Impact of Great Depression on International Relations in the 1930s

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Impact of Great Depression on International Relations in the 1930s

In the early 1920s the Great Depression hit. The chaos caused by the

First World War was the main reason for the Great Depression. The USA

had lent large amounts of money to other countries to help with their

damages from the war. The loans that the USA made helped the countries

to recover trade. Many countries tried to protect their industries by

putting taxes on imports. In 1930 USA the biggest trading nation in

the world also raised their taxes. This made the world trade suffer

badly as it made it difficult to sell goods to America.

World trade was already very difficult so when the Wall Street Crash

hit there was a worldwide economic slump. The American stock market

was centered on Wall Street in New York. American banks wanted all the

money lent out repaid back to them. Banks and factories closed and

soon all the countries had loss of imports and exports.

The Depression.

Germany was affected the most by the Great Depression. Agricultural

prices fell. This brought poverty to the countryside. The Wall Street

Crash meant the withdrawal of the USA loans. This hit Germany worse

than other countries. Unemployment rose to 5.5 million in 1931. Also

in 1931 the five major banks crashed in Germany. Because of this many

businesses failed and most middle class people lost their savings. The

Depression brought Hitler and the Nazis to power. One of the many

reasons for Hitler becoming leader was because he promised to tear up

the Treaty of Versailles. The first chance of survival, which happened

to be Hitler who gave them promises, which they hoped were true, was

...

... middle of paper ...

...made them delay

rearmament and become isolated. France came across the same problems

as all the other countries. Loss of jobs, homes and the country became

desperate. France had no money or army and problems from Italy lead to

the collapse of the league because Britain and France couldn't do

anything.

Conclusion.

The league helped settle some disputes. It helped improve

international communications, people's living but the league never

achieved its main aim which was to prevent wars. Without the USA the

league could not stop Japan and Britain and France could have stopped

Italy if they had acted quickly but they were to scared of invasion.

The league did not help to stop the aggression because they did not

believe it was in there best interest. Self-interest is one of the

main reasons why the league failed.

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