The Interwar Years and World War II (^) ‹ 193
- How did fascists view the state?
A. As the supreme authority in a nation
B. As the protector of individual liberty
C. As rightful owner of the means of production
D. As the guarantor of the equality of citizens
Short Answer- Briefly describe TWO of the problems facing European countries in the interwar years,
and explain how ONE of the problems you identified helps to explain the causes of
World War II.
Answers and Explanations- B is correct because the passage says that war “puts the stamp of nobility upon the
peoples who have courage to meet it.” A is incorrect because the passage indicates that
war is beneficial to a people, not evil. C is incorrect because the passage does not state
that war is the source of Europe’s troubles. D is incorrect because the passage rejects
the notion that people are motivated by economic concerns. - D is correct because the passage states that fascism is the “complete opposite of...
Marxian Socialism,” and goes on to reject the materialist contention that history is
explained through class conflict. A is incorrect because the passage asserts that fascism
is the opposite of Marxian socialism and contends that individuals act in ways unde-
termined by economic and class interest. B is incorrect because the passage denies that
class conflict is inevitable. C is incorrect because the passage attributes the notion that
people are puppets to socialism, not fascism. - A is correct because the passage indicates that a century of fascism is a century of
authority, and because it denies the liberal notions of individual liberty and equality.
B is incorrect because the passage does not refer to the protection of individual liberty.
C is incorrect because the passage does not refer to a seizure of the means of produc-
tion. D is incorrect because the passage explicitly denies the liberal notion of equality. - Suggested answer:
Thesis: During the interwar years, European countries faced severe economic uncertainty
and political radicalization. The political radicalization brought to power governments that
desired a second military conflict.
Paragraph Outline:
I. The post–World War I European economy was built on a fragile combination of
international loans (mostly from the United States), reparations payments, and
foreign trade. In October 1929, the New York stock market crashed, with stocks
losing almost two-thirds of their value. Unable to obtain further credit, trade dried
up. The result was an economic collapse that has come to be known as the Great
Depression.
II. Politically, the economic and cultural uncertainty fuelled continued radicalization. In
France, ultraconservative and socialist parties vied for power. In Italy and Germany, fas-
cist parties came to power.
III. The fascist ideology was predicated on militarization and a belief that war tested and
ennobled a people. Such an ideology was one factor causing World War II.PRACTICE22_Bartolini_Ch22_181-194.indd 193 27/04/18 1:56 PM