Final Exam- Short Answers Flashcards
1) By 1939, only two major European powers remained democratic. Name them and the importance of this statement.
France and Britain. Showed democracy wasn’t really working. One of them was France!!!!!! Britain is a constitutional monarchy. Contradiction!
2) Define totalitarianism, list two types of it, and list three main ideologies that are used in a totalitarian state.
Totalitarianism: radical dictatorship that greatly extended the functions and power of the central state
2 types:
Fascism- Italy, left big business to regulate itself, no land reform, but women were oppressed
Communism- Soviet Union, abused rights of individual to benefit the masses, no God (hate religion), no private property, burned books
Nazism- Germany
3 main ideologies:
- Intended to achieve a ‘perfect final stage of mankind’
- Monopoly of the means of effective mass communication (propaganda)
- Central control and direction of the entire economy
3) According to lecture, what were Hitler’s four biggest mistakes, the significance of these mistakes, and when they took place?
- Evacuation of Dunkirk in 1941, which let British soldiers escape to regroup and continue fighting
- Operation Barbarosa in June 1941- invasion of the Soviet Union, delayed Nazis by 2 crucial months because they went through Greece and Yugoslavia to enter Soviet Union
- Hitler declares war on the U.S. – in 1941, 4 days after Pearl Harbor. Creates a two front war, brings in strongest opponent into war.
- 1944- As the Germans retreated on the Eastern front, they burned and destroyed everything in their path- Scorched Earth Policy, convinced world further that Germans were barbarians. Stiffens thought of need for unconditional surrender.
4) How did Stalin come to power in the Soviet Union? Hitler in Germany? Tell the significance of both.
- Stalin by force. Hitler by constitution. Both successful in achieving totalitarian regimes and killing more people than any other leaders.
Stalin killed his way to power and got rid of everyone that he deemed a threat.
Significance: Stalin was psycho from the start - Hitler was elected to power, was democratic and constitutional. Gained control of small Nazi party in 1921. 1924- 1929 consolidated power of Nazi party. In 1933, Hitler was appointed to chancellor. In 1934, President died and he became sole ruler.
Significance: Hitler did not take power by force, he was elected legally. Thus, he technically did not break the so we should continue to hold our leaders accountable even after they are elected, which is why we have our system of checks and balances.
5) Why did the Germans and the Italians want to control North Africa? Be specific.
Germans and the Italians want to control North Africa in order to have control of the Suez Canal, which was important because it allowed for access to Middle Eastern oil and raw materials from Asia. Trade, Suez canal and oil/raw resourses.
6) What have I called the inter-war period (1919-1939) and why?
Intermission, because it was short-lived and gave nations just enough time to develop more weapons, different styles of warfare, and strengthen alliances before an even more brutal war.
7) Why was the world-wide depression the most severe from 1929-1933? Give the two examples I spoke of in class where conditions were the worst.
1929- U.S. stock market crashed and U.S. investors took their money out of German banks, which made Germany even weaker
In Germany 1932, 43% of the labor force was unemployed
Between 1929-32, world output of goods fell by an estimated 38%
Traditional remedies worsened the crisis, such as government leaving businesses alone
8) What was the first “Hot” war of the Cold War and when did it start and end? ***
1950-53 war in Korea
9) What was the “domino theory” and what country did we fight a war in to prevent this theory from happening?
If one nation falls to communism then they all do. Why we went to Vietnam, to stop communism. Eisenhower said it
