The WWI was perpetuated by several reasons especially one regarding the fallout of European imperialism. Moreover, there were increased social class conflicts around the western world especially that revolving around the social class conflicts when Marxism was rising, and the Russian Revolution took place as well, which established the Soviet Union. A rising sense of Nationalism in Europe also rose from Marxism and the conflict of social class. Changes in the governmental structures also sparked WWI, when fascist and authoritarian governments grew in number. The effects of WWI caused the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire (Burlingham). General disillusionment prevailed. The Interwar years came forth, which were a time span of a few years between WWI and WWII. A new school of art named Cubism rose in Spain which was an inspiration from African Art. Painters and artists rose at this time, following a distinct form of art. Europe experienced devastation after WWI and saw a great change in its social structure. Many revolutions followed thereafter such as the Mexican Revolution which was an outburst of the agrarian society as a protest to the industrialized one. China’s communist struggle and attempts followed in Russia’s footsteps, and China fought for independence from Japan. In Russia, political turmoil became a norm and rulers like Stalin rose, who increased oppression and killing in the country (Burlingham). Moreover, depression was on the rise, and it became a global phenomenon. France also experienced power issues from its left and right. Fascist governments like Spain, Italy, Germany, and Latin America rose in number and strength. Japan was also trying to militarize and gain power over China. Hence it invaded Manchuria in China in 1939. Germany had also begun to prepare itself after WWI and was beginning to arm itself again. In 1937, the Japanese Imperial Army carried out a great battle at Nanking, China. The Japanese soldiers were able to defeat the Chinese at Nanking where they had the orders to kill all captives in the city. It was a great massacre which did not spare the elderly, women children, boys and girls and even pregnant women. However whatever little was left of the city was reestablished by the Red Cross and American and European missionaries at Nanking (Burlingham). The interwar years mostly revolve around Europe. Europe still had its colonies in Africa and Asia, and they were thriving colonies. Ruling them, however, was burdensome. European nations were losing their stronghold due to the dominance of America, Russia, and Japan. The Spanish civil war is an important aspect in this period which involves Abraham Lincoln brigades. It will lead to an evolution after WWI of a republican, liberal government will become powerful. There were acts such as Nazi Genocide and the power that came into Hitler’s hands. It also concerns the condition of Africans in Europe and America (Burlingham). African Americans largely favored Spain and joined it after WWI. The reason stood as the growing aggression of the fascists and the resentment of the KKK against the African Americans in America. Moreover, the growing Nazi influence and Mussolini’s forces in Spain were the reason why many of the African Americans fought with unusual skills in Spain (Burlingham).
Capitalism and communism, the two main seeds of contention between two of the world’s emerging superpowers America and Russia, had begun to rise in the interwar years. The rise of Nazism was a dilemma in the world because Germany did not see its defeat as anything less than humiliation. The Treaty of Versailles was also a blow to the Germans. German territory was shrunk by 13%, and it was forced to take responsibility of WWI along with heavy payback for the destruction. Adolf Hitler did not take the Treaty as a fair compensation to the country and believed that Germany had been stabbed in the back. The social situations rising in the country were summed up with the birth of the National Socialist German Workers Party, who was termed the Nazis (Burlingham). The Germans took to support and comfort in the rule of the Nazis, whom they felt would improve the condition of Germany with a stern hand, and they did. The plummeted economy saw a rise due to the implementation of various projects by the Nazis. However, the Nazis showed their real power by overthrowing the Treaty of Versailles and increased German military strength. They also made sure that the German race would be pure, and they imposed the removal of all other racial identities in the country. The Jews, Blacks, Slavs and Roma were considered to be inferior races. Between the years 1933-39, Jews were thoroughly discriminated against and removed from the German territory. 2 million Jewish men, women, and children were killed in various operations and shootings. They were kept in concentration camps and this entire process of killing the Jewish population was termed the Holocaust. After WWII, the world entered into the Cold war between America and the Soviet Union. Directly after the war, several legislations and alliances took place such as the Marshall Plan 1947, Berlin crisis 1945-47, NATO 1949 and the Warsaw Pact 1949 (Burlingham).These were made by the countries that had participated in the War and many were made in retaliation of one another such as NATO and the Warsaw Pact. The Cold War came to a decisive battle which had to assert the US influence in Europe and the rest of the world. Media was a powerful factor during WWII and the Cold War as it was soft power that could influence the world. It was mainly about spreading propaganda and influence. Thereafter capitalism grew all over the world; many countries took their goods globally which brought them capital to rejuvenate businesses after the Wars. The Shock Doctrine reveals how capitalism was able to take over the world and after the Cold War, the world was majorly consumed in capitalism. (Burlingham).
Works Cited
Burlingham, Kate. “WWI and the Interwar Years, Part 2.” YouTube. YouTube, 11 Mar.
2015. Web. 14 Jan. 2017.
Burlingham, Kate. “CW and Soft Power Part I.” YouTube. YouTube, 15 Apr. 2015. Web.
