On Historical Missions and Modern Phenomena: A Comparison of Germany and the USA on their Way towards the Second World War.

<p>There are surprisingly detailed similarities between Germany and the USA on their way towards the Second World War. In this paper, I have compared the nations' expansionist philosophies, their encounter with racism, and the internal conflicts between authoritarian leadership and democracy.</p><p>I began with an overview of Manifest Destiny and the German myth of the East. Next, I summed up the deep changes that the First World War caused for both societies and how they went into the Great Depression. I examined the rise of scientific racism as part of the international eugenics movement and the emergence of populist leaders during the economic crisis.</p><p>It became clear that neither expansionism nor racism were genuine German ideologies. In fact, the American Manifest Destiny served as a role-model for German plans in the East. Even the racist concepts of the Third Reich were strongly influenced by American scientists. The main difference seems to be the experience with the First World War and the diversity of American protest during the crisis.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MA (Master of Arts)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - restricted

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

History

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Nowak, Steve

• Volksgemeinschaft
• Autocracy
• National Socialism
• New Deal
• Eugenics
• Expansionism
• Racism
• Manifest Destiny
• Mission Myth
• War Experience
• Lebensraum
• Weimar Republic
• Great Depression
• Arts and Humanities
• Cultural History
• History

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright by the authors.

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1708

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-3063