Life in Germany seemed to be returning to normal.

2. Russian Revolution

December 4, 2009 Russia, around the 1900s, was in transition (changing) evidence:

i. Middle class emerged which shows a change in the social

makeup of the country. Shown as a social change.

o Russia began to industrialize. Would be categorized

as an economic change. This is what caused the

middle class to grow. They got a lot more money.

This shows that they were finally in the same

financial standing and mental standing as the

aristocrats yet they were still treated as 3rd

class citizens.

ii. Political opposition wanted more democracy and some

even wanted revolution.

iii. There was a continuation of the Autocracy (tsars rule).

o Thought a divine ruler. Not a religious leader. It is just

thought that their family were handpicked by god to

be the rulers of Russia.

o The middle class began challenging this way of

legitimizing the rule because they wanted a

democracy. They wanted this for equal rights, say in

the economy, the ability to vote, and they basically

wanted a say for the way that they are living.

o People in good positions in the government were

basically there because of their connection, or wasta.

iv. Position of aristocracy and peasants had not changed at all

throughout the war. The poor stayed very poor and the rich

stayed very rich.

v. Population growth occurred in Russia. Population grew a lot

faster. Shows that there is a decrease of death which

shows that there was better food, better medicine, etc.

vi. Large majority of the population were peasants.

Urbanization began and many people began going to the cities to

find jobs.

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i. The working class, coal miners, etc, was a new social class

that emerged in Russia.

o Very similar to peasants because they were given low

living conditions and were extremely poor.

o Working class wanted higher salaries, improved

working conditions, although did not care much

about democracy.

o Although there is a conflict between peasants and

working class. A competition over food. Since the

peasants are selling the food, and the working class

are buying them, there is a problem because the

peasants want to sell them at the highest price

possible and the working class want to buy at the

lowest price possible. MINOR

So all had problems with the government except the aristocrats

and clergy.

Source A: Population 1900 (in millions)

Russia 103

Germany 56

Austria-Hungary 45

Great Britain 41

France 39

Italy 32

Source B: Railways – kilometers of track in 1900 (in thousands)

Russia 53

Germany 52

France 38

Austria-Hungary 36

Great Britain 35

Italy 16

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Source C: Coal production in 1900 (in million tones); figures in brackets

refer to percentage in production since 1890

Russia 16 (170%)

Germany 149 (67%)

Austria-Hungary 39 (50%)

France 33 (28%)

Great Britain 225 (24%)

Italy (0.5%)

Source D: Steel production (in million tones)

Countries 1890 1900

Russia 0.4 1.5

Germany 2.3 6.7

Austria-Hungary 0.5 1.2

France 0.7 1.6

Great Britain 3.6 4.9

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WHAT IS ABOVE IS NOT IMPORTANT, NO CONCERN

December 8, 2009 Russian Revolution of 1905

i. Notes last time are FACTS about Russia at the time.

ii. Causes of the Revolution

o LONG TERM CAUSES

Industrialization which caused:

Rise of middle class where they became

as wealthy as the aristocrats but were

still considered a lot less important and

powerful.

o This angered them to a great

extent and they began going

against the government.

Peasants were living under terrible conditions

where they had to deal with low food, extreme

cold, etc. As well as the working class, basically

living in POVERTY, so got completely against

the government.

The form of government, being an autocratic

government, caused a lot of trouble between

the classes. Stated above.

o SHORT TERM CAUSES

The government eased censorship. Basically

less censorship.

Government saying, you wanna speak

freely then speak freely.

There was the war with Japan in which they

lost badly.

The Russians showed how confident they

were and how they were going to kill the

“yellow little monkeys” and then they

were crushed.

Trade unions were allowed.

‘You wanna be organized then be

organized.’

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This helped how the revolution started.

They got organized and basically

organized how they were going to revolt.

Facilitated the revolution.

o TRIGGER CAUSE

Bloody Sunday

In January of 1905, 200,000 protesters

marched on the Winter Palace in St.

Petersburg to give a petition to the Tsar.

Although the Tsar’s soldiers opened fire.

o Not clear who ordered the shooting.

Not necessarily the Tsar but he is

still responsible over the situation.

o This caused the Tsar to lose a lot of

respect from many people in

Russia.

Tsar’s government lost control over the

country; rebellions, strikes and mutinies

dominated Russia for the following 10

months. Soviets set up in the town.

iii. The Revolution

o The Tsar offered Russia a Duma (elected parliament),

the right to free speech and the right to form political

parties.

o November: financial help for peasants announced.

o The opposition divided because he gave the Middle

Class what they wanted. This left the workers and the

peasants.

o He made peace with Japan and the best troops were

brought back to Russia to crush the revolts.

o February: the Middle Class formally denounced the

strikes, the land seizures and the Moscow uprising

and distanced themselves from the revolution.

o By March 1906: the revolution was completely

crushed by the army.

o By May 1906: powers of the Duma were severely

limited.

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December 9, 2009 Middle class calling for democracy, working class pushing for

better working conditions, and peasants pushing for ownership of

land. 1905 1917

- The revolution was crushed - The army would not listen

by the army in May of 1906. to the Tsar.

In 1917, his army did not obey him because of his failure in the

war, their sympathy with the cause of the opposition, and

because he took personal control of the army during WWI so any

failures in the war were blamed on him.

The difference between the war in Japan in 1905 and the Great

War of 1914, WWI was a total war. The treatment of the soldiers

was terrible and if they retreated, they were shot.

Also in 1917, he lost support of the aristocracy because of the

Tsar’s friendship with Rasputin. While in 1905, they were

completely supporting the Tsar.

The middle class, in 1917, realized and had learned that the Tsar

cannot be trusted, especially with the introductions of the Duma

back in 1906, then a year later became completely limited.

Similarities between both revolutions are strikes and unrest

among the people, breakdown of the supply system (railroads

a.k.a. transportation), famine among the lower classes, and the

Duma was in existence.

December 14, 2009

The March Revolution

i. In January, strikes broke out all over Russia. In February,

they spread.

ii. They were supported then members of the army even

joined.

iii. On the 7th of March, workers in Petrograd went on strike.

They were then joined by thousands of women, all

demanding for bread.

o From the 7th to the 10th, the number of people striking

rose to 250,000 workers. Industry came to a

standstill.

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o At this time, the Duma set up a Provisional

Government to take over the government.

iv. On the 12th of March, the Tsar ordered his army to crush

the revolt by force, they refused.

v. The marchers marched to the Duma and told them to take

over the government. They accepted.

vi. On the same day, revolutionaries set up the Petrograd

Soviets again, and began taking control of food supplies to

the city – On the 15th of March, the Tsar abdicated…

the Tsars were finished.

The Provisional Government

i. The Duma’s provisional Committee took over the

government.

ii. It faced three overwhelming decisions:

o To continue the war or make peace.

o To distribute land to the peasants (who had already

started taking it) or ask them to wait until elections

had been held.

o How best to get food to the starving workers in the

cities.

iii. Included lawyer Alexander Kerensky.

o Was the Justice Minister in the Provisional

Government who then became head of it.

o As well as a respected member of the Petrograd

Soviet.

iv. The provisional government promised Russia’s allies that it

would continue the war, while trying to settle the situation

in Russia.

v. It also urged the peasants to be restrained and wait for

elections before taking any land.

vi. The idea was that the provisional government could stand

down, and allow free elections to take place to elect a new

Constituent Assembly that would fairly and democratically

represent the people of Russia.

The Petrograd Soviet

i. Was a possible government to take over, apart from the

Provisional Government.

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ii. They were very popular among the working class and in

key industries such as coal mining and water. They also

had great support among soldiers in the army.

iii. During the crisis back in the spring of 1917, the Soviet and

Provisional Government worked together.

Kornilov offensive (July offensive).

i. In September 1917, Kornilov marched his troops towards

Moscow, intending to get rid of the Bolsheviks and the

provisional government. As well as restoring order.

HOMEWORK

Timeline of Lenin’s Rule

1917

i. Nov 8

o Church land handed to peasants

o Russia ask for peace with Germany

ii. Nov 12

o Work day limited to 8 hours

iii. Nov 14

o Workers given rights and healthcare

iv. Dec 1

o All non-Bolshevik newspapers burnt

v. Dec 11

o All cadets (opposition) banned and arrested

vi. Dec 20

o Secret police fight opposition

vii.Dec 27

o Workers Comitee

o Borks under Bolshevik control

1918

i. Jan 18

o Constituent Assembly dissolves

ii. March

o Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed

CONTINUE AT HOME

January 13, 2010

Single-party rulers we are going to study this year

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i. Lenin

ii. Stalin

iii. Mussolini

iv. Hitler

v. Mao

vi. Castro

Most questions would be like: What methods did (ruler x)

use to rise to power and what where the conditions at the

time? SEE DOWN

Any single power ruler divided into three parts

i. Rise to power

o Methods

o Conditions

ii. Consolidation: early phase of his rule

iii. Rule

o Domestic

Economy

Social

Woman

Minorities

Policy towards the youth

o Foreign

Lenin’s Rise To Power

i. Methods used:

o Relating to the public

Message

“Peace, Bread, and Land”

Appearance

He made himself look like the public

o Wearing a peasant hat

o Messed up tie, etc.

Charisma

Was a very convincing speaker

He was very persuasive and a good

speaker.

o Used The Party (Bolsheviks)

Were in the Petrograd Soviets

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Supported the working class to a great

extent (see notes above)

Helped a gradual Bolshevik take-over &

support for revolution

o Leadership / Organization

Trotsky: No military experience

Created the Red Guards to fight off

Kornilov’s army in September 1917.

o Was their military force before they

got into power of the country.

o Were created in the summer of

1917.

o Had great tactics and strategy and

were very well organized.

ii. Conditions:

o Instability in Russia

Socio-economic situation

WWI

o Provisional Government had become weak and

unpopular.

Lenin’s Consolidation

i. November 1917: Land given to peasants, armistice, and

workers got control of factories.

ii. December 1917: Cheka established, oppositions were

banned and arrested, and all non-Bolshevik newspapers

were burned.

iii. January 18, 1918: Constituent Assembly Dissolved

o If he let it stay, it would be a threat to his party

because the Constituent Assembly was in control by

another party. He eliminated a rival; no sharing of

power.

iv. March 1918: Brest-Litovsk Treaty

v. July 19: Tsar executed

o Was afraid that the white army would take the tsar

and use him as a symbol for them to promote

themselves.

vi. November 1920: Civil War Won by Bolsheviks

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i. Red Army: United and well organized

ii. Red Terror: Fear Factor

iii. War Communism: Government took control of markets,

banks, factories, agriculture, etc.

iv. Propaganda to gain support for themselves and lose

support for others.

v. March 1921: Created a new economic policy which

temporarily introduced capitalism.

January 14, 2010

Why was the “New Economic Policy” a controversial economic

policy for the Communist Party?

i. The NEP was basically war communism. (Mentioned above)

o This led to a production decrease.

Industrial

Agricultural

o This led to famine (7-8 million died)

o Also led to inflation

Because they produced less, the prices would

go up and the government would print money

to buy it.

ii. Kronstadt Rebellion

o The sailors rebelled against strong Bolshevik

supporters and armed forces because the situation

had become terrible.

o This woke Lenin up about the situation which caused

him to create the NEP.

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Communist Party

January 21, 2010

Stalin: one of the most important single-party ruler of the 20th

century

i. Died in 1953 of natural causes.

ii. USSR (United Social Soviet Republic)

iii. ANYWAY…STALIN

iv. 1941-Hitler invades Soviet Union

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o Violated a Russia-Germany peace pact

v. Became members of the league of nations in the 1930s but

never became important internationally.

vi. Russian economic policy

o Industrialization

o Collectivization

Of agriculture

i. Domestic Policies

o Purges

o Propaganda

ii. Stalin evolved the country from being an underdeveloped

country to a superpower that has nuclear weapons

o He took the country a long way

o It became an industrial power

o Advanced to such an extent that it should have taken

100 years but took a lot less

January 26, 2010

Totalitarian State

i. Censorship

ii. Propaganda

iii. Limited Access to Archives

iv. Limited or No Freedom of Speech

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Inter-War Period 10/20/09 11:06 AM

1. The Great Depression

February 10, 2010

US Economy:

i. Causes why it was so dominant in the 1920s:

o Natural Resources

Oil, Coal

Agriculture

Raw Material

o Population Growth

o WWI

Europe was weakened

US supplied Europe + Former European

markets overseas (colonies)

o US became financial centre of the world

ii. Strengths of the US economy in the 1920s:

o Confidence in the market

o Increased demand for consumer goods

o Easy access to credit

o Republican Policies

Called Laissez Faire

Tariffs US production protected

Low Taxation

iii. Weaknesses of the US economy in the 1920s:

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o Europe increased tariffs Less export from US

o Unfair distribution of wealth

Trusts

Agricultural prices plummeted

Person makes a loan from the bank to invest in stocks therefore takes

money from someone else’s bank account

The stocks drops and wall street crashes – person loses his money and

still owes money to the bank – they take his house and he loses his job

He loses his job because the company is overproducing their products.

Everyone loses in this situation.

3. The Invasion of Abyssinia

February 15, 2010

The documentary

i. Benito Mussolini thought he was the heir to the ‘New

Roman Empire’.

ii. Haile Selassie was King of Abyssinia.

iii. By 1934, Mussolini had one of the most powerful armies in

Europe.

iv. Being defeated by Abyssinia in the past, Mussolini decided

to regain their pride.

v. To Mussolini: “War is to men, as maternity is to women.”

vi. Italy began by attacking Abyssinia. Starting with the city of

Wawa.

i. Abyssinia begged the League to punish Italy for their

actions, while Italy said they were provoked and they

should punish Abyssinia.

Timeline

June 28, 1919: The treaty of Versailles is Signed The Treaty of

Versailles ends World War One and imposes heavy reparations payments

on Germany.

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November 1920: The First Meeting of the League of Nations The

Assembly of the League of Nations meets for the first time in Geneva,

Switzerland. The US is notably absent, the Senate having voted against

joining the League in November 1919.

November 1921: The Washington Conference is Held The United

States convenes the Washington Conference, attended by Britain, France,

Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, China, Japan, and Portugal. The

Conference results in a naval armaments treaty that sets a ratio for

tonnage of capital ships (over 10,000 tons, with guns bigger than eight

inches) for Great Britain, the US, Japan, France, and Italy. The ratio agreed

upon, in that order, is 5:5:3:1.67:1.67.

October 30, 1922: Benito Mussolini is Made Italian Premier King

Victor Emmanuel declares Mussolini premier in an attempt to head off

violent conflict between the Fascists and the Communists.

November 9, 1923: The Beer Hall Putsch Adolf Hitler and General

Ludendorf, a World War One hero, lead a small contingent of followers in a

harmless, comical attempt at rebellion, for which Hitler is imprisoned for

two years.

January 21, 1924: Vladimir Lenin Dies Lenin's death leaves some

question as to who will be his successor. Joseph Stalin eventually beats

out Leon Trotsky to take control of the Soviet government.

May 11, 1924: The Cartel des Gauches wins the French Election

The Cartel displaces the ruling Bloc National, in a marked victory for the

left, but proves unable to govern effectively.

August 27, 1924: The German Chamber of Deputies Accepts the

Dawes Plan The Dawes Plan restructures the schedule of German

reparations payments so as to reduce the amount of annual payments,

and grants Germany a large loan.

December 1, 1925: The Locarno Pacts are Signed The Locarno Pacts

are signed in efforts to stabilize relations with Germany and its neighbors.

The pacts usher in a period of peace and prosperity.

1926: Joseph Pilsudski Becomes Virtual Dictator in Poland Pilsudski

maintains this position until his death in May 1935

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March 1926: The Samuel Commission in England Releases Its

Report on Coal Mining The Samuel Commission, under the

Conservative government, releases a report which advises wage cuts for

miners. The Triple Alliance responds by striking, which is emulated by

many other industries in England to protest he Conservative government's

policies.

April 14, 1931: The Spanish Monarchy is Overthrown and The

Republic Is Born A provisional government is established to take Spain

from monarchy to republicanism.

1932: General Gyula Gombos Comes to Power in Hungary Gombos

becomes prime minister, an office he uses like a dictatorship, setting the

tone for Hungarian government during the remaining inter-war years.

February - July 1932: The final League of Nations Disarmament

Conference is Held The last major League of Nations-sponsored

disarmament conference meets from February to July 1932 at Geneva,

with 60 nations in attendance, including the United States. However, this

conference, like it's predecessors, fails to secure any agreement, and

organized disarmament remains an unaccomplished goal.

1933 - 1934: 1,140,000 Communist Party Members are Expelled

by Stalin Stalin's Central Purge Commission, created in 1933, publicly

investigates and tries many party members for treason as Stalin seeks to

rid the party of oppositon.

January 30, 1933: Hitler is Appointed Chancellor of Germany In an

attempt to reel in the chaos of the German government, President Paul

von Hindenburg declares Hitler chancellor, the first major step in Hitler's

ascent to dictatorship.

March 23, 1933: The German Reichstag Passes the Enabling Act

The Enabling Act gives Hitler the power to issue decrees with the status of

law.

June 3, 1936: Leon Blum's Popular Front Government Comes to

Power in France The Popular Front, a leftist party, institutes social

legislation and allows wide public participation in the government, but

ultimately fails to curtail the depreciating economy.

July 17, 1936: The Spanish Nationalists Begin the Spanish Civil

War Generals Goded, Mola, and Francisco Franco lead troops in rebellion

against the republic, sparking the Spanish Civil War.

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April 25, 1937: Spanish Nationalists Bomb Guernica The small

northern town of Guernica is bombed, and civilians are gunned down as

they flee the scene. In this brutal massacre 1500 die and 800 are

wounded, but the military targets in the town remain intact.

September 18, 1938: The Munich Pact is Signed Britain and France

appease Hitler by signing the Munich Pact, which grants Hitler control of

the Czech Sudetenland.

March 30, 1939: The Spanish Civil War Ends Madrid falls to Francisco

Franco's forces, effectively ending the Spanish Civil War. Franco's

oppressive dictatorship begins.

September 3, 1939: Britain and France Declare War on Germany

In response to Hitler's continued aggression in Eastern Europe, Britain and

France go to war with Germany in an attempt to stop Hitler's bid for global

hegemony.

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Paper 1 Help 10/20/09 11:06 AM

Paper One on Stalin

Question 1 is always divided into 2 questions. Total of 5 points.

i. It needs to be kept brief and all I need to do is

paraphrase.

ii. 2-3 sentences max per question.

iii. Should get full score on this.

Question 2 is always a compare/contrast question on two or

sometimes, but rarely, three sources. Total of 6 points.

i. Lets say talking about Sources A and B. We don’t write it

like “Source A says (blank), while Source B says (blank)”. It

should be like “Source A and B both agree on…diagree

on…etc.”

OPVL: Origin, Purpose, Value, and Limitations. Total of 6 points.

i. Don’t interpret/analyze the context or sources! Separate

evaluations and must be written in paragraph source.

ii. Origin: What, when, where, and who

iii. Purpose: Why and to whom was the source intended for?

iv. Value and Limitation is sort of based on the origin and

purpose.

v. Value: is it useful for me as a historian.

vi. Limitation: Is it biased? What are the limitations of the

source.

Mini-Essay: Use sources & own knowledge. Total of 8 points.

i. Must use both sources and own-knowledge to get full

parks. If a person only uses the sources or only own-

knowledge, will get max 5 points.

ii. Should be written thematically and be written like an

essay. Intro-Body-Conclusion. Don’t summarize each

source in paragraphs.

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Homework 10/20/09 11:06 AM

Chapter 11 – The USSR Under Stalin: Industrialization

1. Do you think the businessmen listening to Stalin in Source A liked what he

was saying? Give reasons for your answers.

I think some businessmen listening to Stalin in Source A did not like what he was saying

while some did. The ones that did not like what he was saying was because this fast tempo is

already stressing them as it is. They need the tempo to go a little slower to make their work a

lot easier. While the ones who liked what he was saying did because they would enjoy a more

flourishing business.

2. Read Source B. What evidence is there in the extract to show that it is from an

official source? Does this mean that it is reliable?

The evidence that shows that this extract is taken from an official source is where it says that

it was from History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Bolsheviks) and most

importantly written during Stalin’s time. But, it is not reliable whatsoever because it is most

likely biased. Also, a Commission of the Central Committee edited it, which is a

governmental agency.

3. Read Sources C and D carefully.

a. How do these sources differ in explaining why some of the USSR’s

industries failed?

Source C, written by a British historian, blames the industry failing in the

USSR on the ‘Komsomol’. This was the League of Communist Youth and was

judged by this western historian to be inexperienced and inefficient with many

administrative problems. Thus placing young people in positions of high

authority and responsibility. While source D, an extract from the communist

party’s official history, claiming that the failure of the industries was due to a

large organization of wreckers – suspected of being bourgeois experts. These

‘wreckers’ aimed to restore capitalism in the USSR. Therefore Bolshevik

businessmen were to be thoroughly trained in the technique of production.

b. Which source do you think is likely to be the more reliable? Give reasons

for your choice.

25

Source C would definitely be the most reliable source because it was written

by a British historian while source D was written by pro-Bolshevik members.

Source D was also taken from the communist party’s official history.

2. Look at Sources E and J. What do they tell you about the reasons for the

poor efficiency of Soviet industry at the time?

Source E illustrates that the reasons for poor efficiency of Soviet industry at the time were

due to ‘slackers’ which in this campaign were portrayed as small, slim, and weak compared

to the efficient, hard-working workers. The campaign encourages workers to point out the

‘slackers’ in order to achieve a more productive work force. This could result in the

elimination of many hard-workers who fell out of favor by other laborers. Source J critically

analyses Stalin’s Five-Year Plans by judging Stalin as incompetent and adventurous, making

the process of industrialization much more difficult. Roy Medvedev claimed Stalin was the

cause for the poor efficiency of Soviet industry at the time further stating that the result

would have been far greater without Stalin.

3.

a. Using Source B to help you, explain why the government issued the poster

in source E.

With compliment to Source B, the poster in Source E encouraged a more efficient

work force by instilling fear within the common worker to achieve the goals stated

in Source B such as the increase of agricultural productions and well as

industrialization.

b. Do you think the poster would have helped to increase production?

As mentioned previously, the issuing of the poster instilled fear in the workers’

minds that consequently brought more efficiency and better results. Workers

would have to work harder and faster to ensure their job as well as their lives.

4. Study the figures in Source G.

a. Which industries achieved the target of the first Five-Year Plan?

Based on Source G, Oil was the only industry during the first Five-Year Plan

to have achieved its target.

26

b. Which industries achieved the target of the second Five-Year Plan?

Steel was the only industry during the second Five-Year Plan to have achieved

its target.

c. Which industry increased its production seven-fold from 1927 to 1937?

Electricity was the only industry to have increased its production seven-fold

from 1927 to 1937.

d. What does the information you now have tell you about the success or

failure of the Five-Year Plans?

First off, it must be stated that each industry doubled in a ten year span which

implies that on that note, Stalin was successful in managing to increase

production in five industries. However, it can be argued that he set unrealistic

goals and rarely achieved his target production, but nonetheless, drastically

improved the USSR’s production.

5. Read Sources H, I and J and decide, giving your reasons, which of the following

statements you agree with.

a. The results of the first Five-Year Plan were not as good as they could have

been.

b. The ordinary people of the USSR benefited more from the second than

the first Five-Year Plan.

Source H, describing the achievements of the first Five-Year Plan, claims that

the results have been met. This would prompt me to disagree with ‘Statement

A’. While Source J claims that the results would have been far greater without

Stalin thus prompting me to agree with ‘Statement A’.

Source H neglects the needs of ordinary people as it was focused on the

industrialization of the USSR while Source I agrees with statement be

claiming that the second Five-Year Plan focused on the provision of consumer

27

goods which implies better standards of living by providing cars and mediocre

footwear.

6. Read Source K

a. What reasons does the extract give for the patients being in the hospital?

The reasons the extract gives for the patients being in the hospital are due to

malnutrition, cold, and lack of hygiene. This is illustrated by the subject eating

a little black bread and egg soup, being in the ‘gangrenous’ department of the

hospital, and peasants with frozen limbs, and belies empty.

b. If you had been living in these conditions, how far do you think you would

have blamed Stalin’s policies for your situation?

To a great extent I would blame Stalin’s policies for my situation because it

was his policies that led to the abolition of bread-rationing and the re-

evaluation of the Rouble which led to the poor state I would be in.

7. Read Source L and explain the meaning of the following words: norm, boot-

licking and parasites.

a. What does each of these words tell you about life in a labor camp?

These words tell me that life in a labor camp was extremely difficult and the

people could not care less about the workers, or ‘parasites’; they just wanted

them to do the work.

b. What do they tell you about the attitude of the writer towards her

overseers?

The writer’s tone shows that she was not that scared anymore. She was almost

mocking them. She did not like the overseers one bit because they kept

showing them how to fell the tree using better footwear than they had etc.

8. Using all the extracts (a) make a list of all the advantages and achievements of the

Five-Year Plans and then (b) make a list of all the disadvantages and hardships. Do

you think rapid industrialization was worth all the suffering?

28

Sources Advantage

s

Disadvantage

s

Source A Need to

compete

with the rest

of the world.

None

Source B Specific

industries to

develop in

order to

excel in the

process of

industrializat

ion.

None

Source C None Laziness,

inexperience,

too much youth.

Source D None None

Source E Getting rid of

the Slackers

None

Source F None None

Source G Increase in

production

for 5

industries

None

Source H Developmen

t of the

highly

industrial

country

None

Source I Standard of

living

improved

None

Source J None Stalin’s

incompetence

and

adventurism.

29

Results would

have been far

greater without

Stalin

Source K None Famine, lack of

hygiene and

poor standards

of living.

Source L None Many

intellectuals

were falsely

accused of

plotting against

the

government.

The rapid industrialization helped the country flourish to become one of the most industrial

countries in the world, but it affected the people terribly. In the short run, I think the rapid

industrialization was not worth all the suffering but on the long run I think it was. Many died

of famine during these Five-Year Plans, but many more could have died in the future because

the country would have stayed undeveloped.

Jack Robert Seikaly

1439 Words

30

Single-Party Rulers 10/20/09 11:06 AM

Totalitarian State

Official ideology

Single mass party

Terroristic control led by the police

Monopolistic control over the media

Monopoly of arms

Central control of the economy

1. Benito Mussolini

February 19, 2010

Fascism: Mussolini’s personal definition

i. Anti-Pacifist

o Glorification of war

o “War is to men, what maternity is to women.”

ii. Individual duty towards the society

o Against suicide

iii. Anti-Marxist

iv. Pro-Heroic

v. Anti-Democratic

o NO 1 vote, 1 count. Some people are more valuable

than others and should count for more.

vi. Authoritarian

vii.(Limited) individual liberty

31

viii. Expansionism

ix. Nationalism

2. Adolf Hitler

March 12, 2010

Impact of WWI on Germany by 1918

i. Germany was virtually bankrupt

o War left 600,000 widows and 2 million children

without fathers – by 1925 the state was spending

about one-third of its budget in war pensions.

o Industrial production was about two-thirds of what it

had been in 1913.

o National income was about one-third of what it had

been in 1913.

ii. The war had deepened divisions in German society

o There were huge gaps between the living standards

of the rich and the poor.

o Many German workers were bitter at the restrictions

placed on their earnings during the war while the

factory owners made vast fortunes from the war.

o During the war women were called up to work in the

factories. Many people saw this as damaging to

traditional family values and society as a whole.

iii. Germany had a revolution and became an unstable

democratic republic

o Stresses of war led to a revolution in October-

November 1918.

o Many ex-soldiers and civilians despised the new

democratic leaders and came to believe that the

heroic leader Field Marshal Hindenburg had been

betrayed by weak politicians.

After WWI, Germany had to claim responsibility of starting the

war, pay enormous reparations, and were told to become more

democratic.

i. This was very embarrassing for the people as well as the

government of Germany.

32

On November 9, 1918, the Kaiser abdicated his throne and left

Germany.

i. The next day, Friedrich Ebert became the new leader of the

Republic of Germany. He immediately signed an armistice

with the Allies. He also gave the new Republic freedom of

speech, freedom of worship and better working conditions.

The people’s reaction of everything was skeptical.

i. They were pleased that the war was over but were also

anxious. They were not sure that an armistice would be the

end to all their troubles.

33

In January of 1919, Germany had their very first free elections.

Ebert won the majority and became president of the Weimar

Republic.

i. The Weimar Republic was the republic that was put into

place in Germany right after the First World War.

From the very start, Ebert faced violent opposition from both left-

wing and right-wing opponents. Nearly all of the Kaiser’s former

advisors remained in their positions in the army, judiciary, civil

service and industry.

i. The threat from the left

o One left-wing group was a communist party known as

Spartacus. They were very similar to Lenin’s

Bolshevik party.

They were very against Ebert’s plans for a

democratic Germany. They wanted a Germany

ruled by workers’ councils or soviets.

Early in 1919, they launched their bid for power

and set up soviets in many towns.

Ebert made an agreement with the

commanders of the army and Freikorps, anti-

communist ex-soldiers who form themselves

into vigilante groups, to put down the rebellion.

The Freikorps won and put down this

attempted communist revolution.

o Another communist attempted takeover was the one

in Bavaria-South of Germany.

Again, the Freikorps crushed this rebellion.

Around 600 communists were killed.

o In 1920, again another communist rebellion.

It was in the Ruhr industrial area and police,

army and Freikorps clashed with the

communists. There were 2000 casualties.

o All these disputes with the communists caused a

bitterness between Ebert and the Socialist party.

Although many Germans, when it came to this issue,

agreed with Ebert.

34

Ebert, along with many Germans, feared a

bloody communist takeover like what

happened in Russia.

o Despite these communist defeats, they still remained

a powerful anti-government force in Germany

throughout the 1920s.

ii. The threat from the right

o The right-wing opponents were largely people who

had grown up in the successful days of the Kaiser’s

Germany.

o They liked Germany having a strong army, wanted

Germany to expand its territory, and were proud of

Germany’s powerful industry.

o In March 1920, 5000 Freikorps were led into Berlin in

a rebellion known as the Kapp Putsh.

The army refused to fire at them.

Ebert’s government seemed doomed.

Although the country was saved by the

people, especially the industrial workers

of Berlin, who declared a strike which

brought the capital to a halt with no

transport, power or water.

Economic Disaster

i. The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to pay reparations

of 6600 million pounds. In 1921, they paid 50 million

pounds. In 1922, nothing.

o French got pissed and invaded the Ruhr and took

materials they thought they deserved so they could

sell them.

o The workers protested and the French killed over 100

and expelled 100,000.

o More importantly, this occupation caused the

collapse of the German currency.

ii. Hyperinflation

o Because they had no goods to trade, the German

government started printing money. This paid off

many of Germany’s war loans and paid off many

industrialists’ debts too.

35

o This set off a chain reaction because with so much

money in circulation, prices and wages rocketed. The

money became worthless.

The richer Germans, with savings, were the

most effected from this. The ones who could

buy a house in 1921, could barely buy a loaf of

bread in 1923. As if they had no savings.

The rising cost of a loaf of bread in Berlin

1918: 0.63 Marks

1922: 163 Marks

January 1923: 250 Marks

July 1923: 3465 Marks

September 1923: 1,512,000 Marks

November 1923: 201,000,000,000 Marks

iii. Economic Solution

o In August 1923, s new government under Gustav

Stresemann took over.

He called in worthless marks and burned them,

replacing them with a new currency called the

Rentenmark.

He renegotiated the reparations payments.

And he negotiated to receive American loans

under the Dawes plan.

o The hyperinflation had now ended but caused great

political damage to the Weimar government. They

had lost the support of the whole middle-class.

36

World War Two 10/20/09 11:06 AM

March 19, 2010

Causes

i. Systemic/Context

o Europe’s situation; balance/imbalance.

o Recovery of Germany likely post WWI.

o Nobody could stop the recovery of Germany

GB/France had been weakened by WWI

National cooperation had failed (LON)

Empires disintegrated into weak and unstable

successor states. (ex Austro-Hungarian Empire,

Ottoman Empire)

ii. Germany/Hitler

o Was Hitler a planner or an opportunist (gambler)?

Planner: Intentionalist, planned it step-by-

step.

Opportunist: Structuralist, used/toned by

domestic situation.

It is most likely a combination of the two.

Four Power Pact, July 1933 (GB, F, I, Germany)

i. Cooperation to preserve peace

ii. Acknowledged principle of ‘reasonable revision’ of the

peace treaties.

iii. This pact never materialized

o Germany left the Disarmament conference as well as

the LON

o Re-introduced conscription, March 1935

iv. Negative effects:

o Eastern European states were shocked

Sought alliances:

37

Franco-Soviet Pact, 1935

Polish German Non-Aggression Pact,

1934.

Events:

i. Saar Plebiscite, 1935

o Propaganda victory for Hitler

ii. Stresa Front, April 1935

o Italy, GB, France and Germany

o Oppose unilateral revision

o Deterrent to Hitler

iii. Abyssinia, Oct. 1935

o Stresa Front DISCRDETED

o LON

iv. Remilitarization of the Rhineland, March 1936

o Succeeded because:

France miscalculated

Hitler was bold and unpredictable

March 21, 2010

Movie on Hitler’s developments and moving towards the Second

World War

i. He was an amazing speaker and people loved him and

sometimes seemed to fall into his ‘spell’.

o People become hysterical when in the presence of

Hitler.

o Whoever had touched Hitler’s hands was perceived

as a saint in their village, town, etc.

o Videos of Hitler hugging children, petting dogs, and

chilling with friends were all at one point or another,

shown to the public.

Being an ‘ordinary’ person like everyone else.

38

ii. He revolutionized weaponry

o Tanks a lot more advanced than World War One

o Planes were better

o New German Navy was advanced

iii. In 1936, the Germans walked through the Rhineland and

re-militarized it.

iv. Hitler then marched into Austria in 1938, and made it a

province of Germany.

v. Then Hitler moved in and took over Czechoslovakia.

o All this with no resistance whatsoever.

Must put on timeline:

i. Spanish Civil War – 1936 to 1939

ii. Anti-Comintern Pact

o Comintern was the ‘Third International’ which was a

communist organization from 1919 to 1943.

iii. Anschluss

o The German annexation of Austria in 1938.

iv. Appeasement

o Sudetenland

o Munich Agreement – September 29, 1938

o Czechoslovakia

o Nazi-Soviet Pact

v. Hitler Invades Poland

39

Cold War 10/20/09 11:06 AM

Began in 1945 and ended in 1990.

Conferences in Tehran (1943), Yalta (1945), and Postdam (1945) show the

beginnings of the conflict between the United States of America and the

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Tehran Conference, 1943

i. State of War:

o The Allies had begun to win the War.

o The USSR was now pushing the Germans into retreat.

o The US and the UK invaded Italy and drove the

Germans out of North Africa.

ii. Germany:

o They were planning what to do with Germany once it

is defeated.

o It had to be an ‘unconditional surrender.’

iii. Poland:

o They discussed the shape pf Poland’s post-war

borders.

o Stalin wanted a lot of territory.

o They agreed that the USSR was to keep land seized

in 1939 and Poland would get land from Eastern

Germany.

o A puppet regime was needed to be set up in Poland.

iv. Eastern Europe:

o The USSR is to keep territory seized from ’39 to ’40.

v. Japan:

o The US and the UK wanted the USSR to join the war

against Japan in the Pacific.

vi. United Nations:

o The US, UK, and USSR agreed to create a successor

to the League of Nations.

o They learned from their mistakes with the LON.

Yalta Conference, February 1945

40

i. State of War:

o Germany was on the verge of being defeated.

o The USSR have driven Europe from Eastern Europe.

o The UK and US forced the Germans out of France.

o Japan are under heavy aerial bombardment from the

US.

ii. Germany:

o The Allies decided that Germany would be disarmed,

demilitarized, de-nazified, and divided.

o Germany would be divided into four zones occupied

by the USA, the USSR, the UK, and France.

o An ACC would run be set up to run the country

temporarily.

o Germany to be forced to pay $20 billion with 50% of

it going to the USSR>

iii. Poland:

o The borders of Poland were established.

o Stalin got what he wanted territorially.

iv. Eastern Europe:

o They would be able to decide who governed them.

This became a known deal between the USSR

and the UK, and US.

v. Japan:

o USSR agreed to join the war against Japan only if

they gain certain land from Germany.

vi. United Nations:

o The USSR decided to join the UN.

o They decided there should be five permanent

members with veto power.

Postdam Conference, July 1945

i. State of War:

o Germany had surrendered unconditionally.

41

o The war in the Pacific was still going on.

o The US had planned to use the Nuclear Bomb by this

point.

ii. Germany:

o Germany agreed to be disarmed, demilitarized, de-

nazified, and divided.

The allies decided how this was going to be

done.

iii. Poland:

o New US president challenged the Western Frontier.

o The Polish Government should be re-organized.

iv. Eastern Europe:

o Truman challenged the ‘Percentages Agreement’

which he thought gave Stalin too much power in the

area.

o It looked to the US that the USSR was planning a

communist takeover.

v. Japan:

o The Atomic Bomb was dropped and was successful.

o The US told the USSR not to join the war in the pacific

.

vi. United Nations:

o The UN was officially created.

o The Big Five became: USSR, UK, US, France and

China.

Origins of the Cold War

Orthodox View

i. USSR responsible

ii. Ideological explanation:

o Communist expansionism (“World Revolution”)

Late 60s/early 70s: Revisionist Views

42

i. USA caused the Cold War because their foreign

policy is dictated by economic/capitalist needs

o They need secure markets and free trade

Containment

ii. US refused to understand USSR’s need for security

Post-Revisionist view (1980s)

i. Action-Reaction

ii. Improvisation rather than plan of action

iii. Misunderstandings, misperceptions

Post Cold War:

i. Stalin’s role was crucial

ii. Persons important

Ideological Differences

USA

i. Limited government

ii. Multi-party politics

iii. Individual rights

iv. Free enterprise economy

v. Open society

vi. No tradition of left-wing politics in the US

USSR/Russia

i. Strong central state

ii. One-party government

iii. Command economy

43

iv. Closed society

Visions for Post-War World

USA/Roosevelt

i. Program for peace; UN

ii. No empires/spheres of influence

iii. Democracy to flourish in self-determined states

iv. Free trade economy; “Open Door” policy

o This led to the IMF and World Bank

USSR/Stalin

i. Security of the USSR; 1914 borders to be restored and belt

of friendly states to be created on the western border.

ii. Fear of Germany

iii. Less concerned about world peace and recovery of world

economy.

Wartime Cooperation

Lend-lease agreement between USA and USSR from November

1941 (before Pearl Harbor). 10 million tons of equipment

supplied to USSR

An alliance of necessity brought about by German and Japanese

aggression.

Americans adopted a more positive attitude towards the

Russians as a result of the war effort on the Eastern Front.

Timeline

1945

i. February 4: Yalta Conference.

ii. April 12: FDR dies.

iii. July 24: US President Harry S. Truman tells Stalin that the

US has nuclear weapons.

44

iv. August 2: Potsdam Conference

v. August 6: US drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima

vi. August 8: USSR invades Manchuria as well as a couple of

Japanese islands

vii.August 9: US drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki

viii. September 2: Japan surrenders unconditionally to the

US.

1946

i. February 22: George F. Kennan writes his long telegram.

ii. March 5: Winston Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech

1947

i. January 1: President Truman announces the Truman

Doctorine.

ii. June 5: George Marshall outlines the Marshall Plan

1948

i. February 26: Communist Party takes control of

Czechoslovakia.

ii. April 3: Marshall plan is put into effect.

iii. June 24: Stalin blockades all land routes from West

Germany to Berlin.

iv. June 28 to May 11, 1949: Berlin Blockade

1949

i. April 4: NATO is created

ii. August 29: USSR tests its first atomic bomb.

iii. October 7: The USSR declares their part of Germany as the

German Democratic Republic.

NATO

Was created in 1949

Stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization

45

It was a defense alliance

Communist countries retaliated by creating the Warsaw Pact six

years later in 1955

Nuclear Power

The USSR got the a-bomb in September 1949

Re-established the balance of power

China

It became communist in December 1949

Came under the rule of Mao Zedong

i. As a result of a civil war that was going on from 1946 to

1949

o Nationalist vs. communists

Since 1911, 1912, China had become in some type of turmoil

i. In 1937, the Japanese invaded Manchuria

ii. WWII: China vs. Japan

iii. Civil war ‘46-‘49

iv. Etc.

NSC-68: ‘Total Commitment’

It was a report of the U.S. National Security Council produced in

1950.

i. Seen as one of the key documents of the Cold War

It warned of how all communist activity everywhere could be

traced back to Moscow.

i. Now they could get as much public support as they wanted

against the communists.

ii. It encouraged military and economic aid to be given to any

country the US thinks is resisting communism.

46

Korean War

Background

i. Japanese victories weakening of Nationalist governments

of China and colonial governments in Asia

ii. Japanese defeat vacuum in areas Japan had invaded

iii. Unilateral US occupation of Japan; MacArthur in charge

(“one of the least consultative leaders in modern history”)

created a democratic Japan.

Korea

i. Jointly occupied by USSR and USA; border at the 38th

parallel

ii. 1945-1950; Korea a peripheral concern for both

superpowers – they maintained their zones only to restrain

each other.

iii. US and USSR troops withdrawn in 48/49

iv. Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam already a concern for US

supported the French colonial government

North v. South

i. North

o Kim II Sung; Russian trained communist

o Nationalist

o Claimed right to lead entire Korea

o Despised Syngman Rhee

o Led undemocratic communist government

ii. South

o Syngman Rhee; elderly rebel brought back from exile

o Nationalist

o Claimed right to lead entire Korea

o Despised Kim II Sung

o Led undemocratic anti-communist government

47

Cuba

In 1895, there was a war between Cuba and Spain because the

Cubans wanted independence.

In 1898, the USS Maine blew up and the U.S. blamed the Spanish.

This attack on American forces gave them enough reason and

public support to enter the war. They did so on the side of the

Cubans.

i. That same year, the U.S. won the war and had military

occupation of Cuba.

o The U.S. military withdrew when the Cuban

government signed the Platt Amendment.

By the 1950s

i. Economy

o Americans were still owning the fruit companies,

tobacco companies, and sugar companies. Their

economy was basically owned by the US.

ii. Political

o US influence/control (“puppet” president”)

iii. Social

o Lower class and farm-workers were pissed because

everything they work for (sugar, tobacco and fruit)

was going to the US.

o The middle class were angry too.

48

ALL TIMELINE 10/20/09 11:06 AM

1900:

“The Boxer Rebellion”. Rebellion against Western occupation and

Christians

1905:

Sun Yatsen’s formation of the Alliance League (forerunner of GMD) in

Japan

1911:

“The Double Tenth”. The spark of the Chinese revolution

On this day, troops in Wuhan province refused to obey an order

1912:

Fall of the Manchu Dynasty. Sun Yatsen then Yuan Shikai President

1914:

Start of WW1

Causes:

System of Alliances (why the war became a world war)/Imperial rivalry

Economic rivalry

War was seen as morally correct – the public was enthusiastic and

anticipating a war – acceptable tool of diplomacy

Fierce nationalism – independence movements (such as within the Austro-

Hungarian Empire)

49

Topic 4League of Nations

Topic 3MussoliniMao

Topic 1World War IWorld War IIChinese Revolution

Secret diplomacy – raised suspicion

Arms race (i.e.Germany wanted to become a naval power – this created a

threat to other empires)

Vigorous foreign policy of Germany

Practice/ Nature of warfare: Changed popular perceptions of warfare

Industrial Revolution:

Weapons could now be manufactured on a vast scale

Development of weaponry

Easy mobilization – as a result of a population that was largely

concentrated

Influence of nationalism

It stopped people from negotiating, and led to wanting complete victory

Elements of total war

Entire population became involved – conscription

Industry was geared towards war production

Women were used in industry – took over men’s jobs

Nobody was safe – everything is dispensable – all vulnerable to casualties,

especially with weapons that had the capability to kill citizens

Economic warfare

Destroying the enemy’s capacity to supply huge armies – i.e. blocking

ports

Use of propaganda

Development of mass media

Maintain enthusiasm for the war

Pressure those who did not support the war

Convince world opinion of the justness of one’s cause

Weaken enemy moral

Loss of individual freedom

50

Conscription

Gearing of industries

Censorship of press

Casualties were appallingly high

Fighting tended to be static

Trench warfare

Conditions were appalling

Effect of War:

Domestic Effects:

Changes in population structure:

Most of those killed were of ages 18-38.

Fall in the birth rate 1914-1918.

The ‘baby boom’ that followed the war meant huge demand for school

places.

Manpower shortage during 1930s.

Changes in society:

Social barriers undermined b/c of the emphasis on national unity during

the war years.

Status of women enhanced.

Increased role of Governments:

Increased intervention in areas of health and education.

Gov. had taken over areas of the private sector during the war; some of

these remained under Gov. control.

Belief in the need for economic self-sufficiency:

Normal trade was disrupted.

Countries had tried during the war to develop alternative home supplies.

Promoted the idea of autarky

51

Major changes in the internal economies of states: European powers

entered the war as creditor nations but ended the war as debtor nations.

International Effects:

Nationalism reached its highest point (i.e.: through treaties that took into

account the ‘right of self determination’ of Woodrow Wilson. (yet there

were many exceptions)

Spreading of democratic ideals: new states that emerged from war initially

dedicated to democracy (in practice not always the case)

Creation of the world’s first communist state (single most important

consequence?)

Economic life and world trade dislocated: prewar trading patterns had

changed during the war and were never restored.

Major post war programmes began with ‘re’: reconstruction, reparations,

repayment, recovery, restoration…indication of the desire to turn back the

clock rather than rebuild with new thinking and initiative.

Left a tangle of war debts and reparation payments: all the victorious

Allies (except US)heavily in debt countries like France did not take

active measures and waited for reparation to start flowing.

Shift away from Europe as the center of the world (this trend was evident

by the end of WWII)

Development in the area of international organizations: to prevent the

horrors of war (i.e.: League of Nations, ILO)

1917:

Turning point of WW1. Russia withdraws; US joins

1919:

January-Paris Peace Conference (Treaty of Versailles)

Benito Mussolini forms the Fascist movement in Milan Italy.

Characteristics:

Strongly nationalistic

Strongly/Violently anti-Communist

Anti-Liberal-democratic

Opposed to international org. Elitist and Authoritarian (‘Obedience not

discussion’ — Mussolini)

Close identity btw the party and the state

Strongly anti-Semitic

Glorified war (promoted Social Darwinism)

Profoundly racist

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Had a paramilitary wing (ie: Blackshirts / S.A.)

Promoted the myth of the race (use victories of the past)

Placed emphasis on the myth of the predestined leader

Made great use of symbolism (ie: swastika)

Did not have a clear doctrinal base

League of Nations formed (Woodrow Wilson)

Aims:

Deal with disputes among nations and encourage cooperation

Prevent war (learned lesson of WWI)

Protect the independence of countries and their borders

Encourage the reducing of armaments

Enforce Treaty of Versailles

Structure:

Secretariat

The staff of the League's secretariat was responsible for preparing the

agenda for the Council and Assembly and publishing reports of the

meetings and other routine matters, effectively acting as the civil service

for the League.

Too few secretariats slow and ineffective

Council

The League Council had the authority to deal with any matter affecting

world peace. The Council began with four permanent members (Great

Britain, France, Italy, Japan) and four non-permanent members elected by

the Assembly every three years. The first four non-permanent members

were Belgium, Brazil, Greece and Spain. China took the place of the

United States, which was originally to be the fifth permanent member,

after the United States Senate, dominated by the Republican Party since

the 1918 election, voted on March 19, 1920 against the ratification of the

Treaty of Versailles. Subsequently, the composition and the number of

members of the Council were changed as Germany was added as a

permanent member and the number of non-permanent members was

increased to nine for a total of fifteen members.

The Council met in ordinary sessions four times a year, and in

extraordinary sessions when required. In total, 107 public sessions were

held between 1920 and 1939.

Assembly

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Each member was represented and had one vote in the League Assembly.

Individual member states did not always have representatives in Geneva.

The Assembly held its sessions once a year in September and decisions

were made unanimously

Committees

Court of International Justice

Health Committee

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International Labour Organization

Refugee Committee

Mandates Commission

Slavery Commission

Successes:

Silesia 1921

Aaland Islands 1921

Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928

Failures:

Vilna 1920

Corfu 1923

Manchuria 1931

Abyssinia (Ethiopia) 1935

Disarmament

Britain objected to 1923

1932-1934 Hitler breaks meetings

Treaties:

Washington 1921

Dawes Plan 1924

The Geneva Protocol 1924

Overall Failures:

Membership

Not all the great powers were members of the League (U.S, Germany

1926, Russia 1934)

Organization

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Ineffective meetings and slow decision making

Sanctions

Britain and France did not strongly impose them never successful or

made a difference + last option of military force never imposed

The Treaty of Versailles

Terms were not satisfactory (i.e. complete disarmament of Germany)

Britain and France

Had their own interests in mind and, themselves, defied terms of the

League

The will to make it work

1919 post-war mood of idealism disappeared + mood changed by

Depression

Economic Depression

Caused all countries to focus on own economic suffering and interest

League was ignored

GMD formed by Sun Yatsen

May 4th Movement, series of anti-foreigner demonstration

1920:

Appeal of Fascism to Italy (1920-1922)

Fascism was not clearly developed in theory and could appeal to all

groups irrespective of status The emphasis upon law and order was

appealing (it was seen as an alternative to social unrest) People were

turning to other forms of Gov. due to immense economic problems.

Weak governments were easy preys for the fascists

The fear of communism led to support for the fascists who were violently

anti-Communist

Fascism gave its members a sense of identity

Fascism made great use of the potentials of the newly developed mass

media

Traditional parties lacked inspiration and the fascists:

Represented a dynamic alternative

Were not opposed by the Gov. which they sought to bring down

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Rise of Fascism (1920-1922)

Disgust in Italy at the terms of the peace treaties (didn’t obtain A.H.

territory)

The Fascists represented a means to stop the socialists and the

communists (in the eyes of conservative politicians, who sought to

moderate and control Fascism to their purposes)

Mussolini was backed by wealthy industrialists and landowners (b/c of

their fear of socialist reforms)

Support from Pope Pius XI and the Vatican (who saw the Fascists as an

opportunity to normalize State-Church relationships)

Lack of faith in Italy’s institutions (failures of WWI, post-war violence, high

U…)

After the March on Rome (October 22) the King offered the post of Prime

Minister to Mussolini

The violence of the Fascists (i.e.: blackshirts) intimidated opponents

The complicity of the police and the army (who didn’t suppress Fascist

violence)

League of Nations in business/action

Vilna border Dispute (Poles seized Vilna; League cannot persuade them to

leave)

(1920-1921)War between Russia and Poland(Poland invades land held by

Russians, Russians forced to sign treaty of Riga which doubled the size of

Poland; league didn’t help Russia because it was Communist; bias

decisions)

1921:

CCP is formed (Mao cofounder)

Aaland Island land disputes between Finland and Sweden (League gave

islands to Finland, Sweden accepted this verdict)

Upper Silesia border disputes between Germany and Poland (League

divided land between two countries and they agreed upon it)

1921 Washington Conference (US, France, Britain, Japan forced to limit

navies)

1922:

First united front between CCP and GMD to fight warlords

King hands over position of Prime Minister to Mussolini

1922-1924 Fascism in Italy is strengthened. Establishment of a

dictatorship:

Excluding Socialists from the coalition

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Continuing to attract members (weakening opponents at the same time)

Continuing violence against political opponents

The fact that the Vatican became increasingly pro-Fascist

The lack of unity amongst opponents

The Acerbo Law (July 1923) which stated that the party of coalition which

won an election was to be automatically awarded 2/3 of the seats in

parliament (this made strong Gov. possible) Winning the April 1924

election w/ 374 out of 535 seats in parliament

Use of electoral fraud in the south of Italy (to ensure Fascist victory)

League fails to stop war between Greece and Turkey between 1921-1922

but gives help to refugees

1923:

Acerbo Law winning party gets 2/3 of seats in government, therefore

strengthens government

Corfu Incident. During boundary disputes between Greece and Albania,

General Tellini murdered, so Italy occupied Corfu. The Conference of

Ambassadors overruled the League’s order to Mussolini to leave – forced

Greece to pay compensations to Italy.

1924:

Fascists win elections and Mussolini becomes dictator. A move toward

dictatorship:

December 25: a law passed complete power in Mussolini’s hands and

introduced several repressive measures:

Political parties were banned

Trade unions were banned

Free press was ended (through takeover by Fascists or censorship)

Elected local officials were replaced by officials appointed by the central

Gov.

Increased power of arrest and detention w/out trial

Scope of death penalty widened (to include action against the authorities)

Setting up a special court to deal w/ ‘political crimes’

Creation of a secret police force (OVRA)

These strengthened Mussolini and the State rather then the Fascists.

Mussolini disallows all non-fascist work unions.

Geneva Protocol claims that if 2 members in dispute they would have to

ask the League to sort out the disagreement and they would have to

accept the Council’s decision. Failure because Britain refused to sign it

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Dawes Plan USA lent money to Germany to avert the economic crisis, as

set by treaty of Versailles.

1925:

Mussolini dissolves Italian parliament/becomes dictator

Chiang Kaishek succeeds Sun Yatsen (1925-1949)

Locarno Treaties Germany accepts Western borders set by treaty of

Versailles

1926:

1st Northern Expedition

Germany became a member of the League

1927:

White Terror/Shanghai massacre

Chinese civil war

Red Army formed

1928:

Mussolini ends woman's rights in Italy

Jiangxi Soviet : Mao fully establishes teachings and power

2nd Northern expedition

Kellogg- Briand Pact signed by 65 nations agreeing not to use force to

settle disputes

Optimism- recovering relationships and economic recovery

1929:

The Great Depression/Wall Street Crash (1929-1939)

End of Locarno Honeymoon

France begins construction of Maginot Line (defense from Germany)

1931:

Japanese invasion of Manchuria

1930:

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Chiang Kai-shek organized five extermination campaigns against Jiangxi

Soviet (1930-1934)

1932:

World Disarmament Conference in Geneva (Hitler walks out because

members failed to agree on German rearmament)

1933:

Second World Disarmament Conference (leading to Hitler withdraws)

Hitler withdrew Germany from the League

Japanese withdrew from League

1934:

Mao led the Long March to flee Jiangxi Province to go to Yanan

Italian invasion of Ethiopia (1934-1935)

1935:

CCP set to work to educate peasants and their children

Britain makes secret deal with Germany about force of its navy. Break

terms of Versailles Treaty because done without consulting allies

Hoare-Laval Pact signed between Britain and France to appease Mussolini

in Ethiopia (2/3rds)

1936:

2nd United Front formed. CCP capture Chiang Kai-shek and force him to

agree to Front against Japanese invasion of China

Germany remilitarizes Rhineland (defies Treaty of Versailles)

Rome-Berlin Axis formed between Hitler and Mussolini

1937:

Open war between Japan and China (1937-1945)

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Italy leaves League of Nations + completes takeover of Ethiopia

1938:

Hitler annexes Austria

Munich Pact signed. Germany, Italy, France, and Britain give Sudetenland

in Czechoslovakia to Germany (high point of appeasement)

1939:

German-Italian alliance formed

Nazi-Soviet Pact singed

Start of World War II. Germany invades Poland (The Phony War)

Causes:

The Versailles Settlement:

It was an uneasy compromise.

Redrawn boundaries of Europe did not satisfy all.

Drew frontiers avoiding completely the minority problem.

The whole idea of the reparations ‘contained the seeds of future disputes’.

Isolation of both the USA and USSR:

US refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and join the League of

Nations.

USSR was treated like the defeated Central Powers (with the creation of

the Cordon Sanitaire)

Neither power had an interest in maintaining the peace settlement of

1919-20.

Nationalism:

New states determined by the concept of ‘self-determination of peoples’

(i.e.: Poland) proved aggressive and expansionary.

Reorganization of Europe did not produce more democratic states:

Dictatorships in Poland, Hungary, Rumania, Italy, Germany.

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Only Czechoslovakia established a stable democracy.

The World Depression:

Led to the rise of extremists to power. (i.e.: Rise of the Nazi party)

Led Gov. to focus on short-term nationalistic measures due to economic

depression (international co-operation suffered)

The belief that war was a legitimate means of implementing national

policy continued. (i.e.: Mussolini and Hitler were ‘Social Darwinists’. They

opposed org. like the League of Nations b/c of association w/ Versailles

and b/c they ‘protect the weak’.)

Weakness of the western democracies of Britain and France:

French and British failure to support the League of Nations

The appeasement policies.

Led other countries to see dictatorship as a stronger and more effective

from of government / to come to terms with the dictators in the hope of

securing neutral status.

Too much of the ‘old war order’ survived: a second war was needed to

complete the transfer of values of the 19th century to those of the 20th.

Practices:

Many more countries involved / combat spread around the globe (i.e.:

the Pacific theater…)

First mechanized war (tank as key land weapon) which meant that the

areas involved were much greater than in 1914-18

German forces (prepared for mechanized warfare) enjoyed great success

from 1939-41

Civilian casualties were very high (i.e.: through the use of heavy

bomber aircraft / the use of ‘terror bombing’ i.e. Dresden / use of atomic

bombs / or b/c of the forced labor in the areas occupied by the Axis

forces / racial policies of the Nazis )

Total War w/ civilian slave labor, mass deportations, execution of

hostages, extermination camps…

Great deal of activity by partisans or resistance movements. (i.e.:

French resistance, and Tito)

Use of aircraft (i.e.: German failure to gain control of British skies meant

failure to invade Britain / Massive bombing to destroy industry,

communications, and morale)

Characterized as an ideological conflict (Democracy vs. fascism / left vs.

right) the Axis powers were fascists but the distinction is less clear w/

Allies.

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THE FIRST AND ONLY NUCLEAR WAR

Effects:

Eclipse of Europe (control of world affairs moves to the USA and USSR

who emerged as superpowers)

International relations after the war come to be characterized by their

bipolarity.

Sweeping Social changes (Prof. Thomson: ‘Modern War is revolution’)

i.e.: right to vote to women, demands for social change (i.e.: through

election of Labor party)

Completed the work of WWI: final destruction of the ‘old order’ w/

abolition of monarchies and ending of the power of the traditional elite.

Gave great impetus to decolonialisation à both new superpowers

opposed to colonialism, major colonial powers exhausted by the war,

break up of the Myth of European superiority and invincibility.

Rapid spread of Communism: b/c of occupation of eastern and central

Europe by the USSR and communism had played a leading role in the

struggle against Nazism.

Rapid growth in regional and world organizations : attempt to create

a more co-operative world order (UN / EEC)

Boost for economic principles (through discrediting of fascism) à

meant a continuation of human right violations but that democracy was

not challenged in the way it had been in 1930s

War became condemned as morally wrong à attempts to limit the

use of warfare in international relations, conventions on use of certain

weapons (since 1945 no country actually declared war on another!)

Brought in the Nuclear Age with the changing of the ‘balance of power’

into the ‘balance of terror’.

Other less important effects:

Massive refugee problem (i.e.: Stalin expelled minorities)

Major Boundary Changes

Constitutional changes imposed by the Allies

War Crime Trials

1940:

Hitler lunched Blitzkrieg (lightning war) westward. Surrender of Dutch and

Belgium + fall of France.

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Battle of Britain. Hitler-Churchill. Hitler unable to establish superiority

stopped invasion

Mussolini joins Hitler in Germany's war and Italy declares war against

France & Britain

Mussolini struck British in Egypt + Greece, both ending in failure

(example of axis lack of coordination & setback for Hitler)

Mao published “On New Democracy”, broadening CCP appeal to landed

and business classes

“Three-thirds” system introduced by CCP (allowed locals in local

administrations)

1941:

Operation Barbarossa/ “The Great Patriotic War”. Hitler breaks Nazi-Soviet

Pact and invades Russia (Napoleon’s mistake) ended in great German loss

Russia joins war

German troops arrive in North Africa to aid Italians against British. Ends in

1943 with Axis defeat.

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Germany declares war on the U.S

U.S joins war

2nd United Front broken with Anhwei Incident. GMD attack of CCP.

Mao launches production drive to prevent starvation of CCP due to GMD

blockade and Japanese scorched earth policy. Succeeds in achieving self-

sufficiency.

1942:

U.S and Britain land in French North Africa

1943:

Desert battle won by Allies

Allied troops landed in Sicily, the Fascist Grand Council denounced

Mussolini’s actions, and the King dismissed Mussolini Mussolini was

then arrested + Italy surrendered

Cairo Conference: FDR, Churchill, Chiang Kai-shek pledge defeat of Japan

Tehran Conference: FDR, Churchill, Stalin agree on invasion plans

1944:

Paris liberated

1945:

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World War II ends

Yalta Agreement signed by FDR, Churchill, Stalin—establishes basis for

occupation of Germany, returns to Soviet Union lands taken by Germany

and Japan; USSR agrees to friendship pact with China

Mussolini hanged by pro-Allied Italians. Evaluating Fascism in Italy:

Failure in that it meant Italian involvement in WWII on Germany’s side,

loss of colonies, and Allied occupation.

The desire for empire was more of a burden than an advantage. (i.e.:

Ethiopia did not bring Italy any economic benefits)

The relationship w/ Germany meant that Italian interest were of secondary

importance, and post-1943 that Germany invaded Northern Italy, used

Italian workers as forced labor…

Fascism caused economic stagnation in Italy. A high lira damaged exports,

wages fell, and there was massive U. (partly b/c of the Great Depression)

Fascism brought little social reforms and sided w/ the employers against

the employees.

The reality of the Corporate State was that Fascists sided w/ employers

and this system did little to represent the interests of the workers. This

system was effectively only a disguise for exploitation of labor.

Fascist rule was corrupt, and much needed reforms were not carried out.

Propaganda was used to claim successes, but remained propaganda.

Successes included improvements in public transport, success in the

campaign against the Mafia…

The one major success was the ending of the conflict btw State and

Church. (the establishment of the Vatican as an independent state)

Hitler commits suicide

Berlin falls

Potsdam Conference—Truman, Churchill, Atlee (after July 28), Stalin

establish council of foreign ministers to prepare peace treaties; plan

German postwar government and reparations

A-bomb dropped on Hiroshima by U.S.

USSR declares war on Japan

Nagasaki hit by A-bomb

Japanese surrender from China

CCP implemented reforms in land they occupied. Success meant they

were welcome to any new area occupied

General Marshall sent to China to prevent civil war and discuss idea of

coalition government

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GMD refused and attacks Lin Biao’s troops Outbreak of civil war

1946:

CCP land policy oscillated (1946-1948). Land taken by landlords and rich

peasants

GMD troops suffered desertion and corruption weak

Marshall arranged another truce but civil war broke out again (1946-1949)

+ decided to stop further aid to GMD because of CCP complaints

GMD weaknesses:

Corruption in government

Inflation

Ruthlessness

Starvation and hardship

Weakness and corruption of army

CCP strengths:

Favorable treatment of Red Army (PLA in 1946)

Discipline of army

Establishment of self-sufficiency

Educational reforms

Low taxation in occupied areas

Local councils were elected to deal with local affairs

Red Army becomes known as the PLA (People’s Liberation Army)

1947:

PLA switches to open warfare against GMD successfully

1948:

GMD progressively loosing and positions desperate US Congress passed

Save China Act to financially aid GMD, however by the time it reached the

GMD it was too late

GMD had lost military conflict and battle of hearts and minds of the people

CCP land policy moderated because it was too harsh

1949:

Chiang Kai-shek resigns as president and surrendered to CCP and GMD

fled to Taiwan

Mao proclaimed the People’s Republic of China

Organic Law

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“On the People’s Democratic Dictatorship”

National Capitalism

Ideology

Peasant revolution

Mass Line

Rectification of revolution

Constant revolution

1950:

PLA continued occupation of unoccupied Chinese territories (i.e. Tibet)

Korean War broke out (first war of Cold War). China intervened on North

Korea’s side

Mao initiated social reform

* Land Reform Law

Marriage Reform Law

Campaigns against prostitution, gambling, and drug addiction

Sino-Soviet Treaty: Economic deal and treaty of friendship between Russia

and China

1951:

Inflation successfully tackled in China with introduction of new currency

The “three-antis” campaign

1952:

Economic policies succeeding in China. Industrial and agricultural

production increased greatly

CCP reliant on Soviet help in developing higher education (1952-1958)

The “five-antis” campaign

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1953:

End of Korean War. Created great national pride + proved how effective

Mao could mobilize troops and country

The First Five Year Plan (1953-1957)

1954:

1954 Constitutions introduced. CCP became the sole legal party of the

PRC + People’s National Congress was set up (laws made represented will

of the Party)

Party created huge networks of mass organizations (i.e. National Women’s

Association and the Youth League)

Agricultural Producers Co-operatives (APCs) were introduced under the

FYP

1957:

Hundred Flowers Campaign

1958:

The Great Leap Forward (1958-1960). Enormous economic failure

1960:

Abandonment of the Great Leap Forward. Responsibility given to Liu and

Deng

1961:

The power struggle (1961-1966). Lin Biao, Jiang, Qing, and the PLA all

played a role in restoring Mao to power post-Great Leap Forward

1962:

The Third Five Year Plan (1962-1966)

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1966:

The Cultural Revolution

Targeting the ‘Four Olds’

Old Thought

Old Habits

Old Culture

Old Customs

Victims were the ‘Five Categories’

Landlords

Rich peasants

Bad elements

Reactionaries

Rightists

1976:

Death of Mao

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