The Age of AnxietyThe Age of Anxiety

Group: 1.What were the SOCIAL/Political/Economic problems in Germany and Italy that gave rise to Hitler and Mussolini?

2.How did the USA, USSR, Latin America, Brazil, and Japan respond to the Great Depression?

Europe’s mood after the Europe’s mood after the Great WarGreat War

Post-WWI EuropePost-WWI Europe Decade can be divided into two periodsDecade can be divided into two periods

Five Years of Painful Recovery (1919-1924)Five Years of Painful Recovery (1919-1924) Six Years of Growing Peace and Progress (1924-1929)Six Years of Growing Peace and Progress (1924-1929) The Roaring TwentiesThe Roaring Twenties

Transformation of EuropeTransformation of Europe Period of Social ChangePeriod of Social Change Scientific and Cultural TransformationScientific and Cultural Transformation German HyperinflationGerman Hyperinflation

Europe after the Great Europe after the Great WarWar

Social Changes of the Social Changes of the 1920s1920s

Class distinctions faded away as role Class distinctions faded away as role of aristocracy declinedof aristocracy declined

Government expansion led to Government expansion led to expansion of “white-collar” jobsexpansion of “white-collar” jobs Advancements in technology prevented Advancements in technology prevented

growth of working classgrowth of working class Women earned the right to voteWomen earned the right to vote

Did not effect politics as women voted Did not effect politics as women voted like male relativeslike male relatives

Scientific RevolutionScientific Revolution Albert Einstein and Werner Heisenberg challenged traditional ideas of the universeAlbert Einstein and Werner Heisenberg challenged traditional ideas of the universe

““Truth was merely a set of mental constructs”Truth was merely a set of mental constructs”Postmodern belief is that a correct description of Reality is impossible (extreme skepticism)Postmodern belief is that a correct description of Reality is impossible (extreme skepticism)Friedrich Nietzsche, , Ludwig Wittgenstein, Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn , Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn a)a) All truth is limited, approximate, and is constantly evolving (Nietzsche, Kuhn, Popper).All truth is limited, approximate, and is constantly evolving (Nietzsche, Kuhn, Popper).

b) No theory can ever be proved true - we can only show that a theory is false (Popper).b) No theory can ever be proved true - we can only show that a theory is false (Popper).c) No theory can ever explain all things consistently (Godel's incompleteness theorem). c) No theory can ever explain all things consistently (Godel's incompleteness theorem). d) There is always a separation between our mind & ideas of things and the thing in itself d) There is always a separation between our mind & ideas of things and the thing in itself (Kant).(Kant).e) Physical reality is not deterministic (Copenhagen interpretation of quantum physics, e) Physical reality is not deterministic (Copenhagen interpretation of quantum physics, Bohr).Bohr).f) Science concepts are mental constructs (logical positivism, Mach, Carnap).f) Science concepts are mental constructs (logical positivism, Mach, Carnap).g) Metaphysics is empty of content.g) Metaphysics is empty of content.h) Thus absolute and certain truth that explains all things is unobtainable.h) Thus absolute and certain truth that explains all things is unobtainable.

As Taborsky writes of Postmodern philosophy;As Taborsky writes of Postmodern philosophy; .. the Mediated concept of Truth, is that it first admits that there is no such thing as .. the Mediated concept of Truth, is that it first admits that there is no such thing as

absolute, pure Truth. There is a reality, which may be abstract or sensual ... but one cannot absolute, pure Truth. There is a reality, which may be abstract or sensual ... but one cannot access it/know it ..'in-itself'. One can only 'know' it within the socially constructed (or access it/know it ..'in-itself'. One can only 'know' it within the socially constructed (or species-constructed)…(species-constructed)…(TaborskyTaborsky))We CAN imagine things that DO NOT physically exist (e.g. dragons, particle-wave duality)We CAN imagine things that DO NOT physically exist (e.g. dragons, particle-wave duality)

We CANNOT imagine things that DO physically exist. (e.g. reality of matter and human We CANNOT imagine things that DO physically exist. (e.g. reality of matter and human existence in universe)existence in universe)

Atomic world replaces classical worldAtomic world replaces classical world Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud

Psychoanalysis was the key to understanding human behaviorPsychoanalysis was the key to understanding human behavior

Artistic RevolutionArtistic Revolution

LiteratureLiterature Ernest Ernest

HemmingwayHemmingway John John

SteinbeckSteinbeck ArtArt

Edgar DegasEdgar Degas Pablo PicassoPablo Picasso Salvador DaliSalvador Dali

Race Horses by Degas

Les Demoiselles d’ Avignon by Picasso

The Persistence of Memory by Dali

German HyperinflationGerman Hyperinflation

German economy collapsed in German economy collapsed in 19231923 Loss of territory as part of Loss of territory as part of

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles Hyper-inflationHyper-inflation

Pictures of Pictures of HyperinflationHyperinflation

What can you do with German money in 1923?

Make a fort (above) or burn it for heat (right)

The Dawes PlanThe Dawes Plan

U.S. plan to reorganize the German U.S. plan to reorganize the German economyeconomy Lower annual war reparations Lower annual war reparations

paymentspayments German currency reorganizedGerman currency reorganized U.S. loans to GermanyU.S. loans to Germany

Stabilizes the German economyStabilizes the German economy 1924-1929 sees a return to relative 1924-1929 sees a return to relative

economic prosperityeconomic prosperity

The Dawes PlanThe Dawes Plan

United States Germany

Allies

High-interest Loans

War ReparationsInterest on War Debts

The Great The Great DepressionDepression

Causes of the Great Causes of the Great DepressionDepression

Agricultural DepressionAgricultural Depression Decline in wheat pricesDecline in wheat prices ““Dust Bowl”Dust Bowl”

Bank FailuresBank Failures Overproduction of GoodsOverproduction of Goods

Production grew by 50%; wages Production grew by 50%; wages increased at slower rateincreased at slower rate

CreditCredit Buying goods (including stock) on marginBuying goods (including stock) on margin

Effects of the Great Effects of the Great DepressionDepression

Decline of world tradeDecline of world trade Countries turn to economic nationalismCountries turn to economic nationalism

Massive unemploymentMassive unemployment German unemployment 40%German unemployment 40%

Global decline in industrial productionGlobal decline in industrial production German production declines by 30%; German production declines by 30%;

France 20%France 20% Poverty and hunger widespreadPoverty and hunger widespread

Starvation in GermanyStarvation in Germany

Reactions to the Reactions to the DepressionDepression

Government ChangesGovernment Changes Welfare StateWelfare State

The New DealThe New Deal Keynesian EconomicsKeynesian Economics

Political RadicalizationPolitical Radicalization Rise of communist and fascist partiesRise of communist and fascist parties Germany and Japan turn to state Germany and Japan turn to state

controlled economic growthcontrolled economic growth

TotalitarianisTotalitarianism and Mass m and Mass MobilizationMobilization

Characteristics of Characteristics of TotalitarianismTotalitarianism

Attack liberal democracy and capitalismAttack liberal democracy and capitalism State directed economyState directed economy State more important than the individualState more important than the individual Charismatic dictatorsCharismatic dictators Depend upon mobilization of the massesDepend upon mobilization of the masses Embrace public welfare programsEmbrace public welfare programs Use censorship and propagandaUse censorship and propaganda Women not permitted a public roleWomen not permitted a public role

Rise of Adolf HitlerRise of Adolf Hitler

Born in AustriaBorn in Austria High school dropoutHigh school dropout

Served in World Served in World War IWar I

Arrested for role in Arrested for role in Beer Hall PutschBeer Hall Putsch

Writes Mein Kampf Writes Mein Kampf from prisonfrom prison

Became chancellor Became chancellor of Germany in 1933of Germany in 1933

Reforms of Adolf HitlerReforms of Adolf Hitler

Ignores provisions of the Treaty of Ignores provisions of the Treaty of VersaillesVersailles Ends war reparations paymentsEnds war reparations payments Uses militarization to ease the burdens Uses militarization to ease the burdens

of the Great Depressionof the Great Depression Many countries sympathized with Many countries sympathized with

GermanyGermany Nazis seize complete political controlNazis seize complete political control Beginning of the HolocaustBeginning of the Holocaust

Nuremburg Laws (1935)Nuremburg Laws (1935)