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9.15 Continuity and Change in the 20th and 21st Centuries

3 min readjanuary 15, 2023

I

Isabela Padilha Vilela

Sharii Liang

Sharii Liang

I

Isabela Padilha Vilela

Sharii Liang

Sharii Liang

The Effects of War

As countries struggled to deal with the catastrophic , their citizens continued to depend on . However, when they could not recover alone, nations put aside their to help one another. Their attempts to help one another catalyzed a transition towards a , something that was idolized since Medieval times.

But, on the other hand, the war left a deep across Europe. The fight against and other extremist ideals in caused a conflict between and .

As nations grew more nationalistic, and experienced a great change in demographics through , great and also began to take place. This polarized the entire world and it aggravated the state of the (read more about it in the following section).

Government Attempts at Stability

As governments attempted to return to normalcy, two options were presented to them. The newly thought of had led to a divide in Europe with Eastern Europe following the ’s footsteps. As Western Europe thrived under and , the was riddled with unrest and a weakening economy. 

These differing ideologies on governing people led to an indirect war between two global superpowers. The war risked total annihilation of the world and distracted from ethnic atrocities in other parts of the world. The war also occupied imperial powers and led to the eventual of the world.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2FDuisburg._Chemiefirma_Matthes_u_Weber__Stadthistorisches_Museum_-IxOYHR0z0lIo.webp?alt=media&token=f12cc736-9287-4c0a-a27a-96c692b17113

An Ever-Changing Society

As technology and science improved, people's daily lives improved as well. The availability of technology allowed society to connect to one another across the seas and import cultures into different places. As increased 🌎 European nations went through a lot of changes, including:

  • - Through the advancements on , the became more prominent during the 20th Century. In addition, a more interconnected world allowed for European countries to have access to certain resources they had lost access to through , leading to an increase in economic activity and .

  • - also generated inequality, as the increase in wealth and access to technology did not occur equally. Several across Europe were left out of the benefits of an economic development. But, Europe did see an increase in its , which also increased its influx of immigrants.

  • Environmental impact - and the rapid economic development that occurred in the 20th Century came with a cost to the environment. For this reason, several Green Parties across Europe began to advocate against the process, as it was deemed to be detrimental to the environment.

During this period, multiple movements fought for equality or greater rights. They were met with varying amounts of opposition and support. The access of women to birth control, for example, is still considered a controversial subject today. Ultimately, was an important factor in fueling ethnic or national conflicts and generating parties that have a .

Societal Perspective

A transformation in the everyday life of Europeans also changed the political, intellectual, and social discourse. The permeating sense of anxiety that was left through the world wars affected people's understanding of self. In the 20th Century, and emerged, and proposed a way of thinking that completely diverged from European's historical reliance on the .

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2Fwhat-is-existentialism-illustration-RLHLrXivaoAz.webp?alt=media&token=635843a3-b6e3-45ad-825c-d73908bd3175

Key Terms to Review (34)

An Ever-Changing Society

: This refers to how societies evolve over time due to factors such as technological advancements, cultural shifts, political changes, etc.

Birth Control Controversy

: The birth control controversy refers to the societal and political debates surrounding the use, availability, and morality of contraceptives. This has been a significant issue in European history, particularly in the 20th century.

Capitalism

: Capitalism is an economic system where private entities own the factors of production. The four factors are entrepreneurship, capital goods, natural resources, and labor.

Catholic Church Dogmas

: These are the core beliefs and doctrines that the Catholic Church holds as divinely revealed truths. They are considered infallible and non-negotiable within the faith.

Cold War

: The Cold War was a period of political and military tension between the United States and its allies (the West) and the Soviet Union and its satellite states (the East) from 1947 to 1991. It was characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare.

Communism

: An economic and political system in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

Decolonization

: Decolonization is the process by which colonies become independent from their colonial rulers. It often involves significant political, cultural, and economic changes.

Democracy

: Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.

Discrimination

: Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, sex, or disability.

Economic Growth

: Economic growth is an increase in the production of goods and services over a specific period. It's usually measured in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Effects of War

: The impacts or consequences that occur as a result of war, which can be political, economic, social, and psychological in nature.

Existentialism

: Existentialism is a philosophical theory that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will.

Fascism

: Fascism is a form of far-right authoritarian political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, as well as strong regimentation of society and economy which came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.

Globalization

: Globalization refers to the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

Government Attempts at Stability

: These are measures taken by governments to maintain or restore economic stability, social order, political balance, etc., especially during times of crisis or change.

Ideology Crisis

: An ideology crisis refers to a situation where the fundamental beliefs, values, and principles that guide a society or group are questioned, challenged, or fail to provide solutions for pressing issues.

Immigration

: Immigration is the process of individuals moving into a country with the intention to settle there permanently.

Increased Inequality

: This refers to the widening gap in wealth, income, and standard of living among different social classes or groups within a society.

Industrialization

: Industrialization is the process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agricultural to one based on the manufacturing of goods. Individual manual labor is often replaced by mechanized mass production, and craftsmen are replaced by assembly lines.

Minority Groups

: These are groups differentiated from the social majority, often defined by characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Nationalism

: Nationalism is an ideology that emphasizes loyalty, devotion, or allegiance to a nation or nation-state and places the interests of the nation above individual or group interests.

Nationalistic Tendencies

: The strong belief that one's own nation or culture is superior to others. This can lead to feelings of pride in one's country while also potentially leading towards xenophobia or ethnocentrism.

Postmodernism

: Postmodernism is an intellectual stance or mode of discourse defined by an attitude of skepticism toward what it describes as grand narratives, ideologies, and various tenets of universalism including objective reality, morality, truth, human nature.

Separatism

: Separatism is the advocacy for a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from larger groups.

Social Welfare

: A set of government programs designed to support the well-being of its citizens through services like healthcare, education, housing assistance and unemployment benefits.

Societal Perspective

: A societal perspective is a viewpoint or attitude that considers society as a whole, including its structure, roles, rules, and norms. It's about understanding the bigger picture of how individuals interact within a group.

Soviet Union

: The Soviet Union was a federal socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991. It was a one-party state governed by the Communist Party with Moscow as its capital in its largest republic, Russian SFSR.

Standard of Living

: Standard of living refers to the level of wealth, comfort, material goods and necessities available to a certain socioeconomic class in a certain geographic area.

Technology Advancements

: Refers to the introduction of new techniques or methods that make tasks easier or more efficient.

Trade Industry

: The trade industry refers to the economic sector that involves buying, selling or exchanging goods and services between businesses (B2B) or business and consumers (B2C). It includes both domestic and international trade.

Transportation Technology

: This refers to the various methods and tools used to move people and goods from one place to another. In the context of European history, this could include everything from horse-drawn carriages in medieval times to steam-powered trains during the Industrial Revolution.

Unified European Identity

: The shared sense of belonging among Europeans based on common values, history, culture and political ideals despite national differences.

World War II

: World War II was a global conflict that took place from 1939 to 1945, involving many of the world's nations organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis powers.

Xenophobic Rhetoric

: Xenophobic rhetoric refers to communication (speeches, writings, etc.) that promotes fear or hatred of foreigners or foreign things. This has been used throughout history to justify discrimination and violence against different groups.

9.15 Continuity and Change in the 20th and 21st Centuries

3 min readjanuary 15, 2023

I

Isabela Padilha Vilela

Sharii Liang

Sharii Liang

I

Isabela Padilha Vilela

Sharii Liang

Sharii Liang

The Effects of War

As countries struggled to deal with the catastrophic , their citizens continued to depend on . However, when they could not recover alone, nations put aside their to help one another. Their attempts to help one another catalyzed a transition towards a , something that was idolized since Medieval times.

But, on the other hand, the war left a deep across Europe. The fight against and other extremist ideals in caused a conflict between and .

As nations grew more nationalistic, and experienced a great change in demographics through , great and also began to take place. This polarized the entire world and it aggravated the state of the (read more about it in the following section).

Government Attempts at Stability

As governments attempted to return to normalcy, two options were presented to them. The newly thought of had led to a divide in Europe with Eastern Europe following the ’s footsteps. As Western Europe thrived under and , the was riddled with unrest and a weakening economy. 

These differing ideologies on governing people led to an indirect war between two global superpowers. The war risked total annihilation of the world and distracted from ethnic atrocities in other parts of the world. The war also occupied imperial powers and led to the eventual of the world.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2FDuisburg._Chemiefirma_Matthes_u_Weber__Stadthistorisches_Museum_-IxOYHR0z0lIo.webp?alt=media&token=f12cc736-9287-4c0a-a27a-96c692b17113

An Ever-Changing Society

As technology and science improved, people's daily lives improved as well. The availability of technology allowed society to connect to one another across the seas and import cultures into different places. As increased 🌎 European nations went through a lot of changes, including:

  • - Through the advancements on , the became more prominent during the 20th Century. In addition, a more interconnected world allowed for European countries to have access to certain resources they had lost access to through , leading to an increase in economic activity and .

  • - also generated inequality, as the increase in wealth and access to technology did not occur equally. Several across Europe were left out of the benefits of an economic development. But, Europe did see an increase in its , which also increased its influx of immigrants.

  • Environmental impact - and the rapid economic development that occurred in the 20th Century came with a cost to the environment. For this reason, several Green Parties across Europe began to advocate against the process, as it was deemed to be detrimental to the environment.

During this period, multiple movements fought for equality or greater rights. They were met with varying amounts of opposition and support. The access of women to birth control, for example, is still considered a controversial subject today. Ultimately, was an important factor in fueling ethnic or national conflicts and generating parties that have a .

Societal Perspective

A transformation in the everyday life of Europeans also changed the political, intellectual, and social discourse. The permeating sense of anxiety that was left through the world wars affected people's understanding of self. In the 20th Century, and emerged, and proposed a way of thinking that completely diverged from European's historical reliance on the .

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2Fwhat-is-existentialism-illustration-RLHLrXivaoAz.webp?alt=media&token=635843a3-b6e3-45ad-825c-d73908bd3175

Key Terms to Review (34)

An Ever-Changing Society

: This refers to how societies evolve over time due to factors such as technological advancements, cultural shifts, political changes, etc.

Birth Control Controversy

: The birth control controversy refers to the societal and political debates surrounding the use, availability, and morality of contraceptives. This has been a significant issue in European history, particularly in the 20th century.

Capitalism

: Capitalism is an economic system where private entities own the factors of production. The four factors are entrepreneurship, capital goods, natural resources, and labor.

Catholic Church Dogmas

: These are the core beliefs and doctrines that the Catholic Church holds as divinely revealed truths. They are considered infallible and non-negotiable within the faith.

Cold War

: The Cold War was a period of political and military tension between the United States and its allies (the West) and the Soviet Union and its satellite states (the East) from 1947 to 1991. It was characterized by threats, propaganda, and other measures short of open warfare.

Communism

: An economic and political system in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

Decolonization

: Decolonization is the process by which colonies become independent from their colonial rulers. It often involves significant political, cultural, and economic changes.

Democracy

: Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.

Discrimination

: Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, sex, or disability.

Economic Growth

: Economic growth is an increase in the production of goods and services over a specific period. It's usually measured in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Effects of War

: The impacts or consequences that occur as a result of war, which can be political, economic, social, and psychological in nature.

Existentialism

: Existentialism is a philosophical theory that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will.

Fascism

: Fascism is a form of far-right authoritarian political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, as well as strong regimentation of society and economy which came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.

Globalization

: Globalization refers to the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

Government Attempts at Stability

: These are measures taken by governments to maintain or restore economic stability, social order, political balance, etc., especially during times of crisis or change.

Ideology Crisis

: An ideology crisis refers to a situation where the fundamental beliefs, values, and principles that guide a society or group are questioned, challenged, or fail to provide solutions for pressing issues.

Immigration

: Immigration is the process of individuals moving into a country with the intention to settle there permanently.

Increased Inequality

: This refers to the widening gap in wealth, income, and standard of living among different social classes or groups within a society.

Industrialization

: Industrialization is the process by which an economy is transformed from primarily agricultural to one based on the manufacturing of goods. Individual manual labor is often replaced by mechanized mass production, and craftsmen are replaced by assembly lines.

Minority Groups

: These are groups differentiated from the social majority, often defined by characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Nationalism

: Nationalism is an ideology that emphasizes loyalty, devotion, or allegiance to a nation or nation-state and places the interests of the nation above individual or group interests.

Nationalistic Tendencies

: The strong belief that one's own nation or culture is superior to others. This can lead to feelings of pride in one's country while also potentially leading towards xenophobia or ethnocentrism.

Postmodernism

: Postmodernism is an intellectual stance or mode of discourse defined by an attitude of skepticism toward what it describes as grand narratives, ideologies, and various tenets of universalism including objective reality, morality, truth, human nature.

Separatism

: Separatism is the advocacy for a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from larger groups.

Social Welfare

: A set of government programs designed to support the well-being of its citizens through services like healthcare, education, housing assistance and unemployment benefits.

Societal Perspective

: A societal perspective is a viewpoint or attitude that considers society as a whole, including its structure, roles, rules, and norms. It's about understanding the bigger picture of how individuals interact within a group.

Soviet Union

: The Soviet Union was a federal socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991. It was a one-party state governed by the Communist Party with Moscow as its capital in its largest republic, Russian SFSR.

Standard of Living

: Standard of living refers to the level of wealth, comfort, material goods and necessities available to a certain socioeconomic class in a certain geographic area.

Technology Advancements

: Refers to the introduction of new techniques or methods that make tasks easier or more efficient.

Trade Industry

: The trade industry refers to the economic sector that involves buying, selling or exchanging goods and services between businesses (B2B) or business and consumers (B2C). It includes both domestic and international trade.

Transportation Technology

: This refers to the various methods and tools used to move people and goods from one place to another. In the context of European history, this could include everything from horse-drawn carriages in medieval times to steam-powered trains during the Industrial Revolution.

Unified European Identity

: The shared sense of belonging among Europeans based on common values, history, culture and political ideals despite national differences.

World War II

: World War II was a global conflict that took place from 1939 to 1945, involving many of the world's nations organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis powers.

Xenophobic Rhetoric

: Xenophobic rhetoric refers to communication (speeches, writings, etc.) that promotes fear or hatred of foreigners or foreign things. This has been used throughout history to justify discrimination and violence against different groups.


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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.