1. Germany had to pay millions in reparations for the war because of the Treaty of Versailles.
1.1. The German mark or money had no value = INFLATION
1.2. Everything cost a million dollars - a turnip would be 40 mark one day and 800 the next
1.3. People in Germany had no confidence in their government
1.4. During WWI Germany printed more and more money which made the problem worse
1.5. US banks gave loans to Germany but it wasn't enough, their economy suffered
1.5.1. international banking is about to collapse because the countries econs are so bad and this might eventually shut down world trade
1.5.2. Dawes Plan was to lend Germany money to keep the US banking industry alive
1.5.3. Locarno Pact Germany can join the league of nations
2. people were excited to drive a car and feel like a teenager
3. Technology changed how people lived
3.1. Society changed in the 1920s - Women went to work, women wore loose clothes, bras instead of a corset, drank and smoked cigarettes, earned their own money, made discoveries in science fields, bought appliances to make life easier
3.2. Music changed as people listened to JAZZ
3.3. Loose and free mentality
3.4. African Americans moved from the south to the cities to get jobs
3.5. Automobiles were now more affordable
3.5.1. People could drive to the suburbs
3.5.2. people had access to everything
3.5.3. travel was much eaiser
3.6. Airplanes allowed for easy travel
3.7. trading goods was easier because you could fly the product to Europe etc
3.8. radios made entertainment available in the home = fireside chats, sit around the radio and listen to the president
3.8.1. Large radio networks were built to offer shows and access to people anywhere
3.9. movies were popular and made movie stars for the first time.
3.9.1. millions of people went to the theatres to see movies
4. Post war changes in US government
4.1. Governments around the world made alliances
4.2. In the 1920s people spent money fast and with credit.
4.3. Companies produced too many products in the 1920s to keep up with demand
4.4. Eventually too much product and not enough buyers
4.5. Stock Market crashed Oct. 29, 1929
5. Franz Kafka wrote books about the HORRORS of modern life.
6. People lost faith in reason and progress
6.1. WWI showed people the destruction progress caused
6.2. EXISTENTIALISM = NO UIVERSAL MEANING TO THE WORLD
6.2.1. Friedrich Nietzsche - German philosopher says reason, democracy, and progress were empty ideas. People should only think about pride and strength.
7. Art changed because people wanted an escape
7.1. Artists REBELLED in the 1920s
7.1.1. Used bold colors
7.1.2. Pablo Picasso started cubism = broke objects into geometric shapes
7.1.3. Surrealism was a new type of art = dreamlike existence, helped people escape reality