Name ___________________________________ Date _________________________ Period ________
World History DBQ (Document-Based Question)
Use the following documents to answer the question below:
What led to the rise of fascism in Germany & Japan during the 1920s and 1930s?
Document 1: Major Stipulations of the Treaty of Versailles & Washington Naval Conference
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The former German Emperor, Wilhelm II, was charged with crimes against humanity and
sentenced to be tried as a war criminal
The "War Guilt Clause" laid sole responsibility for the war on Germany
German armed forces will number no more than 100,000 troops
German naval forces will be limited to 15,000 men and 48 ships
No submarines are allowed
The import and export of weapons is prohibited, and limits are placed on the number of
machine guns allowed
Poison gas, armed aircraft, tanks and armored cars are prohibited
Germany lost control of its colonies in Africa
Austria was forbidden from merging with Germany
The total sum of war reparations demanded from Germany was $31.4 billion (US$ 442 billion in
2011)
France was awarded full possession of Germany's coal mines for 15 years
The International Labor Organization was established to promote "the regulation of the hours of
work, labor supply; the prevention of unemployment; the provision of an adequate living wage;
the protection of the worker against sickness, disease and injury arising out of his employment;
the protection of children, young persons and women; and provision for old age and injury”
Japan, Australia, & New Zealand would be given Germany’s possessions in the Pacific
Japan was forced to accept naval reductions that favored US and Britain. After the reduction, it
was decided for every 15 American and British naval vessels, Japan would be allowed 9
Document 1 Questions:
Why would these provisions anger the general public in Germany and Japan? Explain.
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What would you consider to be the most difficult provisions of the Treaty of Versailles for average
Germans to accept? Why?
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Document 2: Japanese Economic Collapse & Recovery
With Japan's heavy dependence on foreign trade, the world depression that began in 1929 caused great
economic hardships for the Japanese people. This great worldwide depression came on the heels of the
devastating Kantô earthquake in 1923 and economic stagnation during the 1920s, which especially hurt
farmers and workers in small shops. Entering the decade of the 1930s, economic motives for Japan's
imperialism became very strong in order to ensure continued foreign trade.
Economic growth required strong export markets for Japanese textiles and other goods. Other Asian
countries, especially China, provided the best market opportunities for Japanese export products, so the
Japanese government needed to ensure that this trade would not be interrupted by obtaining
commercial and transportation rights in China. Japan's economy also required imports of raw materials
to supply its manufacturing industries.
Manchuria’s (Northern China) extensive land area and abundant natural resources such as iron and coal
provided a ready solution to Japan's overpopulation problem and its need for raw materials to support
its heavy industries, which focused on military equipment buildup. Japan seized Manchuria in 1931.
Japan later moved into other countries in south Asia to ensure sufficient resources to maintain its selfsufficiency. For example, Japan needed oil from the Dutch East Indies in order to keep its industry and
military supplied after the US cut off Japan from buying oil.
Source: Pyle, Kenneth B. The Making of Modern Japan. Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath, 1996.
Document 2 Questions:
Why would Japan turn to China for needed resources?
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How would you predict the Chinese to react to Japan’s capture of Manchuria?
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How would you predict Japan to react toward the US when the US cut off oil to Japan?
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Document 3: German Territorial Losses Around the World
Germany's overseas empire was dismantled following defeat in World War I. German colonies were
divided between Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan with the agreement to not see any of
them returned to Germany. In Africa, Britain and France divided German Kamerun (Cameroons) and
Togoland. Belgium gained Rwanda-Burundi in northwestern German East Africa. Great Britain obtained
the ‘missing link’ in the chain of British possessions stretching from South Africa to Egypt. Portugal
received, a sliver of German East Africa. German South West Africa was annexed to British South Africa.
In the Pacific, Japan gained the Marshall Islands, the Carolines, the Marianas, and the Palau Islands.
German Samoa was assigned to New Zealand; German New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and
Nauru were given to Australia.
Document 3 Questions:
How would the loss of territories impact a country? Why is this significant?
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How would this impact Germany’s ability to pay off its war debt and the war reparations it was expected
to pay?
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Document 4: Weimar Republic in Germany
The Weimar Republic, proclaimed on November 9, 1918, was born in the midst of military defeat and
social revolution after the former emperor fled the country. The constitution established a federal
republic consisting of nineteen states. The new government mixed a strong president and parliamentary
system, with the president seen by many as a sort of substitute emperor. The president was elected by
popular direct ballot to a seven-year term and could be reelected. Article 48, the so-called emergency
clause, gave the president the right to govern without the consent of parliament whenever it was
deemed essential to maintaining public order. The Weimar Republic had serious problems from the
outset that led many Germans to seek actively to destroy it. The most serious obstacle the new republic
faced was the refusal of many Germans to accept its legitimacy. Some regarded it as tool of the wealthy
to prevent revolution, and some opposed democracy and wanted to establish a conservative
authoritarian government. Many used violence to attain their ends. In addition to venomous political
opposition, the republic had to contend with a weak economy plagued by high rates of inflation and
unemployment. An even bigger problem was the enormous war reparations demanded by the Allies,
which made economic recovery seem impossible to many. Their economic misery made these groups
susceptible to the claims of extremist political parties. Because of the dissatisfaction with the political
system established by the Weimar Constitution, the people became more dissatisfied with the
government and more willing to put extremist groups in control.
Document 4 Questions:
Why is it important for a national government to have legitimacy (support of the people) amongst its
citizens?
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What problems could arise with Article 48 of the Weimar constitution? Include an example in your
answer.
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Why did the Weimer constitution make people willing to elect extremists like the Nazis?
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Document 5: Hyper-Inflation
Figure A
Figure B
In 1914, the exchange rate for German “marks” was about 4 marks to one US dollar. By 1923 the
exchange rate was almost 1 trillion marks to the dollar. Many people showed visible signs of
malnutrition. Skilled workers, writers, artisans and professionals found their wages lagging until they
reached the unskilled worker level, which often meant the bare minimum needed to support life.
Thousands of small businessmen tried to eke out a living by speculating (buying now and betting prices
would go up) in fabrics, shoes, meat, soap, clothing--in anything they could obtain. By mid-1923 workers
were being paid as often as three times a day. Their wives would meet them at work, take the money
and rush to the shops to exchange it for whatever they could, as prices were rising by the hour.
However, by this time, more and more often the shops were empty. Farmers refused to bring produce
into the city in return for worthless paper. Food riots broke out. Parties of workers marched into the
countryside to dig up vegetables and to loot the farms. Businesses started to close down and
unemployment suddenly soared. The economy was collapsing. Meanwhile, middle-class people found
themselves destitute. They sold furniture, clothing, jewelry and art to buy food. Little shops became
crowded with such merchandise. Hospitals, literary and art societies, charitable and religious institutions
closed down as their funds disappeared.
Document 5 Questions:
How many times had the price of bread multiplied by from September to October 1923? (Use a
calculator if needed)
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Why would the devaluation of money cause an economy to start to collapse?
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Document 6: Economic Depression Expands from US
When the United States’ stock market collapsed on Wall Street on Tuesday, October 29, 1929, it sent
financial markets worldwide into a tailspin. The German economy was especially vulnerable since it was
built on loans from America and was very dependent on foreign trade. When those loans suddenly came
due and when the world market for German exports dried up, the German industrial machine quickly
stopped. As production levels fell, German workers were laid off, and then banks failed throughout
Germany. Savings accounts were instantly wiped out. Overnight, the middle class standard of living was
ruined by events beyond their control. They were cast into poverty and deep misery and began looking
for a solution, any solution. Before the Great Depression the Nazi Party barely reached 100,000
members in a country of over sixty million. But the Party, despite its tiny size, was a tightly controlled,
highly disciplined organization of fanatics poised to spring into action. Its leader, Adolf Hitler, counted
among his supporters a number of German industrialists, and upper middle class socialites. Now he
needed to broaden his appeal to the great mass of voting Germans. His chief assets were his speech
making ability and a keen sense of what the people wanted to hear. The German people were tired of
the political haggling in Berlin. They were tired of misery, tired of suffering, tired of weakness. These
were desperate times and they were willing to listen to anyone, even Adolf Hitler.
In Japan, prices of goods dropped by 88%, causing an economic depression. This lead to people’s loss of
faith in the government and caused them to start listening to more attractive ideas such as military
strength. Japanese goods had very high tariffs (taxes) placed on them in other countries, such as the US.
Many farmers, especially silk farmers, suffered the most from the fall in demand for silk. As economic
problems mounted, many farmers joined the army or other patriotic societies, further strengthening the
Japanese military.
Document 6 Questions:
Why did the financial collapse of the United States stock market impact Germany and Japan?
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Based on the loss of money, what would you expect to happen to businesses and the employees of
those businesses? How would that make the situation even worse?
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What would you do if you, your family, and all your friends suddenly lost all the money you thought you
had saved? Who would you blame? Who would you turn to for help?
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Document 7: Oil & the Economy
In the summer of 1941, before leaving for Placentia Bay, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had
ordered a freeze on Japanese assets. That measure required the Japanese to seek and obtain licenses to
export and pay for each shipment of goods from the United States, including oil. This move was most
distressing to the Japanese because they were dependent on the United States for most of their crude
oil and refined petroleum products.
Then, government officials refused to grant licenses to Japan to pay for goods in dollars. That effectively
ended Japan’s ability to ship oil and all other goods from the United States.
Document 7 Questions:
Why would the access to oil be so important for a country?
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If a country were denied access to oil today, what would you expect to happen?
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Document 8: Anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism means hatred of Jews. This has existed forever, but generally only became a big deal
during difficult times. After their loss in World War I, a rumor began spreading among the German
people that Jews and communists had betrayed German secrets to the Allies. This rumor was
deliberately spread by the defeated German military leadership, seeking to avoid personal
consequences for their policies. In addition, the rise of communist dictatorships across Europe
frightened the middle classes all over Europe, and since several prominent leaders were of Jewish
descent, it seemed to link Communism to the Jews. Among the new stereotypes regarding Jews that
appeared after World War I were the following myths:
1) Jews had started the war to ruin Europe and put them under Jewish "control."
2) Jews exploited the misery of the war to enrich themselves.
3) Jews were responsible for betraying the troops and promoting a feeling of cowardice.
4) Foreign Jews were responsible for taking away piece of Germany, and German Jews tricked the
German people into agreeing to the Versailles Treaty.
5) The Jews controlled the reparations payment for their own profit.
6) Jews destroyed the pure Aryan (German) blood by promoting intermarriage and sexual freedom.
Document 8 Questions:
Why were rumors spread about the Jews in Germany? ________________________________________
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How was communism being linked to the Jews? ______________________________________________
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Using the Documents
Gathering Evidence:
Use the documents to now identify evidence that can help answer the essential question. Remember
you will need to then sort this evidence into at least 3 categories, where each category has at least 3
pieces of evidence each.
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2. ___________________________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________________________
4. ___________________________________________________________________________________
5. ___________________________________________________________________________________
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8. ___________________________________________________________________________________
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14. __________________________________________________________________________________
Category Names
After sorting your evidence you should have 3 specific categories that can answer the essential question.
Remember each category MUST have a noun and a verb.
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2. ___________________________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________________________
Claim Statement
You should now have a good idea as to what led to the rise of fascism in Germany & Japan. Identify the
three most important reasons fascism arose and create a thesis. Remember, your claim will not say “I
think…” Instead, it should start, “The rise of fascism in Germany & Japan was due to …”
Claim:
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Outline
Finally, complete the outline below. Use your category titles and evidence already identified. The final
step is to now add your analysis, where you explain how your evidence proves that your category title
answers the essential question.
Outline Guideline
I.
Claim Statement
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II.
Category 1
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a. Evidence 1 from doc ___
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i. Analysis – an explanation of how your evidence proves that your category title answers the
essential question
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b. Evidence 2 from doc ___
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i. Analysis
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c. Evidence 3 from doc ___
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i. Analysis
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III.
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Category 2
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a. Evidence 1 from doc ___
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i. Analysis
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b. Evidence 2 from doc ___
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i. Analysis
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c. Evidence 3 from doc ___
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i. Analysis
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IV.
Category 3
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a. Evidence 1 from doc ___
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i. Analysis
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b. Evidence 2 from doc ___
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i. Analysis
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c. Evidence 3 from doc ___
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i. Analysis
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NOTE: You should have a MINIMUM of three separate categories and a MINIMUM of three different
pieces of evidence within each category. You can have more, but you cannot have less.