Post WW 1 Year of Crisis 1919 1939

Post WW 1 Year of Crisis (1919 -1939)

Postwar Europe • By the late 1920’s, European nations were rebuilding war-torn economies • They were all be aided by loans from the U. S.

• In America, economic prosperity soared • We had a booming stock market • Many people are getting filthy rich

• Europe is the complete opposite • Mainly because the bulk of the war took place there • Many European countries were left bankrupt

• War’s end saw the sudden rise of new democracies • From 1914 to 1918, Europe’s last absolute rulers had been overthrown • The first new government to form was in Russia in 1917 • The “provisional government”, as it was called, hoped to establish constitutional & democratic rule

• However, within months it fell to Communist dictatorship • Many citizens of the new democracies that did rise had little experience with representative government • For generations, Germany & Austria. Hungary were ruled by Kings and emperors

• Their inexperience with democracy made running a country difficult • Even in France and Italy, it was difficult because of the number of political parties • It made it difficult to run their countries • In these countries, it was almost impossible for one party to win enough support to govern effectively

• When no single party won a majority, a coalition government was needed to form a parliamentary majority • Coalition government: temporary alliance of several parties • Since the parties disagreed on so much, coalition governments did not last long