History Chapter 29: Between Two Fires

The League of Nations

• Failed due to lack of military support, rendering it ineffective in maintaining peace.
• The United States did not join, undermining the League's credibility and power.

Post-WWI Territorial Changes

• Germany, Austria-Hungary, and other nations fragmented following the war, leading to instability as other powers intervened.

The 1929 Stock Market Crash

• Caused by decreased inventory and merchandise value, prompting owners to sell shares, leading to financial panic.

Herbert Hoover's Administration

• U.S. President whose policies exacerbated the economic depression, failing to implement effective solutions.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Campaign

• Focused on alleviating the Great Depression, promising recovery and reform to restore the economy.

Impact of the Great Depression on Germany

• Contributed to Hitler's rise to power, alongside financial turmoil from U.S. banks pulling loans.

Key Dictators in Europe

• Adolf Hitler: German dictator known for his authoritarian regime and expansionist policies.
• Benito Mussolini: Italian Prime Minister and founder of Fascism, promising national restoration.
• Francisco Franco: Fascist leader in Spain who rose to power during the Spanish Civil War.

Fascism and National Socialism

• Fascism: A political ideology where the government exerts complete control over citizens.
• National Socialism (Nazism): An extreme form of government managed production and promoted racial superiority.

Anti-Semitism

• Prejudice against Jewish people, significantly promoted under Nazi Germany.

Mussolini’s Strategies for Gaining Support

• Used deception and false promises to rally popular support in Italy, including national restoration.

Italy's Aggression

• Mussolini invaded Ethiopia to expand Italian territories and showcase military strength.

Soviet Union Leadership

• Lenins's potential successors were Trotsky and Stalin, with Stalin ultimately taking over after Lenin's death.
• Trotsky was assassinated in Mexico, reflecting the violent political purges of the era.

The Great Purge

• A campaign initiated by Stalin to eliminate opposition within the Communist Party and the Soviet society through purges.

Japan's Shift to Imperialism

• Gradually rejected Western influence and adopted an isolationist stance, rallying against U.S. economic involvement.

Japanese Expansionism

• Invaded Manchuria and Korea driven by territorial ambition and resource acquisition.

Key Figures in Japan

• Hideki Tojo: Prime Minister of Japan who played a critical role during the militaristic expansion.

The Big Three

• Consisted of Franklin Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill, pivotal leaders during World War II.

Policy of Appeasement

• Strategy of conceding to aggressive powers to avoid conflict, often associated with pre-WWII diplomacy.

Blitzkrieg Tactics

• Military strategy known as "The Lightning War," emphasizing rapid and overwhelming force to achieve quick victories in warfare.