AP World History: Modern › Labor Systems and Economic Systems 1900 to Present
How is the Treaty of Versailles generally viewed by historians?
A failure; it led to economic depression in Germany and the rise of totalitarian rulers in Europe.
A failure; it led to economic depression in France and Britain and encouraged a further wave of imperial land grabbing.
A failure; it created a new system of entangling alliances and further solidified the concert of power in Europe.
A success; it led to decolonization and the economic growth of Eastern Europe.
A success; it led to economic growth throughout Europe and ensured peace for several decades.
The Treaty of Versailles is generally heavily condemned by historians who tend to blame its provisions for the outbreak of the Second World War. The treaty was designed to punish the Germans for their part in the outbreak of the First World War, but ultimately it led to widespread economic depression in Germany and on the European continent, which in turn led to the rise of totalitarian rulers like Hitler and Mussolini.
Which of these statements about Stalin’s first Five Year Plan is most accurate?
It dramatically increased industrial production at the expense of agricultural output and lives
It dramatically increased both industrial production and agricultural output
It dramatically increased agricultural output at the expense of industrial production
Industrial production and agricultural output both declined substantially during the Five Year Plan
Industrial production improved slightly, but agricultural output declined catastrophically during the Five Year Plan
Stalin’s first Five Year Plan was aimed at industrializing the Soviet Union and collectivizing farms to reduce the influence of the Kulaks (wealthy peasants). It was successful in dramatically increasing industrial production, but the collectivization of farms led to widespread famine in many regions of the Soviet Union.
What was the primary goal of the European Coal and Steel Community?
To integrate the economies of western Europe so closely as to make war practically impossible
To improve the productive capabilities of iron and coal mines in western and central Europe
To improve the balance of trade between the countries of western Europe and the United States of America
To ensure that communism could not spread beyond its confines in eastern Europe
All of these answers were part of the motivation for the formation of the European Coal and Steel Community
The European Coal and Steel Community was formed in the 1950s, in the wake of the Second World War. Founding members included France, West Germany, and Italy. Its purpose was to integrate the economies of the Western European powers so closely as to make war not just impractical, but economically impossible. It became one of the founding organizations that would later combine to form the European Union.
After he succeeded Mao, Deng Xiaoping __________.
repealed the Cultural Revolution and instituted more moderate policies
ended China’s thirty year flirtation with communism and reinstated free market capitalism
prohibited religious observances and enacted a violent campaign against religious officials
abolished China’s trading agreements with the United States and other western nations, and sought to close Chinese markets to foreign interference
continued Mao’s Cultural Revolution and instituted even more radical policies
Deng Xiaoping came to power in 1978, following the death of Mao Zedong, and headed the Chinese Communist Party until 1992. His reign is marked by a reversal of the more divisive and destructive aspects of Mao’s rule. Deng Xiaoping was himself targeted during the Cultural Revolution and when he came to power he formally repealed the movement and set about dismantling its many policies. Deng Xiaoping is remembered as a moderating force in the history of the Chinese Communist Party.
Which of the following elements was NOT part of Soviet leader Boris Yeltsin’s “shock therapy” program?
Decreased privatization
Foreign trade liberalization
Tax hikes
Increased interest rates
The removal of price controls
In the immediate aftermath of the Soviet Union’s dissolution, Boris Yeltsin – who then became the leader of the Russian Federation – instituted a program known as “shock therapy.” Designed to help the Russian economy transition from socialism to capitalism, Yeltsin’s program involved the removal of price controls, an increase in both taxes and interest rates, the liberalization of foreign trade, and a massive increase in the privatization of state industries. Unfortunately for both Russia and Yeltsin, shock therapy was implemented much too soon and much too swiftly – the Russian economy couldn’t withstand the rapid changes and instead fell into hyperinflation and a severe depression.
The Works Progress Administration was created as part of __________.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal
Lenin’s New Economic Policy
Stalin’s Five Year Plan
Mao’s Cultural Revolution
Theodore Roosevelt’s Square Deal
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was created in 1935 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal program. The WPA was designed to employ the millions of unskilled American workers who were suffering immensely during the Great Depression. These workers were employed in road and public works construction across the United States. At its peak in the late 1930s the agency employed more than three million Americans.
Which of these statements about Germany under the rule of Hitler in the second-half of the 1930s is most accurate?
The economy and standard of living improved dramatically, as the Nazis reinvigorated Germany industry and focused on militarization
The economy and standard of living worsened substantially, as the Nazis redirected Germany industry to focus on militarization
The economy and standard of living remained roughly the same, as the Nazis redirected Germany industry to focus on militarization
The nation focused on militarization and building friendly relations with other Fascist and autocratic powers
The nation focused on internal infrastructure and withdrew from international affairs
Under Hitler’s rule Germany’s economy recovered spectacularly in the second-half of the 1930s. When he came to power Germany’s economy had been devastated by the combined impact of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the outbreak of the Great Depression. The Nazi Party implemented a series of reforms designed to improve the German economy and standard of living; ensured the viability of a self-sufficient German economy; and focused on rapid industrialization and militarization. By the outbreak of the Second World War the German economy was once again one of the strongest in the world.
This economic system holds that growth is most effectively created by investing in capital and by lowering taxes on the production of goods and services.
supply-side economics
socialism
communism
growth-side economics
Keynesian theory
Supply-side economics, a function of capitalism more greatly, became most popular under Ronald Regan and involved the general lowering of corporate and personal taxes, as well as expanded free trade. It grew as a direct response to the shortfalls of Keynesian Theory.
Which of these countries was least affected by the Great Depression?
the Soviet Union
the United States of America
Germany
the United Kingdom
Japan
The United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom all suffered terribly in the Great Depression. These three countries were tied together by the global capitalist market. Japan also suffered as a result of the Great Depression, but less so than the other three countries because Japan was less integrated into the global economy and was still undergoing its period of industrialization and modernizing growth. Only the Soviet Union remained largely unaffected by the Great Depression, indeed Soviet heavy industry grew dramatically during the Great Depression. This is because the Soviet Union was a communist country and the economy was almost entirely isolated from the economy of the rest of the world.
Josef Stalin’s Five Year Plan replaced Vladimir Lenin’s __________.
New Economic Policy
War Communism
Great Leap Forward
Cultural Revolution
Comintern Movement
When Lenin first came to power he enacted a policy called War Communism. After the end of the Russian Civil War in 1922 he enacted the New Economic Policy. This was designed to ensure the continued nationalization of Russian industry, but allowed minor capitalism in certain areas (such as allowing peasants to sell their surplus crops). After Stalin came to power he replaced the New Economic Policy with the first of his Five Year Plans.