Causes of World War II
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AP World History: Modern › Causes of World War II
In the interwar period, many states adopted protectionist policies such as tariffs and quotas to protect domestic industries during economic crisis. Germany sought autarky and expanded trade and influence in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, while Japan pursued control of resource-rich territories. Economic hardship also fueled extremist politics and demands for revision of the post–World War I order. Which argument best connects global economic conditions to the causes of World War II?
The worldwide adoption of the gold standard after 1930 stabilized currencies so effectively that authoritarian movements lost support and disarmed.
The end of colonial empires in the 1920s created immediate prosperity, which pushed European states to fight wars to redistribute wealth equally.
Economic recovery in the early 1930s reduced unemployment everywhere, causing governments to expand militaries solely to provide jobs rather than pursue conquest.
Economic interdependence eliminated rivalry, so the Great Depression reduced conflict by encouraging states to cooperate through open markets and free trade.
Economic crisis and protectionism intensified competition for resources and markets, strengthening militarist and expansionist policies in states like Germany and Japan.
Explanation
The correct answer is B. The Great Depression created a vicious cycle of economic nationalism that intensified international competition and fueled militaristic expansion. As global trade collapsed, states adopted protectionist policies like high tariffs and import quotas, further reducing international commerce and deepening the crisis. Germany pursued autarky (economic self-sufficiency) and sought to create a closed economic sphere in Eastern Europe, while Japan's lack of raw materials drove its expansion into resource-rich China and Southeast Asia. Economic hardship also destabilized democratic governments and strengthened authoritarian movements that promised national revival through military strength and territorial expansion. The breakdown of the international economic system thus created both the material incentives for expansion (securing resources and markets) and the political conditions (extremist movements) that made aggressive war more likely.
During the 1930s, Germany openly rearmed, reintroduced conscription, and developed a modern air force, violating the Treaty of Versailles. At the same time, Britain and France debated military spending and focused on domestic recovery. Some leaders believed Germany’s grievances were understandable or that negotiation could prevent war. By 1939, German forces were prepared for rapid offensives, while opponents were still completing rearmament. Which factor most directly made German aggression more likely to succeed early in World War II?
A global ban on aircraft production, which eliminated the possibility of rapid offensives and made territorial conquest impractical for all states.
The permanent alliance of Germany with the League of Nations, which constrained its military planning and required approval for deployments abroad.
France’s immediate occupation of Berlin in 1936, which removed Nazi leadership and ended German territorial ambitions before they could form.
Germany’s adherence to Versailles military limits, which forced it to rely on diplomacy and prevented the use of force in foreign policy.
Germany’s early and extensive rearmament, combined with opponents’ delayed mobilization, created a temporary strategic advantage that encouraged risky expansion.
Explanation
The correct answer is A. Germany's secret rearmament program, begun in the early 1930s and accelerated after Hitler's rise to power, gave it a significant military advantage by the late 1930s. While Germany built modern tanks, aircraft, and trained forces in new blitzkrieg tactics, Britain and France delayed rearmament due to economic constraints and public opposition to military spending. By 1939, Germany possessed a well-equipped, modern military ready for rapid offensive operations, while its opponents were still building up their forces. This temporary strategic advantage created a "window of opportunity" that encouraged Hitler to pursue aggressive expansion before his enemies could match German military strength. The combination of German preparedness and Allied unpreparedness made early German victories possible and influenced Hitler's decision to risk war.
In the 1930s, Japan’s leaders argued that economic survival required control over resources and markets. Japan occupied Manchuria in 1931, established the puppet state of Manchukuo, and later launched a broader invasion of China in 1937. Japanese propaganda framed expansion as creating a “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere,” while Western powers responded with diplomatic protests and, later, economic pressure. Which motivation best explains Japan’s early actions that contributed to the outbreak of World War II in Asia?
A plan to dismantle industrialization in East Asia, reducing competition by encouraging agrarian self-sufficiency in occupied territories.
An effort to spread liberal democracy in China by supporting elections and dismantling military influence within Japanese politics.
The pursuit of raw materials and strategic security through imperial expansion, justified by rhetoric of regional leadership and anti-Western nationalism.
A desire to restore Tokugawa isolationism by withdrawing from Asian trade networks and limiting foreign contact through strict coastal defenses.
A commitment to League of Nations collective security, which required Japan to occupy Manchuria to prevent conflict among Chinese warlords.
Explanation
The correct answer is B. Japan's expansion in the 1930s was driven primarily by the need for raw materials and strategic security, as the island nation lacked essential resources like oil, rubber, and iron ore. Japanese leaders believed that controlling resource-rich territories in China and Southeast Asia was vital for economic survival and military strength. They justified this expansion through the ideology of the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere," claiming to liberate Asia from Western imperialism while establishing Japanese dominance. The occupation of Manchuria in 1931 provided coal and iron, while the broader invasion of China in 1937 aimed to secure additional resources and markets. This resource-driven imperialism, combined with militaristic nationalism, set Japan on a collision course with Western powers and contributed directly to the Pacific War.
After World War I, many leaders hoped to avoid another catastrophic conflict. During the 1930s, Britain and France faced domestic economic hardship and memories of trench warfare. When Hitler demanded the Sudetenland in 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain negotiated the Munich Agreement, believing concessions could preserve peace. Germany soon occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia, revealing that earlier promises were unreliable. Which statement best explains why appeasement contributed to the outbreak of World War II?
Appeasement ended nationalism in Europe by promoting self-determination, thereby eliminating ethnic conflicts that might have sparked war.
Appeasement signaled reluctance to fight, allowing Germany to gain resources and strategic positions, making later resistance more difficult and risky.
Appeasement reduced German demands permanently by satisfying all territorial claims, leaving Hitler with no reason to pursue further expansion.
Appeasement forced Germany to disarm publicly, which weakened the Wehrmacht and encouraged France to invade Germany preemptively.
Appeasement strengthened collective security by uniting European states, enabling them to deter Germany through immediate military mobilization in 1938.
Explanation
The correct answer is C. The policy of appeasement, exemplified by the Munich Agreement of 1938, signaled to Hitler that Britain and France were desperate to avoid war and would make significant concessions rather than fight. By allowing Germany to annex the Sudetenland, the Western powers not only failed to deter aggression but actually strengthened Germany's position. The Sudetenland contained Czechoslovakia's defensive fortifications and important industrial resources, making Germany more powerful while weakening potential resistance. When Hitler broke his promises and occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia, it became clear that appeasement had failed, but by then Germany had gained valuable territory, resources, and strategic advantages. This pattern of concessions convinced Hitler that he could continue expanding with minimal risk, ultimately leading to the invasion of Poland.
During the 1930s, Japan sought secure access to raw materials and markets, and military leaders argued that economic self-sufficiency required territorial control. Japan occupied Manchuria in 1931 and later expanded deeper into China, while Western powers criticized aggression but avoided direct military confrontation. Which broader global development most closely shaped Japan’s actions as a cause of World War II?
The formation of a global collective security army, which compelled Japan to expand before international troops could occupy Manchuria first.
The end of global trade after 1919, which eliminated markets and made territorial conquest economically irrational for all states.
The spread of communist revolutions in Western Europe, which forced Japan to invade China to prevent immediate socialist takeovers there.
The collapse of the Atlantic slave trade, which pushed Japan to seize Chinese ports to replace labor systems with coerced plantation economies.
The rise of industrial capitalism and resource competition, which encouraged imperial expansion to secure strategic materials and regional dominance.
Explanation
The correct answer is B, which identifies industrial capitalism and resource competition as the key factor driving Japanese expansion. Japan, as an industrializing nation with limited natural resources, sought to secure access to raw materials like oil, rubber, and iron ore, as well as markets for its manufactured goods. Military leaders argued that creating a self-sufficient economic sphere through territorial control was essential for Japan's survival as a great power. This led to the occupation of Manchuria in 1931 and later expansion into China. The other options are historically inaccurate: the Atlantic slave trade (A) had ended long before, communist revolutions weren't occurring in Western Europe (C), global trade continued after 1919 (D), and no global collective security army existed (E).
In the interwar period, the Treaty of Versailles imposed reparations and territorial losses on Germany, while the Great Depression destabilized economies and politics worldwide. Japan expanded into Manchuria (1931) seeking resources, and Italy invaded Ethiopia (1935) to build empire. Many governments pursued appeasement, hoping concessions would prevent another war. Which factor most directly contributed to the outbreak of World War II by encouraging aggressive revision of the international order?
The spread of Wilsonian self-determination, which empowered colonial independence movements to overthrow European rule and start a global conflict.
A worldwide decline in nationalism, which reduced state legitimacy and forced governments to invade neighbors to maintain domestic unity.
The creation of the United Nations, which imposed binding military sanctions that provoked Germany, Italy, and Japan into preemptive war.
Rapid decolonization in Africa and Asia, which caused European states to fight each other over newly independent markets and borders.
Economic crisis and resentment after World War I, which strengthened militarist and fascist leaders promising territorial expansion and national restoration.
Explanation
The correct answer is C, which identifies economic crisis and resentment after World War I as the most direct cause of World War II. The Treaty of Versailles created deep resentment in Germany through harsh reparations and territorial losses, while the Great Depression of the 1930s devastated economies worldwide and created mass unemployment. These conditions allowed militarist and fascist leaders like Hitler, Mussolini, and Japanese military leaders to gain power by promising national restoration and territorial expansion. The other options are historically inaccurate: Wilsonian self-determination (A) actually supported some national aspirations but didn't cause global conflict, the UN (B) was created after WWII not before, nationalism increased rather than declined (D), and rapid decolonization (E) occurred after WWII, not before it.
In August 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a nonaggression pact that included secret protocols dividing spheres of influence in Eastern Europe. Soon after, Germany invaded Poland, and Britain and France declared war. Which explanation best describes how the 1939 nonaggression pact contributed to the outbreak of World War II in Europe?
It removed Germany’s fear of a two-front war in the short term, making an attack on Poland more feasible and escalating the crisis.
It transferred German colonies to the Soviet Union, causing Britain and France to declare war over African territorial disputes.
It required Germany to dismantle its army and return all territories seized since 1919, provoking domestic revolt that spread into war.
It guaranteed immediate Soviet military support for Britain and France, enabling them to invade Germany first and start the European war.
It created a permanent democratic alliance between Germany and the USSR, ending ideological conflict and preventing any further European wars.
Explanation
The correct answer is B, which explains how the Nazi-Soviet Pact removed Germany's fear of a two-front war. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939 was crucial because it meant Germany could invade Poland without worrying about Soviet intervention from the east. The secret protocols dividing Eastern Europe between Germany and the USSR essentially gave Hitler a free hand to attack Poland. This removed the last major obstacle to German aggression, as Hitler no longer faced the prospect of fighting both Western powers and the Soviet Union simultaneously. Within days of signing the pact, Germany invaded Poland, triggering declarations of war from Britain and France. The other options are incorrect: the pact didn't guarantee Soviet support for Britain/France (A), didn't require German disarmament (C), didn't create a democratic alliance (D), and didn't involve African colonies (E).
In Europe, Adolf Hitler repudiated Versailles restrictions, rearmed Germany, and pursued territorial expansion justified as protecting ethnic Germans and restoring national greatness. Britain and France, facing war-weariness and economic challenges, often responded with negotiations and concessions, including the Munich Agreement (1938). Which rationale best explains why appeasement contributed to the outbreak of World War II?
It strengthened the League of Nations by demonstrating that sanctions and collective security could deter aggressors without military force.
It convinced Germany that Britain and France would resist any further moves, causing Hitler to abandon expansion and seek peace through diplomacy.
It signaled that limited aggression would face little immediate cost, encouraging further expansion until war became difficult to avoid.
It forced Germany into economic isolation, leading to domestic collapse and a peaceful transition back to democratic governance.
It reduced tensions by granting Germany equal colonial access, eliminating competition over resources and preventing conflict in Eastern Europe.
Explanation
The correct answer is D, which explains how appeasement signaled that aggression would face little cost. The policy of appeasement, exemplified by the Munich Agreement of 1938 where Britain and France allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland, convinced Hitler that Western powers would not forcefully resist his territorial ambitions. Each successful violation of international agreements - from remilitarizing the Rhineland to annexing Austria - emboldened further aggression. This pattern continued until Hitler's invasion of Poland finally triggered war. The other options are incorrect: appeasement didn't convince Hitler to abandon expansion (A), didn't strengthen the League of Nations (B), didn't grant Germany colonies (C), and didn't force Germany into isolation (E).
Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia (1935) challenged international norms against conquest. The League of Nations condemned the invasion and imposed limited sanctions, but key states avoided measures that might threaten their own strategic interests. The episode became widely viewed as evidence that international rules could be ignored. Which conclusion best connects this event to the broader causes of World War II?
It demonstrated the success of disarmament treaties, as Italy’s defeat encouraged all states to reduce armies and renounce militarism.
It proved that decolonization was complete, since Ethiopia’s conquest ended European imperialism and removed key sources of global tension.
It directly triggered Germany’s invasion of Poland the same year, since Ethiopia’s location provided the strategic corridor for German troops.
It showed that collective security was unreliable, encouraging other revisionist powers to believe territorial conquest would face weak international resistance.
It caused the United States to join the League immediately and enforce a global embargo, preventing further aggression in Europe and Asia.
Explanation
The correct answer is A, which explains how Ethiopia showed that collective security was unreliable. Italy's successful conquest of Ethiopia despite League of Nations condemnation and sanctions demonstrated the weakness of the international system. The League's half-hearted response - limited sanctions that excluded crucial materials like oil, and major powers' unwillingness to risk war - showed other aggressive powers that international rules could be violated without serious consequences. This lesson was not lost on Germany and Japan, who saw that determined aggression would likely face only weak international resistance. The other options are historically wrong: Ethiopia's conquest didn't end European imperialism (B), didn't cause US League membership (C), didn't demonstrate successful disarmament (D), and didn't trigger Germany's invasion of Poland (E).
The League of Nations condemned aggression in the 1930s, including Japan’s actions in Manchuria and Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia, but it lacked enforcement mechanisms and depended on member cooperation. Major powers were reluctant to commit troops or accept major economic costs. Which statement best describes how weaknesses in collective security contributed to World War II?
The League’s military victories over Japan and Italy led Germany to launch a preventive war before sanctions could be imposed on it.
Collective security eliminated alliances entirely, leaving states unable to coordinate and therefore preventing any large-scale war from occurring.
Collective security worked too well, provoking a backlash as small states feared the League would erase their sovereignty through forced integration.
The League’s exclusive focus on decolonization caused European empires to fight each other to preserve overseas territories, igniting war.
Failure to deter early aggressions emboldened revisionist states, undermining international norms and making larger conflicts more likely.
Explanation
The correct answer is C, which identifies how the League's failure to deter early aggressions emboldened revisionist states. When the League of Nations failed to effectively respond to Japanese aggression in Manchuria (1931) and Italian invasion of Ethiopia (1935), it demonstrated that the international system lacked teeth. The League could condemn and impose limited sanctions, but without enforcement mechanisms or willingness of major powers to act, aggressors faced minimal consequences. This undermined the entire concept of collective security and international law, encouraging Germany and others to believe they could pursue territorial expansion with impunity. The other options are wrong: collective security didn't work too well (A), the League didn't achieve military victories (B), wasn't focused on decolonization (D), and didn't eliminate alliances (E).