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The Great Depression


However there were other underlying reasons as to why the New York Stock Exchange crashed. After WWI many countries failed to adapt from wartime requirements to those of peace. In Britain, industrial plants failed to do so leaving the country heavily in debt. Another problem caused by the First World War was that of inflation. Governments printed more money in order to purchase military supplies causing each note to be worth less and prices to rise, Between 1913 and 1920 wages in Britain rose three-fold however the purchasing power of these wages rose only 9 per cent. Germany was another country that was severely affected by inflation (Appendix 1) due to shortages, an excess of imports over exports and of government expenditure over income. Germany was also largely in debt as the Treaty of Versailles declared that the war had been Germany's fault and that they should pay for the damage caused. Due to this Germany's economy suffered from having to pay reparations, relying on loans from America to do so. Therefore because of this dependency the world economy was extensively intertwined with America's economy. As John Kaynes, a British economist said, "When America sneezed, the rest of the world caught a cold." .
             The Wall Street Crash had devastating social affects. Unemployment figures dramatically increased leaving millions in a state of poverty. The effects of unemployment were widespread throughout the world, affecting 14 million workers in American, 6 million in Germany and 2.7 million in Great Britain. Middle class families were forced to sell their homes, if no buyers were found the family had to take to the streets. Italy was extremely hard hit. In 1935 there was still no sign of recovery. Unemployment was among the highest in Europe and the standard of living among the lowest. Due to this dire situation welfare services were swamped. Social tensions increased developing a rising intolerance of "economic rivals".


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