20th Century Transformations: Economic Crisis and Political Change

The Great Depression: Causes and Impact

At the end of the 1920s, a series of problems in the US caused a major economic crisis, known as the Great Depression. This crisis lasted until the end of the 1930s and brought an end to the prosperous, consumer lifestyle of the previous decade.

Problems Leading to the Crisis:

• Overproduction: American industry produced more goods than the population needed. When companies could not sell their products, they went bankrupt and had to close.
• Falling Consumption: When companies closed down, people lost their jobs and stopped spending money. Rising unemployment reduced demand for consumer goods and the raw materials used to make them, leading to more companies going out of business.
• The Wall Street Crash: When many companies whose shares were sold on the stock market began to fail, investors panicked and tried to sell all of their shares. Share values fell dramatically, and in October 1929, the New York Stock Market crashed.

Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism: Rise and Features

In the 1920s and 1930s, authoritarian dictatorships came to power in many countries. These evolved into totalitarian regimes.

Types of Authoritarian Regimes:

• Left-Wing Authoritarian Regimes: Came to power in the USSR as a result of the Russian Revolution. The communist state was anti-capitalist and aimed to establish a classless society.
• Right-Wing Authoritarian Regimes: Came to power in Italy and Germany. They were extremely pro-nationalist and were opposed to both communism and democracy.

Common Features of Totalitarian Regimes:

• Politics: Propaganda was used to spread the party's message and glorify the leader.
• Economy: The state intervened in and controlled the economy. Public-works programs were used to reduce unemployment, and trade unions were prohibited or controlled by the ruling party.
• Society: The state limited rights and freedoms. Repressive measures were used against people who opposed or criticized the regime.
• Foreign Policy: These regimes pursued expansionist foreign policies to gain new territory and access to raw materials.

Left-Wing Governments and Reforms (1930s)

The governments of this period were formed by republicans from various political parties, led by Manuel Azaña. The President of the Republic was Alcalá Zamora. During these years, a number of significant reforms were introduced:

Key Reforms Implemented:

• Territorial Reforms: These included a Statute of Autonomy for Catalonia.
• Land Reform: Large agricultural estates were expropriated so that they could be broken up and given to poor, landless farmers. The landowners opposed this policy, and its slow implementation caused discontent among the rural working class.
• Educational Reforms: Public education became free and compulsory. Religious education in schools was banned.
• Labor Reforms: New laws forced businesses to negotiate working conditions and wages with the trade unions.
• Military Reforms: The number of officers was reduced. Many members of the armed forces opposed this change.