History

• The glossary history covers various terms and events from the early 20th century, focusing on political, economic, and cultural shifts

Transition to the Soviet Union

• The transition from the Russian Empire to the Soviet Union involved a radical transformation.
• This transformation was fueled by the 1917 Russian Revolution and subsequent civil war.
• Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks seized power, establishing a socialist state known as Soviet Russia (1917-1922).
• The Soviet Union was officially formed in 1922 and lasted until 1991.
• The new state involved the establishment of four socialist republics and further additions, controlled by the Communist Party.

Russian New Economic Policy (NEP)

• Vladimir Lenin introduced the New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1921, in response to economic devastation and social unrest.
• War Communism's harsh policies necessitated this change.
• The NEP was a temporary shift toward a more market-oriented economy to stabilize the Soviet Union and regain peasant support.
• The NEP allowed limited free market activity, including permitting peasants to sell surplus grain and allowing small private businesses.

Russia Changing Socially in the 1920s

• Russia experienced significant social transformation in the 1920s under the Bolsheviks and Vladimir Lenin.
• Socialist policies were implemented, leading to the establishment of the Soviet Union.
• The monarchy was abolished, a new class structure emerged, and the New Economic Policy (NEP) was implemented with market-oriented reforms alongside socialist principles.

Urban vs Rural Divide - Cultural Changes

• During the 1920s, urban areas saw modernization and rapid growth.
• Rural areas were slower to adopt new technologies and lifestyles.

Harlem Renaissance - Cultural Changes

• The Harlem Renaissance was a vibrant cultural and artistic movement among African Americans.
• It was centered in Harlem, New York, from the 1920s to the mid-1930s.
• It marked the flourishing of literature, music, art, and theater, celebrating Black identity and culture.

Sports -Cultural Changes

• Sports became a major part of American culture during the 1920s.
• Popular sports included baseball, basketball, and boxing.
• The rise of sports was fueled by the growth of radio, allowing fans to listen to games.

Flapper Culture- Cultural Changes

• The political and economical changes in the 1920s resulted in a generational gap between young and older women.
• Young women wearing short skirts, smoking, and drinking, provoked older women.
• This fashion was called "flappers," where they redefined gender relations.

Jazz Age-Cultural Changes

• The Jazz Age refers to the transformative 1920s and the new musical movement combining African and European music.
• Jazz Music represented a major shift in societal norms and a racial breakthrough.
• African American performers became in demand at white music clubs.

Isolationism

• Isolationism is a policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially foreign countries.

Welfare Capitalism

• Welfare capitalism is a capitalist economic system that includes social welfare policies.
• It can also refer to businesses providing welfare services to their employees.

Collectivism

• Collectivism is a political theory associated with communism.
• It prioritizes the good of society over the welfare of the individual.

Capitalism

• Capitalism is an economic system where private individuals and businesses own property and the means of production.
• A primary goal of capitalism is to make a profit.

Liberalism

• Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual.
• Key tenets include liberty, consent of the governed, political equality, the right to private property, and equality before the law.

Individualism

• Individualism emphasizes that a person should act on their own uniqueness and fulfill their personal desires.
• It encompasses psychological, political, and philosophical ideas.

Tariffs

• A tariff is a tax on the import or export of goods between countries.
• Tariffs regulate foreign trade and protect domestic industries by taxing foreign products.

Ideology

• Ideology is a set of beliefs or principles that shape political, economic, and social policies.
• During the interwar period, fascism in Germany, communism in the Soviet Union, and democracy in America influenced global conflicts and alliances.

Nationalism

• Nationalism is a strong sense of pride and loyalty to one's nation.
• In Germany, extreme nationalism led to aggression and territorial expansion under Hitler.
• In America, nationalism led to isolationist policies to avoid foreign wars.

Anti-Semitism

• Anti-Semitism refers to prejudice and hostility toward Jewish people.
• In Germany, the Nazi regime used anti-Semitic propaganda to blame Jews for economic struggles.
• In America, anti-Semitic attitudes existed but were less extreme.

Totalitarianism

• Totalitarianism is a political system where the government has total control over all aspects of life.
• Hitler's Nazi regime in Germany and Stalin's Soviet Union demonstrated totalitarian rule.
• America worked to preserve democratic freedoms, contrasting with totalitarian regimes.

Communism

• Communism is an ideology advocating for a classless society where property is publicly owned.
• Fear of communism, known as the "Red Scare," spread in America.
• Germany viewed communists as political enemies and used this fear to justify Nazi policies.

Imperialism

• Imperialism is the expansion of a country's power through territorial or economic control.
• Germany sought to expand its empire under Hitler.
• America resisted imperialist conflicts but had global economic influence.

Fascism

• Fascism is an authoritarian system where the state is prioritized over individual rights.
• Nazi Germany was the epitome of fascism.
• America opposed its spread, especially during World War II.

Inflation

• Inflation occurs when prices rise and money loses value.
• Post-World War I Germany experienced hyperinflation, devastating its economy.
• America faced rising inflation during the Great Depression.

The Depression (historical event)

• The Great Depression was a global economic collapse that began in 1929, causing mass unemployment and poverty.
• In Germany, it fueled support for Hitler.
• President Roosevelt's New Deal aimed to restore the economy in America.

Propaganda

• Propaganda uses biased or misleading information to influence public opinion.
• The Nazis used propaganda to promote their ideology and anti-Semitism.
• America used propaganda later to unite citizens against fascism.

Appeasement

• Appeasement is the policy of giving in to aggressive demands to avoid conflict.
• Britain and France appeased Hitler by allowing Germany to expand.
• America initially stayed neutral before recognizing the failure of appeasement.

Treaty of Versailles

• The Treaty of Versailles ended World War I, imposing harsh penalties on Germany.
• It created economic hardship and resentment, contributing to the rise of Nazism.
• America rejected it to avoid entangling alliances.