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How Did the Depression Affect France?

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The closing days of the 1920’s were a start of what would be the worst economic disaster that had ever been witnessed. The effect that the Great Depression had on capitalist countries such as Germany and the United States, was that their stocks and shares heavy economy plunged, leaving businesses unable to trade, and poverty throughout the nation. In the case of France, the depression initially did not suddenly bring the economy down drastically as it had to the more industrialised nations. Although relatively unscathed at first, by 1931 the ripple effect had hit France which steamrolled the economic downturn of the French economy. With France following the gold standard, the economic downturn lasted much longer than other affected …show more content…

Following the events, Gaston Doumergue formed a government which had to endure criticism for not protecting against anti fascism, economic policies which were unflavoured by both left, and right wing institutions (McMillan, 2003, p.58), which led to his government to focus on their communist policies, putting the peasants and rural workers as priority. His decision to take vigorous action against deflation, to better all members of society greatly setback by the depression to help aid social disorder was met with much discontent by many radicals (Jackson, 1988, p.45). The popular front led by Leon Blum, was the socialist government from 1936 which put in place the ‘Matignon Agreement’. Several developments established during the period of governing such as raising wages, and introducing the forty hour working week (James, 2003, p.124). Although they had in a sense united workers and employers, the adverse consequences resulted in a radicalised nation, with strong policing on tax evasion, and the reforms were substantially expensive (James, 2003, pp.124-125). Politically, the poor stability of the French economy didn’t allow Blum and his party to enforce their power across Europe. With the German economy recovering rapidly, and the vast military production, France simply didn’t have the resources to match up to the threat posed upon them (James, 2003, p.125). In conclusion, the

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