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The interwar period.

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This was the period between 1919 to 1939,

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a time of change following the chaos of World War I.

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Countries faced economic struggles, political shifts,

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and the rise of national movements.

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The world was rebuilding, but tensions were growing.

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In 1929, the Great Depression hit,

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triggered by a stock market crash.

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Overborrowing, weak banks, and risky investments

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led to businesses failing and unemployment soaring.

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Poverty spread quickly, forcing many to migrate

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in search of work, though jobs were hard to find.

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The global economy was deeply connected,

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and the effects were felt everywhere.

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As nations struggled, totalitarian regimes

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began to rise.

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In Germany, Adolf Hitler used anger over the Treaty

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of Versailles and economic hardship to seize power.

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He became a dictator, leading Germany into war.

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In Italy, Benito Mussolini created a fascist regime,

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using violence and propaganda to control the people

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and expand Italy's influence.

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Meanwhile, in the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin took control,

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ruling with fear and causing millions of deaths

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through purges and forced industrialization.

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While Europe faced these challenges,

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anti-colonial movements were gaining strength.

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In India, Mahatma Gandhi led peaceful protests

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against British rule, inspiring others

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to fight for independence through non-violence.

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In the Middle East, countries sought freedom

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from European control after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

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New national identities began to form

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as nations pushed for self-rule.

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In Africa, resistance against colonial powers grew,

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though full independence would not come for several years.

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In the Arabian Peninsula, Abdulaziz Ibn Saoud

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united tribes to form the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.

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Meanwhile, countries like Iraq and Egypt

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fought for independence, but European influence remained strong.

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The interwar period was a time of struggle,

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but also transformation.

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Powerful leaders emerged, national movements grew,

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and new ideas reshaped the world.

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These events set the stage for the challenges

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and changes of World War II.