The Soviet Union in the Interwar Years
In 1924, V. I. Lenin died from health problems brought about by a failed assassination attempt in 1919.
His death, coupled with the collapse of other socialist revolutions in Europe and the United States, left the Soviet Union in a precarious place. It was encircled by hostile enemies, destroyed by World War I and the Russian Civil War, and had no foreign friends to speak of.
The Soviet Union had long had an official policy of “International Revolution,” which hoped to use the Soviet Union as a base of support to spread socialist revolution across the world. Soviet thinkers believed that unless the revolution was spread, the Soviet Union would be cut off and eventually overwhelmed by capitalist power.
Realizing that they could not rely on the outside world, the Soviet Union began its policy of “Socialism in One Country.” Spearheaded by Josef Stalin, a longtime Bolshevik leader, the Communist government determined that they had to undertake a project of economic modernization and expansion on their own.
This began a crash program of industrialization, which aimed to transform the backward Tsarist Empire they had inherited into a modern, industrial power. According to Stalin, head of the Soviet government:
"We are fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries. We must make up this gap in ten years. Either we do it or they will crush us."
Assignments
Assignment: The USSR in the Interwar Years
Assignment: USSR in the Interwar Years Note Sheet
In 1924, V. I. Lenin died from health problems brought about by a failed assassination attempt in 1919.
His death, coupled with the collapse of other socialist revolutions in Europe and the United States, left the Soviet Union in a precarious place. It was encircled by hostile enemies, destroyed by World War I and the Russian Civil War, and had no foreign friends to speak of.
The Soviet Union had long had an official policy of “International Revolution,” which hoped to use the Soviet Union as a base of support to spread socialist revolution across the world. Soviet thinkers believed that unless the revolution was spread, the Soviet Union would be cut off and eventually overwhelmed by capitalist power.
Realizing that they could not rely on the outside world, the Soviet Union began its policy of “Socialism in One Country.” Spearheaded by Josef Stalin, a longtime Bolshevik leader, the Communist government determined that they had to undertake a project of economic modernization and expansion on their own.
This began a crash program of industrialization, which aimed to transform the backward Tsarist Empire they had inherited into a modern, industrial power. According to Stalin, head of the Soviet government:
"We are fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries. We must make up this gap in ten years. Either we do it or they will crush us."
Assignments
Assignment: The USSR in the Interwar Years
Assignment: USSR in the Interwar Years Note Sheet
Rise of Fascism in Europe
Looking back on the 20th century, many historians trace the causes of World War II, including the rise of totalitarian leaders, to factors created by World War I and the treaties signed at the end of the “Great War” (as WWI originally was called). After WWI, many countries faced severe economic problems. Germany was particularly hard hit economically. According to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was required to pay large sums of money, called reparations, to the countries that had won the conflict. By 1930, mass unemployment and economic depression led to bitter poverty in Germany, Britain, Japan, Italy, and the United States, as well as other countries around the world. In Germany and Italy, the economic depression weakened the existing governments. As people demanded change, a political movement that believed in an extremely strong, national government, called fascism, became popular in these countries. Fascism included a sense of nationalism (a powerful sense of patriotism) and leaders were often dictatorial, ruthless in suppressing opposition, and interested in centralizing power. Economic problems and ethnic tensions contributed to instability and helped fascist rulers to gain power.
Assignments
Assignment: Rise of Fascism
Assignment: Fascism Note Sheet
Assignment: Fascism Prompt
Assignment: Why Did It Happen There?
Film: Mussolini: The Evolution of Evil
Looking back on the 20th century, many historians trace the causes of World War II, including the rise of totalitarian leaders, to factors created by World War I and the treaties signed at the end of the “Great War” (as WWI originally was called). After WWI, many countries faced severe economic problems. Germany was particularly hard hit economically. According to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was required to pay large sums of money, called reparations, to the countries that had won the conflict. By 1930, mass unemployment and economic depression led to bitter poverty in Germany, Britain, Japan, Italy, and the United States, as well as other countries around the world. In Germany and Italy, the economic depression weakened the existing governments. As people demanded change, a political movement that believed in an extremely strong, national government, called fascism, became popular in these countries. Fascism included a sense of nationalism (a powerful sense of patriotism) and leaders were often dictatorial, ruthless in suppressing opposition, and interested in centralizing power. Economic problems and ethnic tensions contributed to instability and helped fascist rulers to gain power.
Assignments
Assignment: Rise of Fascism
Assignment: Fascism Note Sheet
Assignment: Fascism Prompt
Assignment: Why Did It Happen There?
Film: Mussolini: The Evolution of Evil
Japan in the Interwar Years
The 1920s were a period of prosperity for Japan. Reforms at home allowed for an expansion of democracy, while economic growth created an increasingly stable middle-class for educated Japanese. After withdrawing from the Soviet Union, Japan was able to decrease the size of its armed forces and focus more on economic growth.
However, the 1920s also witnessed increased American activities in Asia and the Pacific. The destruction wrought in Europe by World War I meant that many American businesses sought opportunities elsewhere. While a fair amount of trade was conducted between the United States and Japan, American interests began to turn towards China.
Assignments
Assignment: Japan in the Interwar Years
The 1920s were a period of prosperity for Japan. Reforms at home allowed for an expansion of democracy, while economic growth created an increasingly stable middle-class for educated Japanese. After withdrawing from the Soviet Union, Japan was able to decrease the size of its armed forces and focus more on economic growth.
However, the 1920s also witnessed increased American activities in Asia and the Pacific. The destruction wrought in Europe by World War I meant that many American businesses sought opportunities elsewhere. While a fair amount of trade was conducted between the United States and Japan, American interests began to turn towards China.
Assignments
Assignment: Japan in the Interwar Years
The United States in the Interwar Years
The 1920s in America was a period of important cultural growth, technological innovation, political reaction, and economic ambivalence. Farmers were mired in economic depression and the stock market continued to surge. New consumer goods flew off of the shelves and debt blossomed.
Assignments
Film: Guide to the Presidents, 1920s and 1930s
Film: The Story of US: Bust
Project: 1920s Group Project
DBQ: Great Depression
The 1920s in America was a period of important cultural growth, technological innovation, political reaction, and economic ambivalence. Farmers were mired in economic depression and the stock market continued to surge. New consumer goods flew off of the shelves and debt blossomed.
Assignments
Film: Guide to the Presidents, 1920s and 1930s
Film: The Story of US: Bust
Project: 1920s Group Project
DBQ: Great Depression
1920s Group Project Assignment
1920s Group Project EXAMPLE
List of Project Topics
The Harlem Renaissance
Consumerism
American Agriculture
First Red Scare
The Second Ku Klux Klan
Analysis: Consider the research on your group's Subtopic: would you regard the 1920s as a period of progress or regression? Explain your answer. (250-300 words.)