#AP World History: Modern - Road to WWII 🚀

Hey there, future AP World History master! Let's get you prepped for the exam with a super-focused review of the causes of World War II. Think of this as your ultimate cheat sheet – concise, clear, and designed to make everything click. Let's dive in!

#1. The Unstable Peace After WWI 🕊️

#The Paris Peace Conference Fiasco

• The Paris Peace Conference (1919) aimed to create lasting peace but... it kinda failed. 😬
• Key Issues:
  • Failed to address underlying tensions like imperialism and nationalism.
  • Self-interest of major powers (France, Britain, Italy) led to territorial disputes.
  • No effective system for maintaining peace. 💔
• Mandates: Gave Hitler a justification for invading German-speaking regions, claiming to unify the "superior race." 🚩

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• Italy: Felt cheated, receiving little territory despite fighting for the Allies. This fueled nationalism and expansionist ambitions under Mussolini. 🇮🇹
• Germany:
  • The War Guilt Clause placed sole blame on Germany and imposed heavy reparations. 😠
  • Disarmament limited their military, seen as an attack on national sovereignty.
  • International Isolation: Germany was initially excluded from the League of Nations and banned from uniting with Austria.
• Result: Created widespread resentment and instability, setting the stage for future conflict. 💣

Jump to Global Economic Crisis

#2. Global Economic Crisis 📉

#The Great Depression's Global Impact

• The Great Depression (1929) began in the U.S. and quickly spread globally. 🌍
• How it Spread:
  • U.S. economic collapse led to a decline in international trade and investment.
  • European economies, heavily reliant on U.S. trade, suffered immensely.
  • Collapse of U.S. banks caused deflation and economic downturn in Europe.
• Impact:
  • Widespread unemployment and poverty led to social and political upheaval.
  • Rise of extremist political movements (fascism, communism) promising order and prosperity. 💡

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• Germany: Hit hard by the depression, leading to resentment and social unrest.
• Hitler and the Nazi Party capitalized on this, promising to:
  • End reparation payments from WWI.
  • Restore Germany as a leading power. 💪
  • Blamed the Treaty of Versailles for their woes.
• Result: Hitler's promises resonated with a desperate populace, helping him rise to power. 🔥

Jump to Rise of Fascist and Totalitarian Regimes

#3. Rise of Fascist and Totalitarian Regimes 🚩

#Factors Contributing to the Rise

• Discontent with WWI Peace Settlement: Humiliation and resentment over the Treaty of Versailles fueled extremism. 😠
• The Great Depression: Economic hardship made people desperate for strong leaders and radical solutions. 😥
• Fascist Leaders: Offered visions of strong, centralized states, promising order and prosperity. 🌟
• Scapegoating: Blamed foreign powers and minorities for economic woes, gaining support. 👿
• Authoritarian Rule: Citizens were willing to accept it for economic stability. 🔒

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• Propaganda: Used catchphrases, symbols (like the swastika), and media to promote their ideology. 📣
• Power Grab: Used legal and illegal means, including violence and intimidation, to gain power. 🔥
• Reichstag Fire: Used as an excuse to pass the Enabling Act, giving Hitler dictatorial powers. 📜
• Rearmament: Rapid military expansion, raising alarm in neighboring countries. ⚠️

#Italy and Fascist Italy

• Mussolini and the PNF: Capitalized on post-WWI turmoil, promising order and national pride. 🇮🇹
• March on Rome (1922): Resulted in a fascist-controlled government. 🏛️
• Consolidation of Power: Repressed political opposition, created a secret police, and indoctrinated youth. 👮
• Economic Measures: Strengthened the economy with public works and state-controlled businesses. 🏗️

Jump to Imperialism

#4. Imperialism 🌍

#Expansionist Ambitions

• Japan: Consolidated its hold over Asia, joining the Axis Powers. 🇯🇵
• Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan formed an alliance to acquire more land and create a new balance of power. 🤝
• Italy: Mussolini invaded Ethiopia (1935) and intervened in the Spanish Civil War (1936) to expand territory. 🇪🇹
• Germany:
  • Reoccupied the Rhineland (1936). 🇩🇪
  • Annexed Austria (Anschluss, 1938). 🇦🇹
  • Demanded territory from Czechoslovakia, leading to the Munich Agreement (1938). 🇨🇿
  • Invaded Poland (1939), triggering WWII. 🇵🇱

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• Appeasement: France and Britain allowed Hitler to annex Austria and parts of Czechoslovakia in exchange for his promise not to invade further. 🤝
• Violation: Hitler's invasion of Poland in September 1939 finally led France and Britain to declare war. 💥
• Result: After 20 years of unstable peace, the world was plunged into war again. 😥

Jump to Final Exam Focus

#Final Exam Focus 🎯

#Key Topics to Review:

• Treaty of Versailles: Its impact on Germany and Italy.
• Great Depression: Its global spread and consequences.
• Rise of Fascism and Totalitarianism: How leaders like Hitler and Mussolini gained power.
• Imperialism: Expansionist ambitions of Axis Powers.
• Appeasement: Its role in escalating tensions.

#Common Question Types:

• Multiple Choice: Focus on specific events, causes, and consequences. 🧐
• Short Answer Questions (SAQs): Analyze the impact of the Treaty of Versailles or the Great Depression. ✍️
• Long Essay Questions (LEQs): Compare and contrast the causes of WWI and WWII or analyze the rise of totalitarian regimes. 📝
• Document-Based Questions (DBQs): Analyze primary source documents related to the interwar period. 📑

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• Time Management: Don't spend too long on a single question. Keep moving! ⏱️
• Connect the Dots: Look for connections between different units (e.g., imperialism and economic crises). 🔗
• Use Evidence: Back up your arguments with specific historical examples. 📚
• Stay Calm: You've got this! Believe in yourself. 💪

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• Overgeneralization: Be specific and avoid broad statements without evidence.
• Ignoring Context: Understand the historical context of events.
• Not Analyzing Documents: For DBQs, make sure to thoroughly analyze the source documents.

Jump to Practice Questions

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following was NOT a major cause of World War II? a) The Treaty of Versailles b) The Great Depression c) The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand d) The rise of fascism

2. The policy of appeasement, adopted by Britain and France before World War II, is best described as: a) A strategy to contain the spread of communism. b) A diplomatic effort to avoid war by making concessions to aggressive powers. c) A plan to rearm and prepare for war. d) An economic policy to stimulate growth.

3. Which of the following best describes the impact of the Great Depression on Europe? a) It led to increased international cooperation and trade. b) It had minimal impact on European economies. c) It contributed to political instability and the rise of extremist movements. d) It strengthened existing democratic governments.

#Short Answer Question (SAQ)

Explain ONE way in which the Treaty of Versailles contributed to the outbreak of World War II. Then, explain ONE way in which the Great Depression contributed to the outbreak of World War II.

• Answer:
  • Treaty of Versailles: The treaty imposed harsh reparations on Germany and placed sole responsibility for the war on them, leading to resentment and instability that Hitler exploited. (1 point)
  • Great Depression: The global economic crisis led to widespread unemployment and poverty, which destabilized political systems and created an environment where extremist ideologies like fascism could thrive. (1 point)

#Free Response Question (FRQ)

Analyze the extent to which the Treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression contributed to the outbreak of World War II.

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, historically defensible thesis that addresses the prompt. For example: "While both the Treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression contributed to the outbreak of World War II, the Treaty created the initial conditions of resentment and instability that the Great Depression exacerbated, leading to the rise of extremist ideologies and aggressive expansionism."
• Argument Development (2 points): Provides specific examples and evidence to support the thesis.
  • Treaty of Versailles:
    • War guilt clause and reparations imposed on Germany.
    • Loss of territory and limitations on military.
    • Creation of mandates and territorial disputes.
  • Great Depression:
    • Global economic collapse and its impact on Europe.
    • Rise of extremist movements like fascism and communism.
    • Exploitation of social unrest and economic hardship by leaders like Hitler.
• Analysis (2 points): Explains the connections between the evidence and the argument. For example:
  • Explains how the Treaty of Versailles created a sense of injustice and humiliation in Germany, which Hitler exploited to gain power.
  • Explains how the Great Depression created an environment where people were willing to accept authoritarian rule in exchange for economic stability.
  • Analyzes how the economic crisis fueled nationalist sentiment and expansionist ambitions.
• Synthesis (1 point): Extends the argument by connecting it to a broader historical context or making a relevant connection to another time period or event. For example:
  • Connects the economic impact of the Great Depression to the economic instability that fueled the French Revolution.
  • Compares the Treaty of Versailles to other peace settlements that have failed to create lasting peace.