GLOSSARY

2 CONCEPTS

Stock Market- The market in which shares are issued and traded either through exchanges or over-the-counter markets. Also known as the equity market, it is one of the most vital areas of a market economy as it provides companies with access to capital and investors with a slice of ownership in the company and the potential of gains based on the company's future performance.

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stockmarket.asp#ixzz1vG9Wth5v

Fascism- A totalitarian philosophy of government that glorifies the state and nation and assigns to the state control over every aspect of national life. The name was first used by the party started by Benito Mussolini , who ruled Italy from 1922 until the Italian defeat in World War II. However, it has also been applied to similar ideologies in other countries, e.g., to National Socialism in Germany and to the regime of Francisco Franco in Spain.

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Fascism/Fascism_def_char_hx.html

Depression- severe downturn in the economy of a country that lasts for a year or more. GDP is a good indicator of whether we are in recession or depression. If the decline in GDP is greater than 10%, an economy is said to be going through depression. Besides reduction in GDP, an economic depression is characterized by increase in unemployment rates and decrease in the flow of money into the economy. Businesses find it exceedingly difficult to earn profits. As a result they reduce their staff that leads to unemployment. An overall crisis in industry and commerce is felt and defaults in loan repayment and bankruptcies commonly occur during an economic depression.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/economic-recession-and-depression-definition-and-difference.html

Inflation- Upward movement in the average level of prices. Its opposite to deflation. Inflation is caused by the amount of dollars rising relative to the amount of oranges (goods and services).

http://economics.about.com/od/helpforeconomicsstudents/f/inflation.htm         

Communism- Economic and social system in which all (or nearly all) property and resources are collectively owned by a classless society and not by individual citizens

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/communism.html#ixzz1vGB7QMcZ       

GLOSSARY

HISTORICAL CHARACTERS:

Wordrow Wilson- Was born on 28, December, in Staunton, Virginia.  28th president of the United States from the year 1913 to 1921. He was also the leader of the Progressive Movement.

Gustav Stressemann- German politician. He was a co-laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize in the year 1926. He reconciliated Germany and France.

Lloyd George- Prime minister of the United Kingdom between the years 1916-1922

Clemenceau- From France, Prime Minister between years 1906 and 1909.

Paul Von Hindenburg-  Prussian-German politician and statesman. Served as the second President of Germany.

Franklin Roosevelt- 32nd President of the United States.

Adolf Hitler- German politician and also the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Partie.

Benito Mussolini-  Italian politician who permits the National Fascist Partie. Ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943. Is one of the key figures of the creation of fascism.

Joseph Stalin- Russian, Primer of the Soviet Union. He reached the power after the dead of Lennin.

Winston Churchill-  British politician. He is known thanks to his leadership with the United Kingdom in the WWII.

Dwight Eisenhower- 34th President of the United States from 1953 to 1961

Harry Truman- 33th President of the Unites States, the only one that fought on the WW1.

5) THE SECOND WORLD WAR

5.4 AFTERMATH

United States-  was involved in WW II as a major military power and more or less in every military campaign since the WW II, almost always coming out as the winner. The United States, once in a great power, now is in a great trouble.

Today, major economic concerns in the US include national debt, external debt, entitlement liabilities for retiring baby boomers who have already begun withdrawing from their Social Security accounts, corporate debt, mortgage debt, a low savings rate, falling house prices, a falling currency, and a large current account deficit.

Russia- Soviet Union, an Allies member, was also involved in many military conflicts including War World II and the Korean War. Russia faced serious financial problems and stagnation; with the Cold War coming to a close in the late 1980s and the early 1990s.

Japan- Attacked the United States naval base in Pearl Harbor and declared war on the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. This act brought the United States into World War II. After the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, along with the Soviet Union joining the war against it, Japan agreed to an unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945. The war cost Japan millions of lives and left much of the country's industry and infrastructure destroyed.

Germany- Was a major European power from the 1930s to the mid-1940s. Its historical significance lies mainly in its responsibility for escalating political tensions in Europe by its expansionist foreign policy which resulted in World War II. The state came to an end in 1945, after the Allied Powers succeeded in seizing German occupied territories in Europe and in occupying Germany itself. Germany like some other European countries was seriously destroyed during the WW II.

Today, Germany is the largest national economy in Europe, the third largest bynominal GDP in the world.

Information from:

http://www.worldwariihistory.info/WWII/aftermath.html

http://www.topix.com/forum/world/russia/TF35OV1JAJD25O1V0

5) THE SECOND WORLD WAR

5.3 THE VICTORY OF THE ALLIES (1943-1945)

The long-range fighter, introduced from late 1943, made bombing more secure, and provided the instrument to destroy the German fighter force over the Reich.

City raids from May 1945 destroyed a vast area of urban Japan and paved the way for a surrender, completed with the dropping of the two atomic bombs in August 1945. Here, too, the American government and public was keen to avoid further heavy casualties.

There are many other factors that explain victory and defeat.

"...no misjudgements were more costly in the end than the German belief that the Red Army was a primitive force.."

This still leaves open the question of German miscalculation. There were weaknesses and strengths in Hitler's strategy, but no misjudgements were more costly in the end than the German belief that the Red Army was a primitive force, incapable of prolonged resistance, or Hitler's insistence that the USA would take years to rearm and could never field an effective army, or the failure to recognise that bombing was a threat worth taking seriously before it was too late.

Information from:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/how_the_allies_won_01.shtml

5) THE SECOND WORLD WAR

5.2 THE WIND THAT SHAKE EUROPE IN 1939, THE FIRST CAMPAIGNS (1939-1943)

On January Hitler threatens Jews during Reichstag , in March he take Czechoslovakia and the Spanish Civil war ends. Then in May Nazis sign the Pact of Steel with Italy, later they also make an alliance/pact with Soviets. Britain and Poland sign a mutual treaty, in the same month of august British fleet mobilizes making civil evacuations from London.

On September occurred the majority of acts such as the invasion of Poland (by Germany) and the declaration of war from Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand on Germany, the British Royal Air attack the German Navy, the proclamation of neutrality of United States, Canada declares war on Germany and the starting of the Atlantic battle. Soviet army invades Poland again and divide it between Nazis and Soviets.

The start of euthanasia on sick and disabled in Germany by Nazis, assassination on Hitler failed and finally on December 14 the expulsion of Soviet Union from the League of Nations.

Polish Campaign 1939:

Our eyes move wearily from scene to scene and the further we march, words become less frequent [...] It is a tragic contrast. The birdsong doesn't capture the face of this world. The reality is bloody traces of the battle which has passed

Werner Flack, Poland, September 1939

Poland was attacked by Germany on September 1st 1939. The German attack was code-named Operation White (Fall Weiss). The attack on Poland started and by the end of the month Poland had surrendered to the Germans and the country was occupied.

The difference in power was overwhelming,

While Germany had 11 tank divisions, 40 infantry divisions, 4 motorised divisions and one cavalry brigade. Poland only had 1 tank division 30 infantry divisions, no motorised divisions and 11 cavalry brigade.

In terms of air power, the Germans had 850 bombers and dive-bombers (the JU-87) and 400 fighters. The Polish Air Force numbered 210 bombers and 150 fighters – though many of these were obsolete and clearly no match for the modern Luftwaffe that destroyed the Polish Air Force within two days of the first attack.

Information from:

http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/ww2time.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/attack_on_poland.htm

5) THE SECOND WORLD WAR

5.1 ORIGINS OF THE CONFLICT AND PRECEDENTS. ITALIAN INVASION OF ETHIOPIA. THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR AND THE MUNICH AGREEMENTS.

WW2 began in September 1939 when Britain and France declared war on Germany following Germany's invasion of Poland.Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in January 1933. Almost immediately he began secretly building up Germany's army and weapons. In 1934 he increased the size of the army, began building warships and created a German airforce. Compulsory military service was also introduced.

Although Britain and France were aware of Hitler's actions, they were also concerned about the rise of Communism and believed that a stronger Germany might help to prevent the spread of Communism to the West.

In 1936 Hitler ordered German troops to enter the Rhineland. At this point the German army was not very strong and could have been easily defeated. Yet neither France nor Britain was prepared to start another war.

Also in 1936, Hitler argued that France had signed a new treaty with Russia, Germany was under threat from both countries and it was essential to German security that troops were stationed in the Rhineland. France was not strong enough to fight Germany without British help and Britain was not prepared to go to war at this point. Furthermore, many believed that since the Rhineland was a part of Germany it was reasonable that German troops should be stationed there.

The League of Nations was an international organisation set up in 1919 to help keep world peace. It was intended that all countries would be members of the League and that if there were disputes between countries they could be settled by negotiation rather than by force. If this failed then countries would stop trading with the aggressive country and if that failed then countries would use their armies to fight.

In theory the League of Nations was a good idea and did have some early successes. But it failed

The Italian invasion of Ethiopia was initiated in the month of October 1935. It was a brief colonial war that is also remembered in history as the second Italo-Abyssinian war.

In the context of political history this colonial war is remembered for exposing the weak bond on which the League of Nations was found. It was quite clear following this event that the League of Nations was a total failure in terms of accomplishing the objectives for which it was established. This is because both Italy as well as Ethiopia were members of the League of Nations

The fact that Mussolini wanted to rebuild an Italian Empire reminiscent of the glorious Roman Empire of the past was no secret by this point in time. In order to do this Italy would have to take over the Mediterranean and the North African regions. This was one of the primary objectives of invading Ethiopia.

In 1920, Spain was a constitutional monarchy. The king was Alfonso XIII.

However, the government was inefficient and corrupt. In 1921, an army was sent to Spanish Morocco to put down a rebellion. It was massacred but this defeat seemed to emphasise just how corrupt and incompetent Spain’s leadership was.

The little industry that Spain had was also hit by the Depression. Iron and steel were especially hit as no-one had the money to pay for the products. Iron production fell by 33% and steel by 50%.
Unemployment in both agriculture and industry rose and those in work had to put up with a cut in wages as the economy struggled to survive the Depression.
The Republic faced losing the support of those whose support it desperately needed – the working class.Two important regions in Spain wanted independence – Catalonia and the Basque region. Had their requests been successful, it would have lead to the break-up of Spain.

The Munich Agreement was the agreement signed on 29 Sept 1938 between Chamberlain, Daladier ( France ), Hitler and Mussolini ( Italy ).

As a result of the agreement, German forces crossed the border on October 1 and were warmly received by the Sudeten, Germans while many Czechoslovaks fled the region.

In London, Chamberlain proclaimed that he had secured "Peace for our time". While many in the British government were pleased with the result others were not.

Images from:

http://historiatorrealmenara.blogspot.com.es/2012/01/democracias-y-totalitarismos-1918-1939.html

http://wa8.wikispaces.com/League+of+Nations

http://www.100pies.net/Gifs/Armas/Guerra.asp?Page=2

Information from:

http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW2/causes.htm

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/italy/Italy-Invades-Ethiopia/3626

http://www.johndclare.net/RoadtoWWII5_Munich_Agreement.htm

http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/worldwarii/p/World-War-Ii-Munich-Agreement.htm

4) THE RISE OF THE TOTALITARISM

4.2 NAZISM

Hitler admired the British Empire as a shining example of Nordic genius. Racist theories were developed by British intellectuals in the 19th century to control the Indian people and other "savages." These methods were often copied by the Nazis.

According to Mein Kampf (My Struggle), Hitler developed his political theories after carefully observing the policies of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was born as a citizen of the Empire, and believed that ethnic and linguistic diversity had weakened it. Further, he saw democracy as a destabilizing force, because it placed power in the hands of ethnic minorities, who he claimed had incentives to further "weaken and destabilize" the Empire.

Hitler's Nazi theory also claimed that the Aryan race is a master race, superior to all other races, that a nation is the highest creation of a race, and great nations (literally large nations) were the creation of great races. These nations developed cultures that naturally grew from races with "natural good health, and aggressive, intelligent, courageous traits." The weakest nations, Hitler said they were impure because of being from different cultures. Worst of all were seen to be Subhumans (Hitler called them like that), they were mainly Jews, but also Gypsies, homosexuals, disabled and so called anti-socials.

This is one film based on nazism, there are a lot such as Cabaret, Germany Year Zero,The White House, Anne Frank's Diary, The Train of Life, The Pianist, Amen, The last train to Auschwitz etc...

Life is Beautiful trailer

Video from:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16RZHqCIy9M

Information from:

http://www.nazism.net/about/nazi_ideology/

http://www.nazism.net/about/adolf_hitler/

http://www.nazism.net/about/ideological_theory/

4) THE RISE OF THE TOTALITARISM

4.1 THE ITALIAN FASCISM

Italian fascism was the first application of what would become a generic ideology encompassing, or allegedly encompassing, movements of the political right in every nation.  It was essentially non-racist, yet in Italy it preached the gospel of the coming Italian race of "overmen."

Italian fascism is separated in different principal phases:

The fist stage is when Mussolini came to power after the 1922 March on Rome he found himself in charge of the state but without a guiding and inspirational system of thought. The first phase lasted until the first fascist state was founded in 1925.

In this second period of fascism, the Italian electorate still played a major role. The 400 candidates for the legislature had to be approved by the voters. The workers played a larger role in the selection of their representatives and the people at large had some role in the nomination of the 400 candidates for the legislature.

In the third phase of fascism, Mussolini had come under the spell of Adolf Hitler and his national socialist state. He was increasingly influenced by the anti-Semitic wing of the fascist party led by Farinacci and Preziosi. The contrast with Nazism is obvious. Only with satisfactory materials could a nation be built, according to Nazi ideology. Inferior races could never be forged into anything worthwhile, no matter how great the effort.

Declaration of war of Benito Mussolini.

The war had not been going as well as for Italy as Mussolini had hoped, and the nation was suffering economically. People were casting about for targets of blame, and in February 1918, Mussolini joined those who spoke with disgust about parliamentary squabbling. Mussolini described parliamentary democracy as "effete."  Italy, he claimed, should set things right by making a clean sweep. Italy, he said, needed a dictator. And in advocating soldierly patriotism and Italian nationalism, he attacked what he called the "sickly internationalism" of Lenin and Wilson.

Video from:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYp_vN84p_U

Information from:

http://www.ihr.org/jhr/v04/v04p--5_Whisker.html

http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch12muss3.htm

3) THE BLOOMING TWENTIES AND THE FINANCIAL CRAK

3.3 THE GREAT DEPRESSION:

The Great Depression was a worldwide economic crisis that marked by widespread unemployment,  in industrial production and construction, and an 89% decline in stock prices. It was preceded by the so-called New Era, a time of low unemployment when general prosperity masked vast disparities in income.

The start of the Depression is pegged to the stock market crash of “Black Tuesday,” Oct. 29, 1929.

Over the next several years, consumer spending and investment dropped, causing steep declines in industrial output and rising levels of unemployment as failing companies laid off workers. By 1933, when the Great Depression reached its nadir, some 13 to 15 million Americans were unemployed and nearly half of the country's banks had failed.

3.3.1 The "New Deal"

The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA), accepted the long-held premise that low farm prices resulted from overproduction.

The 1933 National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) set up the New Deal's fundamental strategy of centralized planning as a means of combating the Depression.  Industrial sectors were encouraged to avoid "cutthroat competition" (selling below cost to attract dwindling customers and drive weaker competitors out of business).

The "First" New Deal's Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) reflected the future liberal methods of the "Second" New Deal.  The TVA (1933) provided millions of dollars to transform the economies of seven depressed, rural Southern states along the Tennessee River.  The program included dam-building, electric power-generation, flood and erosion control.   It provided relatively high-wage jobs in construction in a region the president called "the nation's number one economic problem."

The "second" New Deal attempted to end the Depression by spending at the bottom of the economy where government funds attempted to turn non-consumers into consumers again.  Many of the programs lasted only until World War II.

The works they created consisted of mainly of construction of public roads, buildings and parks. Over the course of this program (1935-43) over eight million Americans worked on WPA projects. 

There are a lot of consequences of the Depression and the New Deal such as the rise of the "Roosevelt Coalition" of farmers, union members, working class people, blacks and liberals made the Democratic Party the nation's dominant party for almost sixty years.  Also, the political consensus that developed after World War II held that never again the government should allow another depression.

3.3.2 Europe and the Big Depression

In Europe, the Great Depression strengthened extremist forces and lowered the prestige of liberal democracy. 

In Germany, economic distress directly contributed to Adolf Hitler's rise to power in 1933. The Nazis' public-works projects and their rapid expansion of munitions production ended the Depression there by 1936

Here we can see some graphics between crisis in 1930s and 2007.

Images from:

http://truth-out.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=6704:in-europe-great-depression-was-bad-this-is-worse
Information from:

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/g/great_depression_1930s/index.html

http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression

http://iws.collin.edu/kwilkison/Online1302home/20th%20Century/DepressionNewDeal.html

http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/p/greatdepression.htm

http://truth-out.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=6704:in-europe-great-depression-was-bad-this-is-worse

3) THE BLOOMING TWENTIES AND THE FINANCIAL CRAK

3.2 THE ORIGINS OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AND THE "BLACK THURSDAY", 24TH OCTOBER 1929:

On October 24, 1929, later to be known as Black Thursday, the stock market began its downhill drop. After the first hour, the prices had gone down at an amazing speed. Some people thought that after that day, the prices would rise again just as it had done before. But it didn’t. Prices kept dropping, and on October 29, 1929, Black Tuesday, more than 16 million shares were sold, but by the end of the day, most stocks ended below their previous value, and some stocks became totally worthless. Because of that, some people became homeless and penniless, all because of the Stock Market Crash.

 The stock market boom changed the way investors viewed the stock market. No longer was the stock market for long-term investment. Rather, in 1928, the stock market had become a place where everyday people truly believed that they could become rich.

On Black Thursday, 24.10.1929, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)© Index lost 2.09% accompanied by a record trading volume of 12.90 Mio. shares at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)©.

Photos from:

http://www.sniper.at/stock-market-crash-1929.htm

Information from:

http://www.livemint.com/2008/10/23230558/Black-Thursday-24-Oct-1929.html

http://www.sniper.at/stock-market-crash-1929.htm

http://history1900s.about.com/od/1920s/a/stockcrash1929.htm

3) THE BLOOMING TWENTIES AND THE FINANCIAL CRAK

3.1 1920's DECADE:

The decade of the 1920s featured economic prosperity and carefree living for many. The decade began with a roar and ended with a crash.  

“It was the best of times, and sometimes it was the worst of times.”

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

The 1920s was a decade of change, when many Americans owned cars, radios, and

telephones for the first time. The cars brought the need for good roads. The radio brought

the world closer to home. The telephone connected families and friends. Prosperity was

on the rise in cities and towns, and social change flavored the air. 

The 1920’s was the decade of entertainment. Rin-Tin-Tin, the movie dog, used to be a starving German Shepherd dog during the Great War. He  became most famous dog ever to star in the movies in 1923.

1920 - November 2: First Radio broadcast; President Warren Harding elected; women get their first vote
1921 - September 8: First Miss America pageant held in Atlantic City; November 11: Unknown soldier of World War I buried
1922 - November 26: Archaeologist Howard Carter finds tomb of Tutankhamen near Luxor, Egypt
1923 - August 2: President Harding dies; August 3: Vice President Calvin Coolidge is sworn into office as president
1924 - February 3: Former President Woodrow Wilson dies; November 4: Calvin Coolidge is elected President
1925 - October 2: Scottish inventor John Baird invents the first form of a television
1927 - First talking movie, The Jazz Singer released; May 20: Spirit of St. Louis and pilot Charles Lindbergh land in Paris
1928 - September 19: First Mickey Mouse talking film, Steamboat Willie, released by Walt Disney; November 6: Herbert Hoover elected President
1929 - October 24: Start of the Stock Market Crash  

Information from:

http://www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/collateral/articles/s04.1920s.decade.change.pdf

http://www.kidsnewsroom.org/elmer/infoCentral/frameset/decade/1920.htm

2) THE POST-WAR PERIODE

2.3 LOCARNO AGREEMENTS

The Locarno Treaties were meant to improve this tense post-war situation by reaching compromises in order to help prevent future wars.
France and Germany wanted more security from each other. Through the Locarno treaties they were able to achieve this by setting Germany's Western border. They promised that they would use diplomatic measures in order to sort out their problems. In addition, the other countries would come without delay to the aid of the attacked country should this agreement ever be broken.
The treaties gave way to a sense of global goodwill, known as the "spirit of Locarno". They also helped straighten the way for Germany's admission into the League of Nations the next year. Finally, Germany was being treated as a friendly nation by its enemies. 


Locarno agreement writing:
http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/treaties/en/classification/locarno/pdf/trtdocs_wo014.pdf


Information from:
http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/World/Locarno.html
http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/treaties/en/classification/locarno/pdf/trtdocs_wo014.pdf

2) THE POST WAR PERIODE

2.2 DEMOCRACY IN PERIL:

2.2.1 Italy:

Italy was also unsatisfied with the Treaty of Versailles. 
That lack of satisfaction was increased by economic problems arising, with the result of social problems which in four years time gave the power to Benito Mussolini, the revolutionary leader of the National Fascist Party, the extreme right-hand Italian version of nazi party in Germany. Mussolini gave an end to the Italian democracy and became a totalitarian dictator.

2.2.2 Spain:
Spain didn’t participate in WW1, and takes economic advantage of it selling products to both fighting parts. 
After the war,  they have economic and social problems like Germany and Italy.
Radicalism increased and many disorders and revolutions took place. As a reaction to this, Francisco Franco and other generals started a Civil War against the Republic. After winning the war in 1939, Franco established in Spain a dictatorship similar in many aspects to Nazi and Fascist Parties in Germany and Italy. 

Videos from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OetedJuu4k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ2zoAE1HcY
Information from:
http://claudiandevi.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/democracy-in-peril-italy/

2)THE POST-WAR PERIODE

2.1 Germany after treaty of Versailles (Weimar republic)

Germany lost a 10% of its land and thy though that this treaty was made to destroy their economy.

Those who sign this treaty, will sign the death sentence of many millions of German men, women and children.

-Count Brockdorff-Rantzau, leader of the German delegation to Versailles (15 May 1919).

Germany had to satisfy certain conditions,

The establishment of the League of Nations
War Guilt clause - Germany to accept blame for starting the war.

Reparations - Germany was to pay for the damage caused by the war. The figure of £6,600 million was set some time after the signing of the treaty.

Army - was to be reduced to 100,000 men and no tanks were allowed
Navy - Germany was only allowed 6 ships and no submarines
Airforce - Germany was not allowed an airforce
Rhineland - The Rhineland area was to be kept free of German military personnel and weapons

Anschluss - Germany was not allowed to unite with Austria.
Land - Germany lost land to a number of other countries. Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France, Eupen and Malmedy were given to Belgium, North Schleswig was given to Denmark. Land was also taken from Germany and given to Czechoslovakia and Poland. The League of Nations took control of Germany's colonies



Photos from:
http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/germanlosses.htm
Information from:
http://www.johndclare.net/peace_treaties5.htm
http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/versailles.htm