Major Social, Cultural, and Intellectual Developments in Europe

Major Social, Cultural, and Intellectual Developments in Europe

The Second World War began in 1939 and ended in 1945. It was responsible for tremendous changes, particularly in Europe, which was apparent post-war. As other nations participated in the war and moved to Europe, it created a more diverse culture; the deaths following the war created a labor gap and displacement. The state of Europe up to the year 1939 was different from the way it was after 1945. The impacts of the five-year conflict extended to social, economic, cultural, and intellectual aspects of life.

The most significant social development was the narrowing or leveling of the gap between the rich and poor in terms of wealth. The change was achieved by income tax, an increment in state assistance, and death duties. The public authorities maintained high employment levels in an attempt to fill the labor gap caused by the war (Duiker 2006). A second significant social change was the increased number of women who got employed and became independent; they enjoyed a broad scope of vocations and would get opportunities in higher positions and a more equivalent position in society.

European culture changed significantly in the 1950s. American pop culture had effectively established its influence before the Second World War began, and the impact only picked up after the war. Thousands of American troops who had crossed the Atlantic to fight the war had carried with them another influx of American influence, including jazz and radio stations adopted by the Europeans (Duiker 2006). Many Europeans lived as depicted in movies through watching American films.

Intellectual development is demonstrated by the fact that by 1960, half of Germany was already the strongest European financial force, accredited to the adjustment in the roles played by the state and the citizens after the war. Also, the Europeans decided to focus on people’s rights by providing order, a good life, and stability; for instance, in Eastern Germany, 50% of secondary school students had to be from peasants or working-class families (Duiker 2006).

In conclusion, the effects of the Second World War seem to have had significant influence even in contemporary Europe. Even though the Black Death had more impact on Europe than the Second World War, one cannot disregard its importance as a determinant of historical changes towards good.

References

Duiker, W. J. (2006). Contemporary world history. Cengage Learning.

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What major social, cultural, and intellectual developments have occurred in Europe since 1945, and how have they changed the character of European society?

Major Social, Cultural, and Intellectual Developments in Europe