Preceden

1900-1960s

Political

World War I

1914 - 1918

Textbook and Powerpoint Slides.

There was a sense of pride for fighting in the war, many were young boys. Trench warfare was used, and it was a industrialized war. Most people believed that the war would be short-lived. The terms total and global war came about.

14 Points

1918

Soruces book - The Fourteen Point, Woodrow Wilson.

The president, Woodrow Wilson, wrote it and stressed America's political values. It was essentially a postwar plan, and a peace proposal that would help spread democracy around the world.

Treat of Versailles

1919

Textbook and Sources book - The Economic Consequences of the Peace, John Maynard Keynes (1920).

This treaty laid out the terms of the postwar settlement with Germany. Unfortunately, the treaty mentioned nothing about the economic consequences. Keynes criticizes the treaty and believes the treaty will lead to economic disaster.

Great Depression

1929 - 1939

Sources book - Parliament Addresses the Great Depression in Britain, Sir Percy Malcolm Stewart (1934).

A time of economic crisis and heightened unemployment. Very severe and had a very uneven recovery. This article talks about the most depressed regions of the country (north) as a result of the uneven recovery from the Great Depression.

World War II

1939 - 1945

Textbook and Powerpoint slides.

This also was a global war, and had far more deaths than WWI. Totalitarianism, communism, and facism are all key components. Poland was invaded; and Britain and France declared war on Germany which started WWII. The Holocaust also occurred during this time.

Holocaust

1941 - 1945

Powerpoint Slides and Textbook.

The Nazi's attempt to exterminate all Jews and racial inferior groups during World War II. Concentration camps were put into use, and millions died.

Cold War

1945 - 1985

Textbook and Powerpoint Slides.

Was a ramification of World War II ending. A competition to decide what country was superior around the world in terms of politics and military.

Marshall Plan

1947

Textbook.

The secretary of the United States, George C. Marshall, offered Europe economic aid to help rebuild it. George wanted to break the poverty cycle and help out Europe's economy.

Cultural

Age of Anxiety

1919

Powerpoint slides and Textbook.

The time is hard to pinpoint exactly, but it was primarily post WWI. World views were shattered, and there was much uncertainty in modern thought. The old order was being questioned and modernism came about.

Cinema and Radio

1920

Textbook.

The influence of mass culture became more evident through these new technologies. Both, were a good place to show political propaganda and manipulation.

Dadism

1920

Textbook.

A type of art that emerged after the shock of WWI. It attacked the traditional standards of art and delighted in radical behavior.

"Modern Girl"

1920

Textbook.

The new culture lead to many changes in women's lives.
The new stereotype expressing women as independent and working. Women could vote and get a job. They became interested in fashion and makeup. This image also became a way to sell goods.

With the Unemployed in Germany

1933

Sources book - With the Unemployed in Germany, Henrich Hauser.

Germany was struck the hardest during the Great Depression. Hauser talks about the suffering and despair that many endured because of the severe unemployment.

Soviet Propoganda Posters

1941

Sources Book - Soviet Propoganda Posters (1941 and 1945).

Propoganda was used to promote a certain viewpoint, and most used it as a way to persuade people into believing that said idea. These two pieces emphasized nationalism and revolutionary ideas.

Individual and Collective Rights

The War and Its Effect Upon Women

1916

Sources book - The War and Its Effect Upon Women, Helena Swanwick.

Swanwick was a strong advocate for women's rights. She believed war offered the perfect time for women to fight to improve their social, economic, and political stance.

The Nuremberg Laws

1935

Sources book - The Nuremberg Laws: the Centerpiece of Nazi Racial Legislation.

These laws were anti-Semitic laws. They were among the first steps Hitler used to get rid of the Jews in Germany.

The Jewish Question as a World

1941

Sources book - The Jewish Question as a World, Alfred Rosenberg.

He rejected a Jewish state, and believed they should be expelled from Europe. This was the final solution, and once this happened there would be peace.

The Second Sex

1949

Sources book - The Second Sex, Simone de Beauvoir.

While women did get more rights, they were not have social equality. Many traditional attitudes in regards to women still were used, even though circumstances for women were different/better.