LEQ's
Unit XIV: Depression, Totalitarianism, and the Second World War (1920-1945)
Depression
(1989)
How, and in what ways, did European painting and literature reflect the disillusionment in
society between 1919 and 1939? Support your answer with specific artistic or literary
examples.
Culture Between the Wars
(1980)
The culture of the years between the two world wars (1918-1939) was marked by
experimentation and an interest in the irrational. Select any two European works of art or
literature from this period and describe their significance in terms of these characteristics.
(2002)
Analyze the impact of the First World War on European culture and society in the interwar
period (1919-1939).
Totalitarianism
(1974)
Discuss the economic and social factors that gave rise to the totalitarian systems of communism and fascism in the 20th century.
(1975)
“The centralized governments of continental Europe dominated the rate and direction of
industrial development in their respective countries in the period 1850-1940.”
Explain the facts and events that form the basis of this statement and describe the specific ways in which the statement is a valid generalization about the period 1850-1940.
(1976)
From 1830 to 1933 the lower classes have used direct action protest ranging from strikes and
riots to revolution as a means of effecting social and political change. Using specific examples
from France and Germany, write an essay in which you explain the effectiveness of such means in bringing about social and political change.
(1978)
"Every successful revolution puts on in time the robes of the tyrant it has deposed." Evaluate this statement with regard to the English Revolution (1640-1660), The French Evaluation (1789-1815), and the Russian Revolution (1917-1930).
(1980)
What aspects of Russian society and institutions were most changed and what aspects least changed by the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917? Limit your discussion to the first 10 years (1917-1927) of the new regime and account for the changes you note.
(1981)
Compare the economic roles of the state under 17th century mercantilism and 20th century communism Illustrate your answer with reference to the economic system of France during Louis XIV's reign under Colbert and of the Soviet Union under Stalin.
(1982)
Why did Germany’s experiment with parliamentary democracy between 1919 and 1933 fail?
(1983)
Compare the rise to power of fascism in Italy and in Germany.
(1993)
“Dictators in 20th century Europe had much greater control over culture and society than had divine right monarchs of earlier centureis.”
Assess the validity of this statement, using specific examples from each era to support your
position.
(1994)
Discuss and analyze the political and economic reasons for the failure of parliamentary
democracy in Germany after the First World War.
(1996)
Compare and contrast the patronage of the arts by Italian Renaissance rulers with that by
dictators of the 1930s.
(2001)
Compare and contrast the French Jacobins' use of state power to achieve revolutionary goals
during the Terror (1793-1794) with Stalin's use of state power to achieve revolutionary goals in the Soviet Union during the period 1928 to 1939.
(2004)
Analyze the ways in which technology and mass culture contributed to the success of dictators in the 1920's and 1930's.
Pre-WWII Diplomacy
(1975)
Woodrow Wilson’s belief that the major causes of the First World War were the armaments race, rival imperialisms, secret diplomacy, and nationalist price was widely accepted in the period
1919-1934. How did the acceptance of Wilson’s view shape the diplomacy of the great powers during this period?
(1985)
Compare and contrast the efforts to ensure European collective security that were made by the victorious powers between 1815 and 1830 (after the Napoleonic Wars) with those made by the victorious powers between 1918 and 1933 (after the First World War).
(1992)
Contrast European diplomacy in the periods 1890 to 1914 and 1918 to 1939, respectively.
Include in your analysis goals, practices, and results.
(1999)
Compare and contrast the degree of success of treaties negotiated in Vienna (1814-1815) and
Versailles (1919) in achieving European stability.
Depression
(1989)
How, and in what ways, did European painting and literature reflect the disillusionment in
society between 1919 and 1939? Support your answer with specific artistic or literary
examples.
Culture Between the Wars
(1980)
The culture of the years between the two world wars (1918-1939) was marked by
experimentation and an interest in the irrational. Select any two European works of art or
literature from this period and describe their significance in terms of these characteristics.
(2002)
Analyze the impact of the First World War on European culture and society in the interwar
period (1919-1939).
Totalitarianism
(1974)
Discuss the economic and social factors that gave rise to the totalitarian systems of communism and fascism in the 20th century.
(1975)
“The centralized governments of continental Europe dominated the rate and direction of
industrial development in their respective countries in the period 1850-1940.”
Explain the facts and events that form the basis of this statement and describe the specific ways in which the statement is a valid generalization about the period 1850-1940.
(1976)
From 1830 to 1933 the lower classes have used direct action protest ranging from strikes and
riots to revolution as a means of effecting social and political change. Using specific examples
from France and Germany, write an essay in which you explain the effectiveness of such means in bringing about social and political change.
(1978)
"Every successful revolution puts on in time the robes of the tyrant it has deposed." Evaluate this statement with regard to the English Revolution (1640-1660), The French Evaluation (1789-1815), and the Russian Revolution (1917-1930).
(1980)
What aspects of Russian society and institutions were most changed and what aspects least changed by the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917? Limit your discussion to the first 10 years (1917-1927) of the new regime and account for the changes you note.
(1981)
Compare the economic roles of the state under 17th century mercantilism and 20th century communism Illustrate your answer with reference to the economic system of France during Louis XIV's reign under Colbert and of the Soviet Union under Stalin.
(1982)
Why did Germany’s experiment with parliamentary democracy between 1919 and 1933 fail?
(1983)
Compare the rise to power of fascism in Italy and in Germany.
(1993)
“Dictators in 20th century Europe had much greater control over culture and society than had divine right monarchs of earlier centureis.”
Assess the validity of this statement, using specific examples from each era to support your
position.
(1994)
Discuss and analyze the political and economic reasons for the failure of parliamentary
democracy in Germany after the First World War.
(1996)
Compare and contrast the patronage of the arts by Italian Renaissance rulers with that by
dictators of the 1930s.
(2001)
Compare and contrast the French Jacobins' use of state power to achieve revolutionary goals
during the Terror (1793-1794) with Stalin's use of state power to achieve revolutionary goals in the Soviet Union during the period 1928 to 1939.
(2004)
Analyze the ways in which technology and mass culture contributed to the success of dictators in the 1920's and 1930's.
Pre-WWII Diplomacy
(1975)
Woodrow Wilson’s belief that the major causes of the First World War were the armaments race, rival imperialisms, secret diplomacy, and nationalist price was widely accepted in the period
1919-1934. How did the acceptance of Wilson’s view shape the diplomacy of the great powers during this period?
(1985)
Compare and contrast the efforts to ensure European collective security that were made by the victorious powers between 1815 and 1830 (after the Napoleonic Wars) with those made by the victorious powers between 1918 and 1933 (after the First World War).
(1992)
Contrast European diplomacy in the periods 1890 to 1914 and 1918 to 1939, respectively.
Include in your analysis goals, practices, and results.
(1999)
Compare and contrast the degree of success of treaties negotiated in Vienna (1814-1815) and
Versailles (1919) in achieving European stability.