Name: ___________________________

Period: _____

WebQuest: Causes of World War II, People, and

Terminology
Directions for the WebQuest Guide: The following guide lines up directly with
the websites for the WebQuest. As you follow through the Process part of
the WebQuest, use the guide to summarize information from the websites,
typing your answers directly into the guide.
Use the links to help you with the assignment:
http://www.johndclare.net/peace_treaties5.htm
http://www.johndclare.net/RoadtoWWII_Great_Depression.htm
http://www.johndclare.net/RoadtoWWII2.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/manchuria.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/abyssinia.htm
http://www.johndclare.net/RoadtoWWII8.htm
http://www.johndclare.net/RoadtoWWII3_Militarism.htm
http://www.johndclare.net/RoadtoWWII4.htm
http://www.johndclare.net/EII1.htm
http://www.johndclare.net/EII2.htm

I.
Main Causes of WWII
1. Treaty of Versailles
a. Complete the acronym: UBRAT
b. Explain what each letter stands for (include more than just the
word!!)
i. Unfair-an imposed settlement.
ii. Blame-Germans hated clause 231.
iii. Reparations-France and Britain were blamed for trying to
starve their children. Germany started paying after France
and Britain invaded Germany.
iv. Army-helpless against other countries.
v. Territory-Germany lost a tenth of its land.
2. Worldwide Depression

a. List all six points related to the Depression that led to war.
Briefly explain each one (include more than just the title phrase
what do each of those phrases mean?) Unemployment-Mass
unemployment and poverty caused great anger. AmericaAmerica called in her loans to Germany. Politics-Hatred against
other countries rose. Empire-building-Created international
conflict and tension. Self Interest-Countries left the league
instead. Britain and France-Appeasement/failure of League of
Nations.
3. Totalitarian government
a. Germany
i. What were Hitlers three main aims? To abolish the Treaty
of Versailles, expand German territory, and to defeat
Communism.
ii. How did each aim lead to war? BE SPECIFIC. Hitler did not
accept that the German army had lost the war, and he was
determined to make Germany great again. Hitler said that
the German nation needed more living space. Hitler
believed that he had the right to invade Eastern Europe
and make the Slav people Germanys slaves. Hitler blamed
the Communists for Germanys defeat in World War 1, and
he feared that the Communists were trying to take over
Germany.
b. Japan
i. Why did Japan invade Manchuria? Name 4 reasons. They
claimed that Chinese soldiers had sabotaged the railway,
attacked the Chinese army, executed a Japanese spy, and
the Chinese army did not fight back because it knew that
the Japanese were just wanting an excuse to invade
Manchuria.
ii. How did the League respond? Why were they limited in
how they could respond? Japan said it needed to maintain
order in China. The League listened to the Chinese claims.
It needed to tread carefully: China was in chaos and Japan
was a permanent member of the Leagues Council. Japan
had, however, used military aggression to achieve its
goals.
c. Italy
i. Why did Italy want the territory of Abyssinia? Name 2
reasons. Italy lacked a large colonial empire. Under the
Treaty of Versailles, Italy was granted little land.
ii. Was the Leagues response to the incident successful? Why
or why not? The Mukden incident was a staged event that
was engineered by Japanese military personnel as a

pretext for invading the northern part of China in 1931.

The ruse was soon exposed, leading Japan to withdrawal
from the League of Nations.
iii. What three things did the League of Nations involvement
in the conflict show? Woodrow Wilson was the creator of
the League of Nations and had caused many conflicts
through new laws including the Fourteen Points which
could have caused after war conflicts.
d. Soviet Union
i. Why did Anglo-Soviet talks fail? List each piece of SCAB
and briefly explain (again, more than just the one word!)
Suspicion-Chamberlain did not trust Stalin, who was a
Communist and a dictator. The Russians thought Britain
wanted to trick them into war against Germany. ChoiceBritain would not send troops to fight in Poland, so if Stalin
supported Britain, he would end up fighting a war in Poland
on Britains behalf. Appeasement-After Munich, Stalin
was convinced that Britain would break its promise to
Poland. He was convinced that Britain would leave Russia
fighting Hitler alone. Britain delayed-Lord Halifax refused
Stalins offer of a meeting. When the British sent an
official, he could not make any decisions. Stalin got fed up
with British delay.
ii. Why did the Nazi-Soviet Pact happen? List each piece of
THUG and briefly explain. Time to prepare for war-We
got peace for our country for 18 months, which let us
make military preparations. Hope to gain-Stalin was sure
that Russia could only gain from a long war in which
Britain, France and Germany exhausted themselves.
Unhappy with Britain-Stalin was insulted by Britains
slowness to negotiate, and did not trust Britain. GermanyHitler wanted the alliance because only Russia could keep
Britains promise to defend Poland.
4. Expansionist policies
a. What were the three ways militarism contributed to war? Give a
specific example for EACH ONE. Freed up Hitler to invade
Poland-he knew that Britain could not do anything to defend
Poland. Ended Britains hopes of an alliance with Russia to
stop Hitler-people in Britain realized that nothing could stop
Hitler but war. Improved morale of British people of warshowed Hitler as an opportunist and a trickster, who could not
never be trusted.
5. Policy of appeasement

a. Define appeasement (look it up in an online dictionary). The

action or process of appeasing.
b. What were the five most important reasons why Britain
appeased Hitler? Approval, Britain was weak, Communism,
Democracy, and Empire.
c. Who opposed Chamberlain in his policy of appeasement? The
British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, now realized that
Hitler could not be trusted and his appeasement policy now
came to an end.
d. What were the eight results of appeasement? Let Hitler gain
power. Humiliated Britain-no country in central Europe trusted
Britain again. Abandoned millions of people to the Nazis. Caused
the war by encouraging Hitler to think he could do anything.
Would never have stopped Hitler who was determined to go to
war. Britain and France put too much trust in Hitlers promises. It
showed the Russia that Britain and France would not stop Hitler
who wanted to expand eastwards- have the Nazi Soviet Pact.
6. Continued German aggression
a. Breaking the Treaty of Versailles
i. List the three ways Hitler broke the Treaty of Versailles. In
1934, he destroyed the League of Nations Disarmament
Conference by demanding equality of arms with France
and Britain. In 1936, Hitler moved his troops into the zone,
claiming that the recent treaty between France and Russia
threatened Germanys safety. An attempted Nazi putsch in
Australia failed in 1934, but in 1938 Hitler tried again.
b. Threatening the peace of Europe
i. What actions did Hitler take to disrupt peace in Europe?
Name at least 5 actions. He introduced conscription, wartested his armed forces in the Spanish Civil War, moved his
troops into the Rhineland demilitarized zone, made alliance
with Italy and Japan, and he whipped the Nazis in other
countries.
ii. What did Europe do to allow Hitler to disrupt peace? Name
at least 2 actions. Britain and France allowed and helped
Hitler to do some of the things he did.

II.

People of World War II

Important Links:

The History Place: http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/ww2time.htm

World At War: http://www.euronet.nl/users/wilfried/ww2/ww2.htm
Causes of the War: http://www.teacheroz.com/WWIIcauses.htm
WWII History: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/
Military Leaders: http://library.thinkquest.org/17573/leaders.htm
WW II Leaders: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/political_leaders_of_world_war_t.htm
Animated Maps of WWII: http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/axis.htm
Chronology of WWII: http://www.cyberlearningworld.com/lessons/ushistory/ww2/europeantheater.htm
Allied and Axis Powers: http://www.mooresmarauders.org/allies_and_axis_powers_wwii.htm

Person

Role During World War II

Joseph Stalin

In August 1939, Josef Stalin freed Hitler from his fear of the
possibility of a war on two fronts by signing a pact of non-aggression
with Germany.

Benito
Mussolini

Was the fascist prime minister of Italy, with dictatorial powers, from
1922 until he was overthrown in 1943.

Adolf Hitler

One of the most powerful and infamous dictators of the 20 th century.

Franklin D.
Roosevelt

The 32nd president of the united states and the only chief executed
to be elected to more than 2 terms in office.

Winston
Churchill

Served as the prime minister of Great Britain from 1940 to 1945 and
again from 1951 to 1955.

Hideki Tojo

Wartime leader of Japans government.

Dwight D.
Eisenhower

The popular 34th president of the United States.

George
Patton

Was a United States Army general, who commanded the Seventh

United States Army in the Mediterranean and the European Theaters
of World War II.

Harry S.
Truman

Became the 33rd president of the United States.

Douglas
MacArthur

Was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army.

III. Tactics: Identify each of the following types of tactics and

tell who used them and at what places they were used.
Important links:
Blitzkrieg http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005437
Carpet bombing http://reference.findtarget.com/search/carpet%20bombing/
Strategic Bombing http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Air_Power/Bombing/AP27.htm
Kamikaze http://www.airgroup4.com/kamikaze.htm
Kamikaze methods http://www.2worldwar2.com/kamikaze-pilots.htm
Tactic

Description

Who used it?

Blitzkrieg

German term for lightning

war

German

Where was it
used?
Poland

Saturation/carp
et bombing

A large aerial bombing done in

a progressive manner to inflict
damage

Germans

Rotterdam Blitz

Strategic
bombing

A military strategy used in a

total war with the goal of
defeating the enemy

German

Tokyo

Kamikaze

Japanese pilots in World War II

who were assigned to crash
their planes into their targets

Japanese

Carriers and
battle ships