Download Weimar Germany and the Great Depression PP

German Weimar
Republic
Europe After WWI
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After WWI, the Idea of Self Determination gave
many countries Independence for the First Time
Most Countries had no Experience with Self
Rule or Democracy
In Germany, The Weimar Republic
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New Germany Government
Formed 1919
 Democratic Republic
 Capital was Weimar Germany
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Serious Problems in the Weimar Republic
No Experience
 Germans Blame the Weimar Gov. for Losing WWI
 BIG Economic Problems
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Weimar Germany, INFLATION
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DEBT
Wartime Spending
 War Reparations
 Germany’s “Solution”….Print More Money
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Causes INFLATION & HYPERINFLATION
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Bread Prices
1918- 1 mark
 1922- 160 marks
 1923- 200 billion marks
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Recovery….Almost
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The German Economy Recovered Slowly
During the 1920’s
By 1929 Germany was Producing the
Same Amount of Goods as Before WWI
BUT…….October 1929……
Great Depression Starts
 Germany is Very Hard Hit
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The Great Depression
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October 1929-----Beginning of Great Depression
(1929-1941)
Worldwide Economic Collapse
Starts in the United States, Spreads Worldwide
Helped Cause Word War II
Causes of the Great Depression
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Large Gap in Wealth
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Overproduction and Underconsumption
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Rich vs. Poor, Very Few in the Middle
To Much Supply, Not Enough Demand
Stock Speculation and Buying on Margin
Borrowing Money to Buy Stock
 Tuesday October 29, 1929 (Black Tuesday)
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U.S. Stock market Crashes
Great Depression Spreads Worldwide
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Production Is Cut in Half
Banks Close
Businesses Close
Unemployment Rate Soars Worldwide
Savings Are Lost
Houses and Farms are Lost
“If The U.S. Economy Sneezes, The
Rest Of The World Catches A Cold”
England’s Response
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England’s Economy Depends on Trade
England’s Actions
High Tariffs
 Raise Taxes
 Control the Supply of Paper Money
 Lower Interest Rates
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All of this Led to a Slow
and Steady Recovery
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France’s Response
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France’s Economy was More Self-Sufficient
Not Hit as Hard by the Depression
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1 Million Unemployed
France’s Actions
Increased Wages
 Payed Holidays
 40 Hour Work Week
 Prices Rose & Unemployment Remained High
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“Socialist” European Countries
Respond
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Denmark’s, Sweden’s, and Norway’s Actions
Public Works Projects
 Pensions for the Elderly
 Increased Unemployment and Welfare Benefits
 Taxes Were Raised to Pay For All of This
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The United States’ Response
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Roosevelt’s Plan…The New Deal
Relief, for those Suffering
 Recovery, for Business and Economy
 Reform, to Ensure this Does Not Happen Again
 Large Public Works Projects and Increased
Government Spending
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Other Countries Respond With
Totalitarian Dictatorship
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Other Countries in Europe are Desperate, and
Look for any Solution to the Great Depression
Fascism, Totalitarianism, Nazism Rise in Europe
Italy (Fascist)…Mussolini
 Germany (Nazis)…Hitler
 Soviet Union
(Totalitarian Dictatorship)…Stalin
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