Modern History Practice questions Flashcards
Question 1: Identify the historical event that is presented in Source 1. (1 mark)
Source 1 depicts the Freikorps (Free Corps), a group of former World War I soldiers who were employed by the German government to quell unrest.
Using Source 2 and your own knowledge, describe the effects of hyperinflation in Germany. (3 marks)
Hyperinflation had a devastating effect on the German economy and society. Hyperinflation was triggered by the government’s decision to print more paper currency (“papier gold”) in the hope that it would assist in paying for Germany’s 132 billion gold mark reparation payment to the Allies.
using source 3 and your own knowledge outline the factors that impacted the stability of the Weimar republic (6 marks)
The stability of the Weimar Republic was significantly impacted by a range of internal and external factors. Democratic Germany was initially weakened by the harsh conditions of the Treaty of Versailles, which “humiliated” the population and burdened them with the expectation of paying some 132 billion gold marks in reparations to the Allies. This created resentment towards the government, and as a result it never achieved “popular acceptance” (Source 3).
using source 3 and your own knowledge outline the factors that impacted the stability of the Weimar republic (6 marks) part 3
These amounted to a significant challenge to the ability of a parliamentary democracy to function correctly. Finally, the Weimar Republic was betrayed by a weak and fragile economy, with the democratic system unable to solve issues of unemployment caused first by hyperinflation (1923) and later the Great Depression (1929). These factors combined to ultimately weaken the effectiveness of the Weimar Republic between 1919 and 1933.
using source 3 and your own knowledge outline the factors that impacted the stability of the Weimar republic (6 marks) part 2
The stability of Weimar Germany was further impacted by internal fighting from “enemies at home” in the form of communist and later nationalist rebellions, in the form of the Spartacist Rebellion (1919) and the Kapp Putsch (1920).
Using source 2 and your own knowledge describe the effects of hyperinflation within Germany? (3 marks) part 2
However, as shown in source 2, this resulted in the devaluation of the mark. Consequently, millions of Germans lost their savings overnight, which triggered poverty and hunger in urban areas, as shown by the small, emaciated child in their mother’s arms.
Using source 2 and your own knowledge describe the effects of hyperinflation within Germany (3 marks) part 3
The hyperinflation crisis also resulted in Germany not being able to repay its reparations to the Allies. As a result, the Ruhr industrial region of Germany was occupied by France. This triggered further unemployment after German workers who refused to work for the French, as well as widespread resentment towards France.
compare how source 1 and 2 depict the new economic policy? (5 marks)
Both Source 1 and Source 2 depict the New Economic Policy (1921 – 1927) in contrasting
ways. Source 1 suggests that it was merely a” slower method of siege” to reduce the risk of
the Communists “being cut off from [their] base” and “nothing but a retreat.” However
Source 2 contends that the introduction of the NEP (1921 – 1927) conflicted and
compromised the revolutionary promises as it “Russia’s communist rulers had brought back –
capitalism.” Whilst Source 2 suggests that through introducing such a policy the revolutionary
movement had been thwarted; it did bring some positives although through its
implementation the question of “what the point [of the insurrection] had been raised.
using your own knowledge and the sources, explain the impact of the new economic policy on the Russian people? (5 marks)
The New Economic Policy (1921 – 1927) brought welcome change for the people of Russia
who though the cause of the aftermath of the revolution has endured the “Red Terror, the
civil war,…and the Volga famine” (Source 2). The devastation that War Communism (1918 –
1921) brought had decimated the economy and consequently the people’s trust in Lenin.
However through the NEP (1921 – 1927) whilst a step back from socialism saw to the
improvement of lives of peasants in particularly whose grain harvests after years of harsh
grain requisitioning had returned to its 1913 levels. Furthermore, profit was once again able
to be made “peasant farmer[s] finally allowed to sell [their] surplus grain in the markets
again.” (Source 2
To what extent did the Bolsheviks compromise their revolutionary ideals as a result of
the Tenth Party Congress? Use evidence to support your answer. (10 marks)
Following on from the launch of the NEP (1921 – 1927) at the 10th party Congress (March 7th
– 17
th 1921), the Bolsheviks had no other choice but to compromise their revolutionary ideals
in order to gain back control of their struggling nation. Whilst Lenin believed that the
establishment of the NEP (1921 – 1927) was a mere “transitional phase;” as depicted in
Source 3 where Lenin all encompassing towers over workers pointing to the right, or in
essence a “socialist Russia” (Source 3). Whilst “heavy industry, banking and foreign trade”
(Source 2) remained in the control of the Bolsheviks, practices typically Capitalist in nature
such as private trade where permitted. As well as this, grain requisitioning, prominent of War
Communism (1918 – 1921) and a key factor into the transformation of Russia into a pure
Communist society were relaxed and peasants were able to use surplus grain in whichever
way they pleased. Whilst the History of the CPSU (Source 1) suggests the NEP (1921 – 1927)
was implemented to give the Bolsheviks breathing space so as to “gather strength and
resume the offensive,” Trotsky recognises the compromises that had to be made asserting
that the NEP (1921 – 1927) was the “first signs of the degeneration of Bolshevism.” As a result
of the Tenth Party Congress (1921) major compromisations had to be made, ones that
essentially reverted Russia back to capitalism.
Outline the historical event depicted in source 1 (2 marks)
Source 1 depicts the Treaty of Versailles. This was the final peace that concluded the end of World War I. Depicted as a pig, the defeated power Germany, is being prepared to be ‘carved’ by the victorious Allies (Britain, France, Russia, and Belgium). At the Treaty of Versailles, the Allies issued harsh punishments towards Germany, that was aimed to limit their power and ability to wage war.
Using source 2, outline the German reaction to their loss during ww1? (2 marks)
The German defeat in World War I came as a shock to many Germans, particularly those fighting at the front. Source 2 demonstrates soldiers’ sense of shock, believing their actions to have been “admirable” and that they held “no guilt” for the loss. Instead, many soldiers such as Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg felt that they had been “stabbed in the back” by forces inside Germany, rather than having been defeated by their “enemies”.
