Postwar Uncertainty

​Postwar Uncertainty

By Mr. Carrasco

• Albert Einstein

  • Developed the theory of relativity

  • Said space and time are relative, not fixed

  • Challenged Newton’s traditional laws of physics

• Sigmund Freud

  • Studied the unconscious mind

  • Believed human behavior is driven by hidden urges and desires

  • Argued people are often irrational​

​A New Revolution in Science

Multiple Choice

Which idea best summarizes Freud’s view of human behavior?

• Humans act purely on logic

• Behavior is controlled by government laws

• People are influenced by unconscious desires

• Science can fully explain human actions

• Franz Kafka

  • Wrote about fear, confusion, and powerlessness

  • Characters trapped in situations they cannot understand or escape

• Existentialism

  • Philosophy arguing life has no universal meaning

  • Individuals must create meaning through their own choices and actions

• Influenced by Friedrich Nietzsche

  • Criticized reason, democracy, and progress

  • Valued strength, pride, and individual power

​Literature in the 1920s

• Visual Arts

  • Cubism – Founded by Pablo Picasso. Broke objects into geometric shapes.

  • Surrealism - Dreamlike images beyond reality.

  • Paul Klee - Used bold colors and distorted forms.

• Music

  • Igor Stravinsky - Used harsh sounds and unusual rhythms.

  • Jazz

    • Created by African American musicians.

    • Lively, improvisational, and expressive.

Revolution in the Arts

Multiple Choice

Which two new styles developed in visual art during this period?

• Realism and Romanticism

• Cubism and Surrealism

• Impressionism and Baroque

• Classical and Renaissance

• Social norms shifted dramatically after the war:

  • Young people embraced modern values

  • Women wore shorter, looser clothing

  • More women worked in new careers

  • African Americans migrated north during the Great Migration to seek opportunity

  These changes challenged long-held traditions and expectations.

Society Challenges Convention

Multiple Choice

After World War I, women returned completely to traditional roles and styles.

• True

• False

• New inventions changed how people lived, traveled, and were entertained:

  • Automobiles

    • Became affordable and popular

    • Encouraged growth of suburbs

  • Air Travel

    • Charles Lindbergh flew solo across the Atlantic (1927)

    • Amelia Earhart first woman to do so (1932)

  • Entertainment

    • Radios brought music and news into homes

    • Movies became a major form of entertainment

Technology Transforms Life

Multiple Choice

Which change most affected entertainment in the 1920s?

• Telegraphs replaced newspapers

• Radios and movies became widespread

• Books disappeared from homes

• Airplanes replaced trains