Causes of World War II - AP World History

1. Which event is considered the immediate cause of World War II?

   Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939. This violation of international agreements triggered Britain and France to declare war.

2. Which aggressive act by Japan in 1937 increased tensions in Asia?

   Invasion of China. Marked Japan's full-scale war in Asia preceding the global conflict.

3. Which policy aimed to keep the U.S. neutral in European conflicts?

   Isolationism. Reflected American desire to avoid entanglement in European power struggles.

4. What was the Soviet Union's initial stance on World War II?

   Neutral, due to the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. The pact temporarily aligned Soviet and German interests against Western powers.

5. Which clause of the Treaty of Versailles held Germany responsible for WWI?

   War Guilt Clause. Article 231 assigned full responsibility for war damages to Germany.

6. Which Japanese invasion in 1931 marked early aggression in Asia?

   Invasion of Manchuria. Violated international law and demonstrated the League's inability to enforce peace.

7. Who was the British Prime Minister known for appeasement policies?

   Neville Chamberlain. Led Britain's diplomatic efforts to avoid war through concessions to Hitler.

8. What was the primary goal of the Axis Powers?

   Territorial expansion and dominance. United Germany, Italy, and Japan in their quest for imperial expansion.

9. What was the main focus of the Tripartite Pact of 1940?

   Alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan. Formalized the Axis alliance for mutual defense and territorial coordination.

10. What was the impact of the Great Depression on international relations?

    Increased economic instability and nationalism. Economic hardship fueled extremist movements and weakened democratic governments.

11. Who was the leader of Nazi Germany during World War II?

    Adolf Hitler. Rose to power promoting extreme nationalism and territorial expansion policies.

12. What was the impact of the U.S. Neutrality Acts in the 1930s?

    Limited U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts. Prevented American aid to democratic nations fighting fascist aggression.

13. What was the primary objective of the Kellogg-Briand Pact?

    To renounce war as a national policy. Created international legal framework against aggressive warfare that ultimately failed.

14. What was the Anschluss of 1938?

    Annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany. United Austria and Germany under Nazi control without military resistance.

15. Which concept refers to the glorification of military power?

    Militarism. Emphasized military strength as the solution to national problems and conflicts.

16. What was the outcome of the Beer Hall Putsch for Hitler?

    Imprisonment and writing Mein Kampf. Failed coup attempt led to Hitler's trial, conviction, and ideological development.

17. What was Japan's goal in the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere?

    Establish dominance in Asia. Promoted Japanese hegemony under the guise of anti-Western liberation.

18. Which agreement allowed Germany to rearm in violation of the Treaty of Versailles?

    The Anglo-German Naval Agreement. Permitted German naval expansion while appearing to maintain treaty limitations.

19. Which country's civil war in the 1930s was a precursor to WWII?

    Spain. Became a proxy war where fascist and democratic powers tested military capabilities.

20. Who was the Italian dictator during World War II?

    Benito Mussolini. Led Italy into fascism and alliance with Nazi Germany.

21. Which German strategy involved fast, powerful strikes using combined arms?

    Blitzkrieg. 'Lightning war' combined tanks, aircraft, and infantry for rapid territorial conquest.

22. Identify the treaty that ended World War I and angered Germany.

    The Treaty of Versailles. Imposed harsh reparations and territorial losses that fueled German resentment.

23. Which country did Italy invade in 1935, challenging the League of Nations?

    Ethiopia. Mussolini's aggression exposed the League's weakness in enforcing collective security.

24. What was the role of propaganda in Nazi Germany?

    Promoted Nazi ideology and anti-Semitism. Manipulated public opinion to support aggressive policies and racial persecution.

25. What was the result of the Spanish Civil War relevant to WWII?

    Tested new military technologies and tactics. Served as a rehearsal for WWII tactics and weapons systems.

26. What was the main reason for the U.S. to shift from isolationism?

    Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The surprise attack forced America to abandon neutrality and join the war.

27. What was Hitler's autobiography and ideological manifesto?

    Mein Kampf. Outlined Hitler's racist ideology and territorial ambitions for Germany.

28. What action did Germany take in March 1936 that violated the Treaty of Versailles?

    Remilitarization of the Rhineland. Hitler tested Western resolve by violating the demilitarized zone agreement.

29. What was the purpose of the Rome-Berlin Axis?

    Alliance between Italy and Germany. Coordinated fascist policies and military cooperation between the two powers.

30. Identify the organization that failed to prevent World War II.

    The League of Nations. Lacked enforcement power and suffered from major powers' withdrawal or non-participation.

31. Which ideology emphasized the superiority of the Aryan race?

    Nazism. Hitler's ideology promoted German racial supremacy and territorial expansion.

32. What was the policy of appeasement regarding Nazi Germany?

    Conceding to Hitler's demands to avoid conflict. This strategy temporarily delayed conflict but encouraged further aggression.

33. Which two countries signed the Anti-Comintern Pact in 1936?

    Germany and Japan. Created an alliance against communist influence and Soviet expansion.

34. What was the significance of the Sudetenland crisis in 1938?

    Tested the policy of appeasement. Revealed appeasement's failure when Hitler continued aggressive expansion afterward.

35. What was the significance of the Munich Agreement of 1938?

    Allowed Germany to annex Sudetenland. Demonstrated appeasement's failure as Hitler broke promises within months.

36. Which pact divided Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres?

    Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Secret protocol partitioned Poland and the Baltic states between the powers.

37. What was the purpose of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact?

    To avoid conflict between Germany and the Soviet Union. Allowed both powers to focus on other territorial goals without mutual interference.

38. Which ideology sought to expand German territory for living space?

    Lebensraum. 'Living space' justified Nazi expansion into Eastern Europe and beyond.

Study these flashcards