1900-1960

Political

Telegram to the German Ambassador at Vienna

July 6, 1914

This telegram was basically Germany giving Austria a "blank check" and forming an alliance. This alliance and understanding to support each other during war was a main factor in causing the Great War to spread throughout Europe.

Chancellor Theobald Von Bethmann-Hollweg, Sources, p.403

World War I

July 28, 1914 - November 11, 1918

World War I was the mobilization of many European countries in an attempt to extend national pride and get out of a "blah" mentality. However, it caused more issues than it intended to solve.

McKay, 835-848

Bolshevik Revolution

November 6, 1917

Lenin, backed by the Bolshevik party now take control of Russia and create the USSR. They now become the first nation to take on Communism which will eventually add to future international relations.

McKay, A History of Western Society, p. 852

Treaty of Versailles

June 28, 1919

Treaty ended World War I. By agreeing to the terms, Germany destroyed their economy and created the ideal environment for leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini to gain power.

McKay, A History of Western Society, p. 860

Mein Kampf

1924

Hitler's autobiography meaning "My Struggle". It explains many of his political views and his plans for Germany in the future. Hitler's rise to power and his execution of plans as delineated in this document are main causes of World War II.

Adolf Hitler, Sources book, p.445

Great Depresssion

1929 - 1939

Economic down turn after World War I. Led many people to turn to new political parties to bring back stability that once existed.

McKay 892-898

World War II

September 1, 1939 - June 6, 1944

Political movement by Hitler to gain more land, expand German territory and control, and to better Germany. Caused more issues in the end with more deaths, and more political tension with the breaking up of Germany between Western democratic countries and communist Soviet Union.

McKay, 939-943

Korean War

1950 - 1953

Soviet Union supported the North and the communist government, America supported the south and the capitalist government. Ultimately, this shows the globalization of a political tension that causes more people harm than it does peace.

McKay, pg. 948

Cultural

Social Darwinism

1900

Coming out of the turn of the century, nationalism peaked amongst the European nations. Set the stage and ideology for not only World War I, but also World War II in trying to better things for their own society.

McKay, A History of Western Society, pg. 787

Baron Manfred von Richhofen

1917

This is a picture of an Austrian war hero for Germany. The picture is a form of propaganda, representing the views that the people had toward heroes and their need for good representation.

Sources, pg. 407

Consumer Society

1920

With mass production of goods and new mass culture that can spread across the globe more quickly due to technology, more people were being exposed to the same things. Made censorship and propaganda more difficult because of the mass exposure to other places and ideas.

McKay 880

Existentialism

1920 - 1960

Existentialism is a philosophy that stresses the meaninglessness of existence and the importance of the individual in searching for moral values in an uncertain world. Although it began to gain attention after World War I, it became very popular right after World War II in the wake of a chaotic and uncertain world.

McKay, A History of Western Society, p.871-872

Birth of MEFESZ

1956

This excerpt really shows the change in people and how the perceived the Soviet oppression. This was one of the first real uprisings against the Soviet rule in Hungary, which shows a major change in how the people view the government.

Béla Lipták, p. 259

Rights

I Speak for the Silent

1930

Shows the dramatic lack of rights that individuals had in the Soviet Union and their inability to live freely. Advocates for change in the system to give back individual rights to the people.

Vladimir Tchernavin, Sources, pg. 442

The Holocaust

1941 - 1945

The Holocaust dehumanized mass amounts of people and took away the mass amount of rights that many people had fought and died for in the years before. Ultimately, the Holocaust will affect the world's view on genocide and really make a difference on how groups of people are treated and/or discriminated against.

McKay, A History of Western Society, pg.925-929

The Second Sex

1949

Advocates the right for women to vote. Due to the increase of woman's presence in society, they finally start to push for more rights and equality with men.

Simone De Beauvoir, Sources, pg. 471-473