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1930s

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The 1930s was a decade of huge changes across the world.

Flag-map of the world (1930)
Flag-map of the world (1930)

It began on January 1, 1930, and ended on December 31, 1939. This decade was defined by a global economic and political crisis. Many countries faced deep trouble with money and leadership. These problems eventually led to the start of World War II. It was a time when the world felt very uncertain.

Economic struggles changed how people lived every day. In the United States, the Great Depression caused widespread poverty. Many people lost their jobs and had very little money.

UnemployedMenHopTrain
UnemployedMenHopTrain

At the same time, the Dust Bowl hit the American land. Large dust storms made the area known as the "Dirty Thirties."

Dust storm approaching Stratford, Texas
Dust storm approaching Stratford, Texas

In the Soviet Union, a terrible famine occurred between 1930 and 1933. This famine caused between 5.7 and 8.7 million deaths.

GolodomorKharkiv
GolodomorKharkiv

Leaders made big choices to try and fix these problems. In the United States, President Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in 1933.

Roosevelt signing TVA Act (1933)
Roosevelt signing TVA Act (1933)

He started a program of social reforms called the New Deal. This plan was meant to help people during the crisis. In the Soviet Union, leaders used a second five-year plan. This plan focused on heavy industry and better communication.

Political changes in Europe led to much conflict. In 1933, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power in Germany.

Hitlermusso2 edit
Hitlermusso2 edit

They made unfair laws against Jewish people and other minorities.

Bundesarchiv Bild 102-14468, Berlin, NS-Boykott gegen jüdische Geschäfte
Bundesarchiv Bild 102-14468, Berlin, NS-Boykott gegen jüdische Geschäfte

Germany and Italy also began taking over new lands. Germany took over Austria and the Sudetenland in 1938.

Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935 and Albania in 1939. These actions led to Germany invading Poland in 1939.

Kamp-wrzes22-anim
Kamp-wrzes22-anim

Even with these hard times, people found new ways to enjoy life. Movies became very popular because they could now use sound.

Walt Disney Snow white 1937 trailer screenshot (13)
Walt Disney Snow white 1937 trailer screenshot (13)

The film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs came out in 1937. It was the highest-grossing film of the decade. People also loved comedy films with the Marx Brothers. In music, the Swing genre became very popular in the U.S.

Maud Cuney Hare-154-Louis Armstrong
Maud Cuney Hare-154-Louis Armstrong

Artists like Cole Porter also had many hit songs. The world population grew from 2.05 to 2.25 billion people during these years.

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🖼️ Images & Media (30)
File:Flag-map of the world (1930).png
Flag-map of the world (1930).png
File:Kamp-wrzes22-anim.gif
Kamp-wrzes22-anim.gif
File:Golpe de Estado de 1930 en Argentina (1).jpg
Golpe de Estado de 1930 en Argentina (1).jpg
File:Hitlermusso2 edit.jpg
Hitlermusso2 edit.jpg
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-14468, Berlin, NS-Boykott gegen jüdische Geschäfte.jpg
Bundesarchiv Bild 102-14468, Berlin,...
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-H12943, Münchener Abkommen, Hitler und Mussolini.jpg
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-H12943, Münchener...
File:Roosevelt signing TVA Act (1933).jpg
Roosevelt signing TVA Act (1933).jpg
File:GolodomorKharkiv.jpg
GolodomorKharkiv.jpg
File:Omar Mokhtar arrested by Italian Fascists.jpg
Omar Mokhtar arrested by Italian Fascists.jpg
File:Marche sel.jpg
Marche sel.jpg
File:First pictures of the Japanese occupation of Peiping in China.jpg
First pictures of the Japanese occupation...
File:Hindenburg disaster.jpg
Hindenburg disaster.jpg

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