GCSE HISTORY REVISION

Robert Champion
Exam Papers
• Paper 1
– International Relations 1919 – 1939
• BOTH Questions 5 and 6
– The USA 1919-1941
• Depth Study C: The USA 1919 – 1941
• Question 13 OR 14
• Paper 2
– German Involvement in the Spanish
Civil War
• Paper 4
– The USA 1919 -1941
What do you need to know?

• International Relations
– Were the Peace Treaties of 1919 – 1923 fair?
– To what extent was the League of Nations a
success?
– Why had international peace collapsed by
1939?
What do you need to know?

• The USA
– How far did the US economy boom in the
1920s?
– How far did US society change in the
1920s?
– What were the causes and
consequences of the Wall Street Crash?
– How successful was the New Deal?
What can I do to help my revision?

• Use the internet…..

– Try BBC ´Bitesize”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/
– We do Modern World History
– Ask Mr C online at:
http://robertchampion.blogspot.com/2007/09/gcse-
revision-ask-mr-c.html
• Find me in school
• After school revision classes and drop ins (see
posters)
• Study groups
International Relations
Paris Peace Conferences
• Were held after WW1 to decide peace treaties between
the victorious entente powers and the defeated central
powers
• Versailles – Germany
• Trianon – Hungary
• Sevres – Turkey
• St Germain – Austria
• Neuilly – Bulgaria
• Russia, defeated by Germany, under Communist rule
and in civil war not invited. Entente powers fighting
communists in Russia
Consequences of World War 1
• Biggest and deadliest conflict in history
• Millions dead “the lost generation”. Millions wounded
• “Old” Europe destroyed - Russian, German, Austro-Hungarian
and Ottoman Empires gone.
• “Successor States” emerge – Poland, Czechoslavakia, Austria
and Hungary
• Germany blamed by much of the World for WW1
– Militarism before WW1
– Invasion of France through NEUTRAL Belguim
– Atrocities commited in Belgium – Louvain
– French and Belguim industry and countryside destoryed
• USA overtakes England to become most powerful country in
the world.
 The Big Three
• Georges Clemenceau - known as the 'Tiger', he wanted revenge
on Germany for the damage caused to France during the war. He
also remembered France’s defeat by Germany in the Franco -
Prussian War of 1870/71 and the ‘theft’ of Alsace-Lorraine.He
wanted Germany to be punished and made to pay reparations to
help rebuild France. To stop Germany invading France again, he
wanted the Rhineland given to France.

• David Lloyd George - wanted the German navy and colonies to be

taken away so that Britain was not threatened in the future. He
wanted Germany to be punished, but did not want the Rhineland to
be handed over to France. He thought that if Germany were treated
too severely there would be more trouble in the future.

• Woodrow Wilson - wanted to make sure that there were no more

wars in the future. He spelled out his ideas in 'Fourteen Points'. He
believed that every country should be allowed to govern itself (self-
determination) and that a League of Nations should be set up to
deal with problems in the future.
 President Wilson´s 14 Points
• Wilson´s 14 points were a plan to end the war. They
were a set of idealistic principles which would mean a
“peace without victors”. When Germany agreed to an
armistice their agreement was based on this 14 points.
• The 14 points has two mains aims:
– 1. To prevent another war
• This would be done through a new League of Nations which would settle
disputes between countries before those disputes led to war
• Disarmament – all countries would reduce the amount of weapons they had
– 2. To acheive self-determination
• Poland would be independent
• The peoples of Eastern Europe and the Turkish Empire would be free to
chose their own country
• Alsace – Lorraine would be given to France.
Paper 1 Q.5(b)

• Why did Clemenceau demand that a harsh

peace be imposed on Germany?
• France had suffered enormous damage to its land,
industry and people. Clemenceau was under intense
pressure from the French people to make Germany
pay for the suffering they had endured both in 1870
and the Great War
• Ever since 1870 France had felt threatened by its
increasingly powerful neighbour Germany.
Clemenceau saw the treaty as an opportunity to
cripple Germany so it could not attack France again
• France had borrowed huge sums of money to fight
the war and was faced with enormous debt.
Clemenceau wanted Germany to pay this debt
The Treaty of Versailles
 The Polish Corridor - part of Germany was given to Poland so that
the new country would have access to the sea at Danzig. This
separated East Prussia from the rest of Germany.
 The Rhineland was demilitarised - no soldiers, military equipment
or buildings were allowed within 30 miles of the east bank of the
river. Allied troops were stationed in the Rhineland for 15 years.
 German armed forces - these were reduced to an army of
100,000 men, with no air force and only six ships in the navy.
Conscription was banned. As were tanks and u-boats.
 Reparations - Germany was to pay for the full cost of the war, a
sum of £6,600,000,000 was fixed. This was to be paid in gold, coal,
shipping and other materials.
 The Saar Coalfields were given to France for 15 years. France also
got Alsace-Lorraine back.
 War Guilt - Germany was made to accept clause 231, which said
that it took all the blame for the war
Paper 1

• In what ways did the T of V weaken

Germany’s armed forces?
• Army limited to 100 000 men
• No conscription
• No tanks, submarines or military aircraft
• 6 Battleships
Was Versailles fair?
Yes No

 Germany was most guilty of  The treaty was so harsh it would

starting the Great War inevitably lead to Germany taking
 In the 1960s the German revenge if she could, as the
historian , Fischer , produced French commander, Foch,
research which suggested that predicted. Foch read the Treaty
the Kaiser & the German generals and called it ‘a 20 year armistice’.
were ready & willing to go to war  The treaty was punishing all
in 1914 Germans ( including future
 France & Belgium deserved generations ) , not the guilty
compensation for all the parties ( e.g. the Kaiser )
destruction  The economic terms were
 Germany had a recent track unworkable. This criticism was
record of harshly punishing made at the time by the British
defeated enemies ( 1871 - economist, Keynes. He said
France : 1918 - Russia ) Germany would never be able to
pay.
Was the Treaty of Versailles
fair?
• Introduction
• German Territory & the Rhineland
• Reparations & War Guilt
• German Armed Forces
• Comparisons
• Conclusion
What were the main aims of the League
of Nations?
The League of Nations was set up to keep world
peace.

It aimed to make the First World War the ‘war to

end all wars’.

Its agencies attempted to deal with world problems,

such as health, slavery and refugees.

If there were disputes between nations, it aimed to

solve them by agreement.
Paper 1 Q 6 (a)
• How did the L of N hope to prevent
future wars between nations?
• Encouraging disarmament
• Encouraging international co-operation through
trade
• Improving living and working conditions
throughout the world
• Investigate and arbitrate disputes
• Moral pressure
• Economic pressure (sanctions)
• Military force through ‘Collective security’
Explain why the League of Nations had
some successes in the 1920s.

 The First World War had been horrific. With

memories of trench warfare in their minds,
the 1920s was a decade when people were
anxious to keep the peace.

 In the 1920s the League did not face the

major challenges that arose in the 1930s from
Japan, Italy and Hitler’s Germany. This may
have been because the Great Depression did
not start until after the Wall St. Crash of 1929.
Why was the League of Nations quite successful
in the first 10 years of its existence? (7)
• Aftermath of World War One.
– Good will
• After the trauma of WW1 people wanted the LofN to succeed.
• Exhaustion: Most countries exhausted by WW1 so had no desire for confrontation.

• Economic prosperity
– “Roaring Twenties”. Countries less likely to risk prosperity in war.

• High British and French kudos and confidence

– Troops sent to Silesia, Bulgaria, 1925. Ruhr Crisis!

• Revisionist powers weak.

– Countries which are unhappy with TofV not strong enough to attempt change.

• “Good works” of the League

– Refugees
– Health committee (later World Health Organisation) combats disease
– International Labour Organisation improves working conditions
– Tackles slavery and drugs
– Transport
Describe two successes the League of
Nations had in the 1920s in solving disputes.
(5)
• Aaland Islands, 1921
• Both Sweden and Finland wanted control of the Aaland
Islands, which were midway between the two countries.
Both countries were threatening to fight for them. They
appealed to the League. After studying the matter, the
League said the islands should go to Finland. Sweden
accepted the League’s ruling and war was avoided.
• Upper Silesia, 1921
• Claimed by both Germany and Poland. The League of
Nations organised a plebiscite for Silesians to decide which
country they wished to join. Britain and France sent troops
to ensure the vote was free and fair. This was crucial. Urban
areas voted for Germany and rural areas for Poland. The
League divided the region and built in safeguards. Both
countries accepted the decision.
 Corfu Incident 1923
• Corfu Incident
– the first assertion of power in foreign affairs by Mussolini
– In 1923 an international commission was determining the frontier
between Greece and Albania. On August 27, 1923, its chief, Italian
general Tellini, was found (with four of his staff) murdered near the
Albanian border, but on Greek territory.
– The Italian government sent an ultimatum to the Greek government
demanding compensation, which was rejected.
– In retaliation Mussolini ordered the Italian bombardment and
occupation of the Greek island of Corfu. The Greeks appealed to
the League of Nations and, under pressure from Britain and France,
Mussolini withdrew from Corfu on September 27, 1923.
– BUT Italy worked through the Conference of Ambassadors Greece
had to accept most of the Italian demands, including the payment of
a large indemnity.
– This showed that the League of Nations could be influenced by big
countries
Why did the League fail to stop Italian aggression
against Corfu in 1923?

• Britain and France did not want to upset Mussolini

and would not permit the Council of the League to
put pressure on him
• Behind the scenes Mussolini worked on the
Conference of Ambassadors and persuaded it to
change the Leagues ruling
• Italy was a Great Power willing to use force as the
League did not have an army it backed down.
• Britain and France feared another war and
therefore did not want to use force. They allowed
the dispute to be settled outside the League
• A Powerful Mussolini was willing to go against the
League. A weak League could do nothing about this
The Ruhr Crisis 1923 - 1924
• Germany had been delaying and avoiding any or
most reparation payments
• France and Belgium decided in 1923 to force
Germany to pay.
• They invaded and occupied the Ruhr area of
Germany. This was a large industrial region.
• The Germans refused to back down and replied
with passive resistance, strikes and sabotage
• The German economy collapsed under
hyperinflation
Ruhr Crisis and Locarno
• The Ruhr Crisis had far reaching effects on the
dynamic of European relations
• France had been shown that she could not
confront the Germans militarily and be successful
• Germany had learnt that confronting France came
at huge cost.
• Therefore BOTH countries look to create a final
settlement of disputes
• Led to 1924 Dawes Plan which restructured
reparations to a level Germany could afford
The Classic image of the Ruhr Crisis: A French soldier guards a
trainload of German coal bound for France.
 Locarno
Before After BUT
• Germany and • German and French • BUT only fixes
France in conflict border fixed Germany’s western
border NOT her
• Germany treated as • Germany joins the eastern border
a 2nd class country League of Nations
• Good will between • Locarno was seen as
countries the FIRST STEP on
the road to world
• BUT only fixes peace and eventual
Germany’s western
disarmament
border NOT her
eastern border

It demonstrated that with goodwill statesman could overcome years of

hostility between nations.
BUT Locarno was just a step NOT a result. If the international climate
changed then would hostility return?
 Locarno to the end of disarmament

• 1928 Kellogg – Briand Pact

– The high point of international relations in the 1920s
– 65 countries signed and renounced war as an instrument
of policy
• 1929 Young Plan
– Germany’s reparations reduced
• 1932 – 33 World Disarmament Conference
– Met at Geneva to try to work out a formula for reducing
armaments
– October 1933 Germany withdraws from disarmament
conference effectively ending “Locarno Spirit”

There was only a limited success in improving international relations

following Locarno. So much depended on ECONOMIC PROSPERITY that when
that evaporated all the old hostilities resurfaced, and authoritarian regimes
prepared to risk force came to power
Weaknesses of the League
• America did not join
• Many Americans felt the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh and
did not want to support the League of Nations as it was linked
to the Treaty.
 The fact that America never joined badly weakened
the League of Nations.
 Britain and France could not give adequate
leadership to the League of Nations.
• No military force of its own
 The League had to use moral condemnation and
economic sanctions to enforce their policies, as it
had no military force.
 Because of this, the League of Nations would be
dependent on the co-operation and goodwill of
member countries to enforce its decision.
The Impact of Great Depression
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 led to a worldwide economic collapse – the Great Depression
This is the TURNING-POINT in international relations between the wars. The GD creates the
ENVIRONMENT for the growth of extreme politics, the failure of the L of N and the origins of
WW2
Why?
Economic depression causes poplular discontent with democracy. People look to extremes –
communism, fascism, nazism – as solutions to their problems
Democracies look to cut government expenditure – DEFENSE SPENDING – so lack the military power
to intervene in support of the L of N
leads to appeasement – anglo-german naval agreement and Hoare-Laval Pact
Democracies need to maintain jobs in order to keep popular support. Therefore are reluctant to
impose ECONOMIC SANCTIONS since this would cut trade and therefore jobs
manchuria - abbysinia
Revisionist countries like Japan, Italy and Germany seek to expand to acquire raw matierals –
manchuria, build an empire – abysinnia , or overturn the tofv – germany
The Great Depression therefore encouraged the revisionist countries of japan, italy and germany to
use force in international relations whilst at the same time the great depression made the
democracies of Britain and France increasingly unwilling and unable to resist them. Therefore the
GD created the environment in which the LofN could collapse and British and French policy
ensured that the LofN would collapse
“The good work of the League was destroyed by the
Depression of the 1930s.”
Do you agree? Explain your answer. (8)

• Define
– Great Depression of the 1930s refers to the
global economic downturn which followed
the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Many countries
around the world were affected by
bankruptcies, high unemployment and
increased poverty.

– Good work of the League

• Primary goal: International peace
• Other goals: Health, Social and Economic.
• Effects of Depression
– Massive internal problems for members of the League
• Members concentrate on own problems rather than
international ones
• Some countries turn to extreme politics- National Socialism
in Germany
– Protectionism
• Countries look to protect own industries from foreign
competition
• Increase import tariffs
• International trade collapses – countries have less contact
with other countries
• RISE OF NATIONALISM
– External solutions to internal problems
• Raw materials – Japan in Manchuria
• Building a new empire – Italy in Abyssinia
• “Living Space” – Greater Germany, Imperial Japan
– Rise of “revisionist” countries
• Japan, Italy and Germany all want to “revise” the
international system as laid down in the TofV
• Britain and France domestic problems – unable / unwilling
to stand up against them
• USA isolationist and fear of USSR
• Other reasons
– Fear of war
• Britain and France still traumatised from WW1
• British fear “bomber will always get through”
• Did millions of our people die for nothing?
– Appeasement
• Unwillingness to confront aggression through desire to appease
leads to more confrontation and more aggression
• British and French disunity
– Britain prepared to “revise” TofV – Anglo-German Naval Agreement

• Conclusion
– Not all “good work” stopped – Health and Social programmes
continued
– Primary goal of League was international peace and this was
destroyed
– Depression was the CATALYST for this destruction
• Trade collapses – countries try “autarky” – increase tariffs –
INCREASES INTERNATIONAL TENSION
• Countries seek to settle disputes by force
• Britain and France unable or unwilling to react
‘The League was a failure.’ How far to you agree
with this statement?
Failure Success
• The Manchurian and Abyssinian • The League was at its best dealing
Crises destroyed the idea of with small nations in the early
collective security by 1920s as they were willing to
demonstrating that the League accept the Leagues authority. War
would not act firmly in the face of was averted over the Aaland
determined aggression. This Islands and peace brought in
destroyed the credibility of the relation to the Greek-Bulgarian
League. Dispute.
• From 1936 onwards countries had • The League’s Health Committee
to find an alternative to the was partially successful in
League to deal with dictators. combating disease
They choose appeasement and • The ILO worked successfully
this brought about WW2 against slavery and improving
• Even in the 1920s the League was working conditions
not always successful. It showed • The League successfully dealt with
over Corfu that it was unwilling to refugees and former prisoners of
confront a major power and that it war.
was useless over Polish demands
over Vilna

Conclusion (and throughout where possible) evaluation of HOW FAR

The Manchurian crisis 1931

 Japan attacked Manchuria, a province of China, in

1931.
 Unable to defend her territory, China appealed to the
League of Nations for help.
 The League condemned Japan and ordered her to
withdraw.
 Japan left the League and continued with her
conquests.
 Because of the unwillingness of Britain and France
to act decisively, the League of Nations was
powerless to do anything.
Describe the attacks Japan made
on China in the 1930s.
• 1931 “Mukdun Incident”. Japans railway
through Chinese province of Manchuria is
blown up. Japan blames China.
• Used as a PRETEXT for Japanese invasion of
Manchuria 1931.
• Japanese Army seeks living space and raw materials
of Manchuria.

• 1932 Shanghai bombed by Japan

• 1933 Jehol province annexed by Japan
• 1937 “Marco-Polo” Bridge incident.
– Japan launches full scale invasion of China
The Italian invasion of Abyssinia 1935

 In 1935 an Italian army invaded Abyssinia.

 Haile Selassie, the Abyssinian Emperor, appealed to the
League of Nations for assistance.
 The League condemned Italian aggression and imposed
economic sanctions against Italy. These excluded oil.
 These sanctions were ineffective and did not stop Italian
aggression.
 Mussolini, the Italian dictator, completed the conquest of
Abyssinia and then left the League of Nations.
 The effects of the Abyssinian crisis showed that members of
the League were unwilling to use force to stop aggression.
 The secret deal (the Hoare-Laval Pact) between Britain and
France showed that they had undermined the League of
Nations.
 The League of Nations' credibility was damaged beyond repair.
Why was Italy able to defeat
the Abyssinians?
• Italy has modern and better trained army
– Airplanes, tanks, guns, poison gas!
• Abyssinian Army very weak and poorly
equipped
– Outdated equipment including Spears!
• Britain and France want Italy as ally
against Germany
– “Hoare-Laval Pact”
• League of Nations ineffective
– Slow decision making.
– Sanctions not used effectively; especially OIL!
LINK Italy's modern army to oil!
Dear Father Christmas,
I have been a good boy this
year and I would like…

1. A strong a powerful Germany.

2. All Germans living in a Greater
Germany.
3. Overthrow the Treaty of Versailles.
4. “Lebenstrum” (Living Space) for
Germans in Eastern Europe.
The Munich Crisis
• Following Hitlers threats of war, Britain, France, Italy, and Germany
met at Munich to decide the fate of Czechoslavakia
• It was agreed to give the Sudetenland of Czechoslavakia to
Germany.
• Without the Sudetenland the Czechs would be unable to defend
themselves.
• The way Neville Chamberlain reacted to Germany was based on
three main beliefs:
– Some of Hitler's complaints about the Treaty of Versailles were justified
– Hitler was a reasonable man who could be negotiated with and who
could be trusted
– The death and destruction of another World War was to be avoided at all
costs.
• As a result, Chamberlain made a special effort to respond to Hitler's
demands. He believed that Hitler would eventually become less
hostile - peace would prevail and another World War would be
averted.
Why did the British follow the
policy of appeasement?
• Policy under British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin –
Anglo-German Naval Agreement but is associated mostly
with Neville Chamberlain.
• The way Neville Chamberlain reacted to Germany was
based on three main beliefs:
– Some of Hitler's complaints about the Treaty of Versailles were
justified
– Hitler was a reasonable man who could be negotiated with and
who could be trusted
– The death and destruction of another World War was to be
avoided at all costs.
• As a result, Chamberlain made a special effort to respond to
Hitler's demands. He believed that Hitler would eventually
become less hostile - peace would prevail and another
World War would be averted.
Other Important reasons for
Appeasement
• No support for war
– British Public Opinion did not support war with Germany
– The British Dominions, especially Canada and Australia
made it clear they would not support Britain in a war
against Germany
– The USA was isolationist and also would not support Britain
– France would had a defense treaty with Czechoslavakia was
divided and would only follow Britain.
• Many British people thought that the TofV was unfair
to Germany and that Germany´s demands were
reasonable
• Neville Chamberlain was deeply committed to
appeasement. He believed that Hitler “was a man
who could be relied on”
• In 1938 Britain was not in a position to fight a war
and needed time to rearm. Appeasement would give
Britain that time.
Was Appeasement the right policy?

• Yes! • No!
– Britain was not ready for war. – Appeasement simply
– Public opinion would not encouraged Hitler. The more
support war. Hitler gambled the more it
paid off the more Hitler would
– The Empire and the USA were raise the stakes.
against war.
– If Britain and France has
– Britain's armed forces were stood up to Hitler earlier he
not ready. would have backed off. Peace
– Appeasement was therefore would have been secured, the
the only policy available to German opposition
Chamberlain. strengthened.
– With Czech armaments
Germany actually became
stronger.
 Why did War break out in Europe in 1939?
• Hitlers’ actions
– Without Hitler attempting to overturn the T of V by force there's no war.
– What did he do?
• Rearmament (especially conscription and Luftwaffe)
• Rhineland
• Anschluss
• Sudetenland
• Prague
• INVADES POLAND PEOPLE!
• Appeasement
– Encourages Hitler to up his ante (go for bigger prizes)
– Makes USSR sceptical of British and French resolve (leads to Nazi-Soviet Pact)
– Failure to uphold the T of V
• League of Nations
– Credibility of Collective Security through the L of N destroyed by British and
French failure to stand up to Italy in Abyssinia and Japan in Manchuria. Hitler
had nothing to fear from L of N.
• Treaty of Versailles
– Hatred of which in part responsible for Germany turning to extremes (Hitler).
– Goal of Hitler's actions overthrowing the TofV (which he’d done by 1936??)
– In 1939 just Danzig to go
• Nazi – Soviet Pact
– Final piece in Hitlers plan to invade Poland. This triggered the invasion which
triggered the war.
 It’s mein fault!

But I encouraged you!

The USA 1919-1941
What were the main features of the
Roaring Twenties?

• The Roaring Twenties was also known as the

Jazz Age.
• Young women known as flappers shocked their
elders by wearing short skirts and challenging
old conventions of behaviour.
• The Roaring Twenties saw an economic boom.
Even the poorer Americans wanted to buy
shares to get rich quick.
• The Roaring Twenties was the decade of
prohibition when gangsters like Al Capone made
fortunes out of bootleg alcohol.
Paper 1 Q 13 (a)

• What was Prohibition?

• ‘prevention of the production, sale and
transportation of alcohol’
• Introduced by the 18th Amendment to the US
Constitution – the “Volstead Act”
• Making the USA ‘dry’ from January 1920
• An attempt to improve family life and make
workers more reliable
 Why did Prohibition fail?

Lack of public support

Problems of enforcement

WHY
PROHIBITION Corruption
Organised crime FAILED

Profits
Big business
Why did Prohibition fail?
• Alcohol was attractive with ‘speakeasies’ opening up
resulting in an increase in alcohol consumption
• The increase in alcohol consumption showed that
prohibition lacked popular support. Without popular
support it was very difficult to enforce
• Many people made ‘moonshine’. This was dangerous and
led to deaths
• Alcohol was smuggled into the USA with many smugglers
making huge amounts of money illegally. Huge profits were
made by gangs. They became powerful and tried to control
through bribery and violence. This led to widespread
corruption.
• With the depression it was felt that there was little point in
spending money on enforcing something that could not be
enforced. Money would be better spent on helping the poor.
• It was better to make alcohol legal and create jobs for the
unemployed and tax revenues could increase.
Why did American farmers not share in the
economic boom of the 1920s?

• New technology, such as the combine harvester,

enabled US farmers to increase their production
in the 1920s.
• When other countries copied the USA by
imposing tariffs on produce imported from the
USA, this made farm products from the USA too
expensive.
• This led to a surplus of food in the USA. Because
of this over-production, food prices fell
drastically.
Why was there an economic boom in America
in the 1920s?

 America had emerged from World War I with a strong economy.

America had not been attacked and had not joined the war until
1917. It did not have to rebuild like European nations did.
 Production methods such as the assembly line meant that more
goods could be made quickly and they became cheaper.
 Hire purchase agreements could be taken out which meant that
Americans could buy goods now and pay for them over a period of
time. This led to increased sales but meant that a lot of people were
in debt.
 The advertising industry took off. People were persuaded to buy
through billboards, magazines and advertisements at cinemas.
 High tariffs (taxes) were placed on foreign goods entering the USA.
This made American goods cheaper so that people would 'buy
American'.
 This economic boom led to low unemployment, high wages, and
cheaper goods, which meant people had more money to spend.
The Republican Presidents encouraged businesses by laissez faire, high tariffs
and low taxation.
Which was the most important feature of US
society in the 1920s; freedom or hatred?
Freedom Hatred
• Increased prosperity • KKK , lynching’ and
especially car Rosewood Incident
• Young urban women • Anti – immigrant
‘flappers’ feeling / Red Scare /
Sacco and Venzetti
• ‘Black renaissance’
• Cinema • ‘Monkey trial’
• Electricity and labour
saving technology
Conclusion (and throughout where possible) evaluation of MOST
IMPORTANT
The Importance of the Motor Car

RUBBER for tyres OIL for petrol

THE MOTOR
CAR
e.g. Henry Ford in
ROADBUILDING
Detroit
was the USA’s IRON for chassis
biggest employer
in the 1920s

The car industry stimulated lots of other industries

Henry Ford also said……

……wise words!
 What caused the Wall Street Crash?

Panic selling of shares Overproduction

THE WALL STREET

CRASH
Exports reduced due
to tariffs
Uneven distribution of
wealth

Speculation
What were the main features of the Great
Depression in the USA?

• Unemployment which rose to over 12

million by 1932.
• Homelessness as people could not afford
rent and mortgages.
• Hoovervilles - shanty towns lived in by the
homeless.
• Banks and businesses going bust.
Why did Franklin Roosevelt win the 1932
election?

• By 1932 President Hoover was extremely

unpopular with the majority of Americans
who blamed him for taking little action to
deal with the Depression.
• FDR ran a very effective election
campaign. He toured America by train on
his ‘whistle-stop tours’ on which he
promised the people a ‘New Deal’.
How successful was the New Deal?

SUCCESSES

• The success of Roosevelt's actions can be measured from

the following outcomes.
 Roosevelt was elected President for a second term in 1936
and again in 1940.
 Americans began to regain confidence in the system, for
example they started to put their savings into banks again.
 By 1940 unemployment in America had fallen by about
40% since 1933.
 Most people trusted him and believed that he was doing his
best to tackle the problems America faced.
 In 1937 Roosevelt tried to cut spending and unemployment
went up again.
How successful was the New Deal?
FAILURES

• The limitations of Roosevelt's actions can be measured

from the following outcomes.
 Some people criticised Roosevelt for not providing enough help for
the poor.
 Many Alphabet Agencies only provided short-term relief for the
unemployed. For example, the CCC provided work for six to nine
months only.
 The Depression did not really end until World War II broke out.
 The rich resented having to pay higher taxes to help the poor, and
many of them switched away from supporting the Democratic Party
as a result of Roosevelt's policies.
 Roosevelt was accused of weakening the power of Congress by
trying to bulldoze measures through as if he were a dictator,
especially because of his plan to appoint more Supreme Court
Judges.
Essay Plan

 Briefly describe the situation that FDR inherited

when he became President in 1933: the Great
Depression.
 Explain how the New Deal had successes - give
some good reasons and good examples.
 Explain how the New Deal had failures - give
some good reasons and good examples.
 Come to a conclusion: was the New Deal more
of a success than a failure? Did it help some
sections of society more than others?